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Life behind bars: with Robyn Warwick, General Manager at Queen of Hockley

For the first instalment of our recurring feature Life Behind Bars we heard from Robyn Warwick, manager at Queen of Hockley.

Gloworm Festival Review

Gloworm Festival made its vibrant return from 8–10 August at its beloved home, Thoresby Park! Our very own Natalie took her family along to dive into the fun and experience all the magical moments the weekend had to offer…

Festival review: LeftLion at Y Not Festival 2025

This year, the turnout for Y Not Festival was unmatched and another big musical step forward for Nottingham artists. Along with huge bands including The Prodigy, Courteeners, Franz Ferdinand, The Last Dinner Party, Sigrid, and Madness, the festival audience from all over the country witnessed many of our own city's top bands in a diverse, friendly and passionately musical environment. LeftLion was there to sample as much of the local action as possible...

The Thompsons on Splendour Festival, street names, and the Major Oak

Here's what Nottingham's most opinionated grocers had to say about this month's topics in LeftLion...

Festival review: Sunday at Splendour 2025 in Wollaton Park

Festival review: Saturday at Splendour 2025 in Wollaton Park

After a year away, the biggest weekend in the Nottingham musical calendar returned – Splendour Festival. With a stellar line-up of indie legends, pop icons, local heroes and the very best emerging talent from the Midlands and beyond, we headed down to Wollaton Hall to catch all the Saturday action…

A Life Composed in Stories: Author Frances Thimann on how classical music shaped her latest collection

Notts writer Frances Thimann’s latest short story collection, Sweet Thames, Run Softly, Till I End My Song, dives deep into the emotional pull of classical music. We caught up with her to discuss rivers, Bach and memory...

Festival review: Nottingham Chamber Music Festival – Tunnel Vision

The Nottingham Chamber Music Festival is an annual series of concerts put together by a team of dedicated volunteers, bringing classical music artists to some of our city’s most beautiful and historical spaces. For the closing concert of the 2025 edition, the festival worked with the Nottingham Park Residents Association to host string quartet, The Le Page Ensemble, in the stunning surroundings of the Park Tunnel. A special one-of-a-kind concert not to be missed, we went along to experience this cave-dwelling performance first-hand…

Musicals, festivals, and local legends: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 14 -21 July

From a musical about the life of a music legend, to the long-awaited return of a local one, if you're stuck for things to fill the coming week in Nottingham then you're certainly in the right place. Here are our picks...

The Sneinton Dragon: delving into local myths and legends ahead of the Sneinton Festival

Ahead of the Sneinton Festival this weekend, organiser Kathryn Cooper delves into local myth, the story of the Sneinton Dragon and our collective unconscious, with resident and local historian, Tom Huggon...

Ten reasons not to miss the return of Splendour Festival this year

After a brief hiatus, Nottingham’s much-loved Splendour Festival is back and ready to reclaim its place in the East Midlands’ cultural calendar. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July, the two-day music extravaganza returns to its original home in Nottingham, Wollaton Park. With expanded stages, some very well-known names in UK music, and plenty of surprises in store, Splendour 2025 is more than just a returning festival — it’s a celebration of live music, community, and Nottingham culture. 

Whether you’re planning to go for the sing-alongs, the new discoveries, or just a great pint with friends in the sun, this one’s not to be missed. To help get you hyped, here are ten very good reasons why you should mark your calendar now.

Review: Gate To Southwell Festival's 18th Birthday 2025

The charming Gate To Southwell Festival has become a LeftLion summer favourite: a vibrant, family-friendly event pushing the boundaries of roots and folk music, and only a few miles from Nottingham. We visited the festival's green fields on Saturday to help celebrate its 18th birthday...

Festival frenzy: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham, 7 July -13 July

This week in Nottingham, we find ourselves well-and-truly in festival season, as big music, art, and culture events take over the city centre and suburbs further afield. Meanwhile, there'll be some bluesy riffs blaring out of The Bodega on Friday night, while from Thursday to Saturday two Nottingham legends bid goodbye to their legendary, career-long partnership...

We Review Nottingham Poetry Festival 2025

Callum Minford reflects on this year's Nottingham Poetry Festival and what it reveals to us about Nottingham's writing scene. 

We chat to Set In Motion about what drives them, Splendour Festival, and their playlists...

Set in Motion are one of the Nottingham music scene’s most promising bands. Noted for catchy indie hooks, powerful songs and incredible live performances, over the last two years they’ve made a name for themselves as a guitar music powerhouse act. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Alfie Wallace, guitarist Dillan Telford, bassist Niall Hopkins and drummer Joe Carnell - outside the Fox and Grapes - to discuss their imminent Splendour Festival set, their future plans and what they’re listening to at the minute...

Equation Launches Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Survivors of Domestic Abuse

In a powerful show of solidarity and progress during Pride Month, Nottingham-based charity Equation has launched its dedicated LGBTQ+ Domestic Abuse Service...

Local indie rockers The Publics talk influences, community and Splendour Festival

Local indie legends The Publics are known for high energy live shows and a unique double frontman approach. From a huge, sold-out Rescue Rooms headline spot back in December to a main stage slot at Splendour this year, they’ve been up to some very big things. We caught up with lead guitarist Elliot Stephenson to discuss their influences, ethics and upcoming plans…

Festival review: LeftLion at Download Festival 2025

Rock and metal fans from around the world descended again on Donington Park – just a short drive from Nottingham – for the ultimate celebration of rock music. LeftLion's Natalie Owen was right there in the thick of it, soaking up the chaos, the riffs, and the raw energy of Download Festival – a true titan of the UK festival scene. Here's how it went down...

Blue Peter stars, football tournaments, and immersive adventures: Gloworm Festival unveils its most expansive lineup yet

Gloworm Festival is one of the most well loved fixtures in Nottingham's summer calendar - a dedicated family event that each year welcomes 20,000 visitors to Thoresby Park, in the heart of Nottinghamshire. With their most jam-packed line-up yet recently unveiled, we've provided you with some highlights at this year's instalment. 

Our June cover artist Lily Keogh talks festivals and perfectionism

This month’s cover artist Lily Keogh talks about festivals, neurodivergence and perfectionism.

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival Returns This Weekend!

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival is back once again at Sneinton Market Avenues this weekend for its seventh year. Over 4000 attendees are expected over three sessions on Fri 20 and Sat 21 June 2025. 

Competition: Win Tickets To Splendour Festival 2025

Splendour Festival is back on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20  July after a year's hiatus. The festival returns to Wollaton Park bigger than ever with dozens of well known acts and lots of upcoming talent on the line-up. And we have two pairs of tickets to give away...

Pride celebrations, live music and Craft Beer Festival: Here's what's on in Nottingham 16 - 22 June 2025

This week is a great one for music in Notts, with both Bright Eyes and Patrick Wolf performing in the city. There's also Pride celebrations at Broadway Cinema and the return of the Craft Beer Festival. Here's our top picks...

Poetry Festival, indie music and Shakespeare: Here's whats on in Nottingham 9 - 15 June 2025

There's loads of events happening this week in Notts. We have the start of the Poetry festival, a re-invention of Hamlet, a indie music market and a live podcast event from Scummy Mummies...

Words to live by: marking one decade of the Nottingham Poetry Festival with poet Ben Macpherson

This month marks the tenth anniversary of Nottingham Poetry Festival - a kaleidoscopic set of events that sees poetry collide with activities like musical open mics, meditation and arts and crafts, all the while celebrating the art form, and its age-old centrality to the city of Nottingham. To mark the occasion, festival producer and local poet Ben Macpherson told us about the festival’s importance to Nottingham, and what people can expect from this year.