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Gig review: Public Service Broadcasting at Rock City

You hear it about lots of bands: that their live show is “unrivalled”. Sometimes it is, sometimes it’s a bit of hyperbole. However, in the case of musical historians Public Service Broadcasting (PSB), this praise is fully warranted. With a 7-piece band playing accomplished art-rock and electronica to a backdrop of archive footage, PSB truly offer a one-of-a-kind live experience. To witness it for ourselves, we headed down to catch their fourth visit to Rock City…

Gig review: Pete Doherty at The Grove

Did you hear? The Libertines came to Nottingham this week to perform at Rock City. However, Pete Doherty also played a small intimate solo set at Nottingham's newest music venue The Grove a few hours before...

In photos: The Icicle Works at Rescue Rooms

Interview : Laura Turner dares us to decide whether to sell our soul or sell our body

A Midlands-based, female-led powerhouse, is about to ignite the stage at Nottingham Playhouse with a question that will leave audiences breathless. Emma Oldham interviews Laura Turner, the artistic director behind Fury Theatre, about why they're asking such a bold question...

Gig review: NOISY at The Bodega

Pelham Street came alive on Friday night, as The Bodega was filled with the intoxicating DnB-meets-anything goes sounds of NOISY. Daisy Carter-Davies was there to see – and hear – the action...

Crazy Little Sing Called Pub and the joy of communal singing

From relieving stress and tension to releasing endorphins, it’s no wonder more than two million people across the UK sing regularly in choirs. But singing classic anthems like James’ Sit Down and The Killers’ All These Things That I’ve Done in a pub with a bunch of strangers? Well, that’s a new one. At local event Crazy Little Sing Called Pub the impact has been undeniable, with hundreds gathering each month to take part. We caught up with event founder Abi Moore to find more about this communal phenomenon.

Music Reviews: October 2024

This month, our music team give the run-down of the best, recent releases from Nottingham artists, including Cappo, LYVIA, and Molly Hindley.

Theatre Review: Santi and Naz at the Nottingham Playhouse

Two best friends live in pre-partition India. One is Sikh, the other Muslim; religion is about to divide them forever...

Gig Review: Squeeze at the Royal Concert Hall, with Badly Drawn Boy

Squeeze wowed the crowd at the Royal Concert Hall with an epic set spanning the decades, while Badly Drawn Boy provided solid and emotional support...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #8: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's bumper edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our picks of the latest and greatest sounds from all around Nottingham and the Midlands, our team reviews new releases from Gender Envy, Set in Motion, The Chase, Marvin's Revenge, Cracked Hands, John Hardy and Stan Buckroyd...

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #5: Shane Meadows on This Is England, Virtues, Stone Roses, Injuries, Notts County FC and more

For our fifth podcast we are delighted to welcome a true legend of British film and television, the director and screenwriter Shane Meadows...

Harriet Walter & Friends: Shakespeare’s Women Speak!

Dame Harriet Walter is one of Britain's most esteemed Shakespearean actors. She came to the Playhouse to breath fresh life into Shakespeare's words for women...  

Gig Review: Soft Launch at Rough Trade, with Lizzie Esau

But there’s no bad blood 'cause Soft Launch look too good on the Rough Trade stage. LeftLion's Talia Robinson headed to the record store's legendary upstairs stage to find out why the new kids on the block are so hotly anticipated by critics...

Review: An Audience with Sir Paul Smith at Nottingham Playhouse

The Beeston-born fashion guru took time out from his busy schedule to support Nottingham Playhouse with an evening of conversation...

Gig review: Cardinal Black at Rock City

They may have taken the scenic route but Cardinal Black are finally here, and they’ve got plenty of stories to tell on the Rock City stage...

Gig review: Punk Rock Factory at Rock City

At the LeftLion office, it's no secret that Head Designer Natalie Owen is a rock music enthusiast and a massive Disney fan. So, when we heard that Punk Rock Factory, a rock band known for their Disney covers, were coming to Nottingham, there was only one choice to review the gig...

We met local Reggae and Dub royalty Quantro Tone Sound System

One of Notts first sound systems and originally called Iron City, Quantro Tone Sound System started as a hobby for nine bored young friends. They went on to support some iconic names in Reggae and Dub, from Don Sinclair to The Mighty Diamonds, and perform in cities across the country. On the day of their fifty year anniversary celebration at St Ann’s, we heard more from them about that golden era and how they’ve maintained their strong friendships over the decades. 

The original members were Lenny, Robert, Kenneth, Leslie, Colin, Winston, and Eric as Iron City. Later, they were Quantro with Keith and Johnny. The 'box men' and bouncers were Desmond, Brown, Austin, Fisherman and Devon with Mr Brown and Trevor Mitchell acting as the trusty van drivers.

Gig review: Jet at Rock City

Celebrating 21 years of debut album Get Born, Jet landed at Rock City to prove exactly why their songs have such long-lasting appeal...

Gig review: Snayx at The Bodega

Hard-working, noisy but relentlessly proficient: Snayx have a fearsome reputation. Their set at The Bodega, partnering with Safe Gigs for Women, was characteristically respectful if very sweaty...

In photos: Good Neighbours at The Bodega

Paul Smith, Horror films, Hockley Hustle, Veggie food and KittyArama: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham: 14-20 October 2024

There's so much happening in Nottingham this week, we couldn't narrow it down! Enjoy some horror movies, gigs galore, hear from Notts fashion legend Paul Smith and lots more.

Concert Review: Steeleye Span at the Playhouse

After fifty-five years of gold discs and international tours, folk rockers Steeleye Span are taking their music back on the road. Andrew McCartney reviews their performance at the Nottingham Playhouse... 

Comfort, colour and joy: we spoke to Megan Crook about her clothing empire

Among the array of shop fronts in Sneinton Market, one you are not likely to miss is the vividly colourful Megan Crook. In addition to The Textile Guru, her separate fabric and haberdashery store, Megan Crook designs, sews and sells her own range of vibrant and quirky clothing, with a focus on inclusivity, sustainability and fun. We went along to chat to Megan to hear more…

Out of Time: The wartime kitchen that sprung up on Broad Street

Broad Street has been the heart of Hockley for several decades since Broadway Cinema opened in 1990. Today its surrounding businesses offer a diverse range of cuisine for those looking for some tasty snap. However, the space itself has played a bigger part in the community for far longer; CJ De Barra takes us back to the Second World War, when the site was a communal kitchen to feed the hungry during difficult times.

"Rough sleeping is the tip of the homelessness iceberg": Framework tell us about their urgent winter appeal on World Homelessness Day

Notts based charity Framework have launched an urgent winter appeal for funds, closely following the premiere of homelessness documentary Someone's Daughter, Someone's Son, by Lorna Tucker, at Broadway Cinema. We heard more from Claire Eden, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Framework, and Sam Lanes, Manager of Street Outreach, about the challenges that the charity are facing and the help that they need to tackle them.