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LeftLion Interviews Podcast #7: Chanel Cresswell on This Is England, Shane Meadows, Guy Ritchie, Colleen Rooney, Winning a BAFTA and more.

Our seventh episode is an interview with BAFTA-winning actor and Television Workshop alumnus Chanel Cresswell... 

A seasonal stocking packed with composers and their Christmas gifts

Kevin Stanley is full of Christmas spirit as he reviews the Hallé's annual festive concert at the Royal Concert Hall...

Our December cover artist Marcus Gilmore talks inspirations and staying creative

This month’s cover artist, Beeston-based Marcus Gilmore talks about his mythic and fantastical inspirations as an illustrator and printmaker, staying creative, and capturing the spirit of Christmas in this edition’s magical cover art...

Gig review: Skinny Lister at Rescue Rooms

With an energetic and "free spirited" set at Rescue Rooms, folk-punk group Skinny Lister put us straight into in Christmas mode...

In photos: Been Stellar at The Bodega, with Cardinals

Conscious Closet talk to us about sustainable and festive fashion

With the season of glitter and cheer now well and truly here, Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon-Harley caught up with Sarah Rockley and Lisa Holland, co-founders of Nottingham sustainable fashion brand and occasion wear rental service, Conscious Closet, to find out how rented looks could be the key to a more sustainable festive party season.

Gig review: Victory Lap at The Bodega

It was a night of diverse sounds and dynamic performances at The Bodega, with relative newcomers Victory Lap headlining an evening that also featured two exceptional support acts: Leeds-based Prima Star Power and well-known local group Grain Mother…

Puppets, songs, dances, jokes, not to mention a duckling on a quest for self-discovery

Who do you think you are? We meet the experts tracing George the Gorilla at Wollaton Hall

Most long-term residents of Nottingham will at the very least be aware of George the Gorilla: a well-loved taxidermy exhibit residing in the natural history museum at the heart of Wollaton Park. But what kind of animal is he, really, and where does he come from? A newly-formed collective of scientists and heritage specialists at the Uni of Nottingham set out to answer these questions. In doing so, they hope that visitors to the museum will see the exhibit, and the site as a whole, in a whole new light... 

From Boy George to Burlesque Christmas Cabaret: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 9-15 December

Festivities are in full-swing this week in Notts with candlelit carolling at the Contemporary and Christmas Cabaret at Theatre Royal, 'tis the season to celebrate indeed...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #12: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Leah Sinead, Divorce, amillionsons and Wizards Can't Be Lawyers...

Comparison, consumerism and Christmas: Nottingham Counselling Service share some tips for the Christmas period

With both emotions and shopping bills running high during the Christmas period, we hear from Nottingham Counselling Service who have a pertinent reminder about avoiding comparison during the festive season.

Gig review: EDM night with Banco De Gaia at The Angel Microbrewery and The Chapel

The Angel Microbrewery and The Chapel hosted an intoxicating mix of dance, ambient techno, and 90s-inspired acid house as local acts supported headliner, Banco De Gaia...

Gig review: The Snuts at Rock City

After releasing their third studio album, Millennials, earlier this year, indie rock band The Snuts embarked on their UK tour. We caught up with them as they landed in Nottingham's iconic Rock City on Monday night...

Spinning Yarns: The Woolly Tellers talk storytelling in Nottingham

For fifteen years, storytellers Mick Whysall and Dave Brookes have brought history to life. As The Woolly Tellers, their atmospheric performances whip up scenes of misty cobbled streets, mysterious highwaymen, fen giants and deals with the devil. We met them for a chat prior to their event Dark Tales for Dark Nights at the Fox and Grapes, and heard all about the tricks of their trade...

Gig review: Echobelly at Metronome, with Blue Violet

It might have been 30 years since they released their debut album Everyone's Got One, but Echobelly are still going stronger - perhaps stronger than ever. With iconic vocalist Sonya Madan leading, they played to a fully packed Metronome Nottingham, and we were there to see the action...

Gig review: SPRINTS at Rescue Rooms, with Chalk

A pinnacle performance of the year: SPRINTS race for gold in their cathartic celebrations at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms...

Thrills, spills, and non-stop jokes at the Playhouse panto

The much-beloved Nottingham Playhouse pantomime reaches new heights this year with a giant of a show. Yes, it's Jack and the Beanstalk... 

Stanley Middleton's Booker Prize finds a new home in Nottingham

Fifty years after he became the first ever joint winner of the Booker prize, we join a celebration of Stanley Middleton at Nottingham Central Library.

Salt of the Earth: Catching up with musician and Saltbox manager Sam Heaton

There are few people who live and breathe Nottingham’s vibrant music scene quite like Sam Heaton. From his own ambient rock band Eyre Llew being one of the city’s greatest exports, to a stint in charge of Rough Trade’s events, as well as independently booking and promoting local artists for the last two decades too, his fingerprints have been on a lot of the city’s musical successes. Earlier this year though, he took on a tough new challenge – transforming Saltbox from a little-known sports bar into a versatile 500-person capacity music venue and events space. 

To find out more, we sat down with Sam to chat about his first seven months running the venue, the hurdles he’s had to overcome in that time, and what he has planned for the venue and his band in 2025…

We chat to Becky Unthank about winter, family and the Northern weather

Ahead of their headline show in Nottingham, Becky Unthank talks with Michael Prince about In Winter, the new album from The Unthanks. Together, they delve into tales as old as time...

Gig review: The Slow Readers Club at Rescue Rooms

Manchester indie outfit The Slow Readers Club are no strangers to Nottingham, having played our city a whopping 10 times in the last eight years. With a strong following in Nottingham as a result, it made sense for them to kick off their current UK run at Rescue Rooms, including several live debuts for tracks off their forthcoming, seventh studio album, Out of A Dream. Here’s what went down…

Gig review: Sports Team at Rescue Rooms

Sports Team ‘Go Fishing’ for more than they expected at Rescue Rooms, the crowd delivering on their beer sloshing, gear moshing mayhem. Adept support was delivered by C Turtle and mary in the junkyard...

The Thompsons on Raves, the burning of Nottingham Castle and Notts Forest Women

We revisited Nottingham's most opinionated grocers this month...

Notts indie crooners Victory Lap talk inspirations, origins, and finding their sound

Victory Lap are undeniably one of Nottingham’s breakout bands of 2024. Prior to their debut EP Torch Songs, which was released in July, they were already making waves. But now, they have reached new heights, with an upcoming UK headline tour in the diary - including a show at Nottingham’s very own The Bodega. We chat to Tomas Ponting and James Denham about the band’s early origins, how they found their signature sound, and a suspicious new Fanta flavour which has emerged onto shelves…