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Did LeftLion save the Sheriff in Escapologic’s Robin Of Lockskey escape room?

Last week as Escapologic celebrated their 10th birthday, the LeftLion team were invited down to try out another of their fantastic escape rooms, Robin Of Lockskey. But did we manage to save the Sheriff and escape? Read on to find out…

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...

We speak to Alabama 3 about nicknames, The Sopranos theme song, and keeping it very real

Our writer Ria was thrilled - and a little nervous - to speak with Alabama 3 frontman Rob Spragg following the band's triumphant Rescue Rooms show. But nerves were quickly put aside as the conversation turned to nicknames, storytelling and The Sopranos...

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...

Gig review and interview: Pale Blue Eyes at The Bodega

Following the release of their third album New Place, Pale Blue Eyes have been bringing their new record, carefree charm and hypnotic energy to the stage. The innovative Totnes-Sheffield shoegaze trio have travelled far and wide, and we were lucky to be graced with their surreal presence yet again at The Bodega in Nottingham, and have the chance to chat to the band, too...

Gig review: Skunk Anansie at Rock City

The force of nature that is Skunk Anansie are on tour promoting their new album The Painful Truth. Three decades since he first witnessed Skin and the rest of the band in action, Mike Hazeldine went down to their sell out gig at what must be one of the best live music venues in the country, Rock City...

Gig review: The Zutons at Rock City

Do you wanna stay out all night? Are we gonna hang ’til it’s light? Do you wanna get outta your mind..? The Zutons have got the Rock City crowd Creepin’ on the Dancefloor…

Revisiting the legend of the Lord of Milan with author Robert Nieri

Back in 2016 Author Robert Nieri released a book The Lord of Milan about Herbert Kilpin, the 19th century Notts-born butchers son who emigrated to Italy and went on to found AC Milan football club. A crew from LeftLion joined him out there for its release and ended up making an award-winning film too. Here he updates us on what’s happened since, including a reburial for Herbert and another influx of Italian visitors to Nottingham…

Gig review: Alabama 3 at Rescue Rooms

While they may be best known for creating the opening theme for one of the greatest TV shows ever made, HBO’s The Sopranos, Alabama 3 are an iconic outfit in their own right. Known for their unique crossover sound which brings together acid house and trip-hop with country and blues rock, the British collective has continued to endure over the last 30 years. Currently touring their first two albums Exile On Coldharbour Lane and La Peste, along with some other greatest hits, we went along to catch their Rescue Rooms show…

Gig review: Sofy at The Bodega

Rising indie-pop star Sofy brought her signature blend of witty lyricism, infectious energy and genre-blurring sound to a sold-out Bodega. With a set packed full of fan favourites, playful moments and unstoppable crowd energy, she proved why she’s quickly becoming one to watch…

In photos: Gurriers at Rescue Rooms

Review: Karma Weekender at Saltbox (Friday)

Music festivals don’t have to be stuck in a muddy festival to have connotations of carnage and chaos. This equally applies to all day inner-city ones, as the Karma Weekender at Saltbox proved. Here's what happened on the first day...