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Gig review: Little Simz at The Level

It’s not every day that genuine rap royalty drops into town. However, with highly anticipated new album Lotus dropping this Friday, the mighty Little Simz rolled into The Level for a Rough Trade outstore show to promote the new project. Armed with a vault of bangers she’s been hoarding, we headed over to The Level for this must-attend show with one of the greatest artists and rappers in the world today…

In photos: MJ Lenderman at Rock City, with Trace Mountains

Gig review: Sunday (1994) at The Bodega

"I'm the one with the torch": local boxer Ezra Taylor's journey to fighting at Motorpoint Arena

While the headline story from Queensberry Promotions’ recent Nottingham show may have been Leigh Wood’s unfortunate defeat to Anthony Cacace, in the same arena Ezra Taylor stepped into the spotlight - not just to win, but to announce himself. While it didn’t have the exclamation mark moment, it was a solid performance that marked a quieter moment of transition - a fighter beginning to find his rhythm on the big stage - and in doing so, offering Nottingham a glimpse of his next chapter. LeftLion was fortunate to be in the Taylor camp in the weeks leading up to, and on, fight night...

Gig review: Supergrass at Rock City

There were no bands quite like Supergrass, in 1995. At least, not our writer's hazy recollection. They stood out; slightly apart from their contemporaries. Off to the side seemingly having just that little bit more fun than anyone else. On the evidence of this riotous, rollocking show at Rock City, the same is just as true in 2025...

Gig review: Bryan Adams at Motorpoint Arena

With new songs under his belt, and a vast back catalogue of hits, Bryan Adams has come a long way since his 90s Wembley Stadium heyday. We headed to Motorpoint Arena to find out if the Canadian rocker is still on form...

Gig review: Hachiku at The Grove, with Lucy Crisp and Emzae

Following its win at the Duckies last week, we headed to The Grove to catch two local artists - and one from very far away…

Gig review: Moonlit at Rough Trade

Recent winners (for good reason!) of the Ultimate Battle of the Bands, Moonlit, headlined Rough Trade Nottingham alongside fellow NTU artists Skunk and Emily Sanders…

Gig review: The Waterboys at Rock City

To celebrate the release of Life, Death and Dennis Hopper - a concept album celebrating the film pioneer the project is named after - The Waterboys have embarked on an impressive 32-date tour across the UK. Naturally, LeftLion couldn’t miss their visit to Nottingham...

Gig review: The Amazons at Rough Trade

The sun is out, the weather is warm, and Nottingham's Rough Trade is buzzing with energy as the dance floor fills with eager gig-goers, all gathering to see The Amazons. Now two days into their in-store Rough Trade tour, the rock band, known for their anthemic sound and blistering live performances, continue to draw crowds with ease... 

Gig review: Richard Dawson at Metronome

For a man with a bizarre and enigmatic back catalogue, Newcastle’s folk troubadour Richard Dawson possesses a rare gift: to create songs that revel in the mundane while also providing an elemental musical base that allows his tales to flourish. At Nottingham's Metronome, Dawson, with his leg encased in a surgical boot, was able to put on a show packed with a gamut of emotions; a night of opinion polls, cheese pasties, ghost stories and a ruptured Achilles tendon made for an evening which will go down as one of the most bizarre in a long time...

Gig review: Kid Spirit at Mist Rolling Inn

Alt-rock four-piece KID SPIRIT are carving their own path in Nottingham, and Mist Rolling Inn provided the perfect venue to showcase their talents...

Gig review: Soda Blonde at The Bodega

Gig review: Personal Trainer at Rescue Rooms

Dutch indie rock band Personal Trainer swung by Rescue Rooms on their UK tour of their 2024 release Still Waiting, much to the excitement of LeftLion. We headed down for a Thursday night boogie…

In photos: Panic Shack at The Bodega, with The Pill

Gig review: Greentea Peng at Rock City

Self-described psychedelic RnB singer-songwriter Greentea Peng returned to Rock City with intention, clarity and energy to burn...

Gig review: Anastacia at the Royal Concert Hall

Emerging in the early 2000s, Chicago pop-rock legend Anastacia is still going strong 25 years later. Overcoming numerous health battles and winning a GQ Humanitarian award for Breast Cancer awareness in the process, Anastacia delivered her eighth studio album titled Our Songs in late 2023. With the beloved singer bringing that latest album and a quarter century of chart hits to Nottingham for the Not That Kind tour, we knew we had to go along and experience that iconic voice in person…

In photos: Roddy Woomble at Metronome

'Bad Betty Live' Returns to Peggy's Skylight

This Sunday, watch the best live poetry with a daiquiri in hand.

Gig review: Self Esteem at Rescue Rooms

With the launch of the new album A Complicated Woman, there's plenty to celebrate for Self Esteem. We dropped in to one of her very special Rescue Rooms shows and found the pop artist on exceptional form, despite some tiredness...

Gig review: Cliffords at The Bodega

A double bill from Ireland - Cliffords and Bold Love - took to The Bodega on Wednesday night. The next two great bands to emerge from the country? We certainly think so…

Gig review: The essence of "____" at The Bodega

When Corder, co-founder of local promoters Nottalott, set up his first event in March of last year entitled 'The Essence of Punk', the feedback and support for the event was overwhelmingly positive. It was only honourable that 12 months later he would put on a second - more enigmatically titled - event, not only to mark the anniversary, but to celebrate what the first event achieved: a platform to champion local talent, as well as to support local causes...

Gig review: Panchiko at Rough Trade Nottingham

Going from an internet mystery that looked like it was never going to be solved to a well-known cult classic band across the UK, there isn’t any other Nottingham outfit that has been on as much of a journey as Panchiko…

Gig review: Primal Scream at Rock City

Primal Scream are stone-cold legends of British music. From fusing rock-and-roll with the burgeoning acid-house scene to delirious effect on 1991’s masterpiece Screamadelica, through the brash vitriol and anger of 2000’s XTRMNTR and the pop-flecked Chaosmosis, their restlessness and ability to wrap disparate genres around their inimitable core of emotionally weighty songwriting has secured their position as one of the most vital bands of their generation...

Gig review: Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls at Rock City

From the moment our writer Bassey joined the large queues to get into Rock City, he knew this was going to be a special night. When Frank Turner's playing it always is. The hard-working troubadour was in town with his band The Sleeping Souls to promote the aptly-named album Undefeated, and the atmosphere was electric with eager anticipation...