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Eclectic Nottingham jazz rock band Otala tell us about their new single Commedia

Teetering on the intersection between post-rock, spoken word poetry, and new-age jazz, Otala have garnered local interest for their unique tapestry of creative inspiration. Their latest single Commedia marks the beginning of an exciting year for the band. We sat down with frontman Oscar Thorpe, saxophonist Charlotte Foulkes, and drummer Fin Hills to talk about their upcoming record…

In Photos: Stone Cold Hustle at Peggy's Skylight

Our Top Picks for Pint of Science 2024

Pint of Science Festival is back this 10th-15th May 2024, ready to serve up another selection of pub-based exploration into the world of science and innovation. From AI-made music, to food and nutrition, and even a dash of climate bother, there’s plenty to spark your curiosity. Here are our top tips for what to check out…

We talk to comedian Peter Serafinowicz ahead of his Theatre Royal gig in June

Ahead of his gig at Theatre Royal Nottingham, the creative genius behind Brian Butterfield sheds some light on his alter ego...

Miniature Designer and Youtuber Louise Sugden Talks Warhammer and the Industry’s Roots in Nottingham

From working at Games Workshop to amassing over 100k followers on YouTube, Louise Sugden is a hardcore Warhammer hobbyist whose miniature goblins have sold into the thousands. We sat down to discuss the art of miniature making, being a YouTube creator, and how the industry is so embedded in Nottingham.

Food Review: Bang Pa In - The Newest Supper Club in Nottingham Weaves Tales of Thailand

Competition: Win Tickets For Live At The Hall Featuring Razorlight

Get ready for an epic night of music at Wollaton Hall on Friday 30 August, as "Live at the Hall" brings together an all-star lineup featuring Razorlight, Feeder, The Pigeon Detectives, and The Sherlocks.

LeftLion have three pairs of tickets to give away. The winners will be drawn on Monday 20 May and notified by email soon after. To be in with a chance of winning read on...

Ballet, Talks About Women in Music, a Movie About the UK Rave Scene and Literature Lectures: Here's What's On In Nottingham This Week: 29 April - 5 May 2024

This week in Nottingham we have ballet, talks about women in music, a movie about the UK rave scene and literature lectures from acclaimed international authors...

In Photos: Record Store Day 2024 at Rough Trade

We Hear the Story Behind Luminarium Inventors Architects of Air

If you have ever agreed with the phrase ‘there’s nothing new under the sun’, respectfully, you are mistaken. Tucked away in one of Nottingham’s many old lace factories, Architects of Air are once again busy building a wondrous world-class experience like no other. The Luminarium: Luminimax has its international premiere at Lakeside Arts at the end of May, so we went down to the workshop to hear more and see exactly what it takes to build such a strange unique experience.

Pick Six: Izzy Bradley

This month we turned to the colourful, creative Izzy Bradley, General Manager at Architects of Air

L’Objectif Talk 'The Left Side', the Bodega and Pink Hair

In the Swing: We Catch up with Swing Dash on Their Second Birthday

Nottingham Resident Diala Isid Talks Us About the Current Situation in Palestine and How She Started a Palestinian Running Campaign

Marhaba! I’m Diala Isid and I’ve been living here in Nottingham for around four years. I moved from Palestine to do my masters at the University of Nottingham and then found a job at a Renewable Energy Company in Beeston called EvoEnergy. I decided to make Nottingham my second home because it felt like one!

Watch: Growing Pains

Watch a new short film made in Nottingham by a local cast and crew about a young woman whose ill father who self-medicates with cannabis. When school bullies discover her dad's medicine is homegrown, Rhea quickly learns that sharing is not always caring...

Gig Review: SPRINTS at The Bodega

Hitting Nottingham for the penultimate date of their sold-out UK tour, SPRINTS had lots to celebrate. Their debut album, Letter to Self, has received widespread critical acclaim; their tour has sold out; and here they are, full of energy, attitude in spades, and preparing to bring joy to The Bodega...

We Sat Down With Farm to Fork Fine Dining Restaurant Jericho

From the chaotic scenes portrayed in series like The Bear to the high tensions captured in British dramas like Boiling Point, the intense atmosphere of restaurant kitchens is no secret. These environments are often characterised by extreme stress, with high-end establishments notoriously earning reputations for mistreating staff and inhabiting a sub-culture of abuse and exhaustion - so bad that it’s described by some chefs as akin to ‘going to war’.

Theatre Review: Liberation Squares at the Playhouse

Truth be told, Sonali Bhattacharyya has written a big play over a long period of time to fit into the relatively small Neville Studio at Nottingham Playhouse. And this is the kind of hugeness that Bea Udeh found bursting from the scenes of this world premiere production of  Liberation Squares...

Local Star Holly Humberstone Discusses Rising Fame, Overcoming Stage Fright and Her New Release

Local star Holly Humberstone is on a high, and still rising fast. We caught up with her between tours to discuss her confessional songwriting, how she has gained confidence performing on stage, and why Nottingham is still so special to her.

LeftLion Contributor Scott Oliver Wins Prestigious Cricket Literary Prize

Former LeftLion sports editor, Scott Oliver, has won one of cricket’s most prestigious literary prizes, the Wisden Book of the Year, for his debut book Sticky Dogs & Stardust. The book is a collection of essays detailing the exploits of some of the sport’s bona fide legends – among them the former Notts players Garfield Sobers, Kevin Pietersen, Andre Russell and Imran Tahir - when they turned out in league cricket alongside enthusiastic amateurs who they were expected to dominate. Oliver himself also played at Wollaton CC for a time. To celebrate Scott's success we are delighted to present this extract from the book – covering Pietersen’s troubled stint at Cannock – along with an exclusive discount code.

Drivers, Day Trips and Lost Teeth: Trentbarton Buses Managing Director Tom Morgan Talks to Us About Their Community on Wheels

There’s an old saying that a bus is not just a means of transportation, it's a community on wheels. Local bus company trentbarton have been part of our community for over a century now. We put some questions to their Managing Director Tom Morgan about their history, their team and their local environment…

We Spoke to Will Mellor Ahead of his Two Pints Podcast Live at Royal Concert Hall

Later this month Will Mellor and Ralf Little are coming to Nottingham with their highly successful comedy tour, Two Pints Podcast live. We sat down for a sneak preview from Will…

Music Reviews: April 2024

LeftLion Listens: Kai-Otee, Roshan Sabet, Di$mal, Sharon Watkins, Rat Face Lewey, Drone Queen, Deri Sharman, Kirvn, ThaiThai, EM

Poetry, Light Displays, and The History of Electronic Music Here's What's On This Week in Nottingham: 15 - 21 April 2024

There's plenty to keep you entertained this week in Nottingham, from futuristic light displays in the sky to reflective poetry and the history of electronic music. Here's our top picks of what to get up to....

We Chat to Lizzie Esau About Her New Single, Working with Steve Grainger, and Dot to Dot

Lizzie Esau may hail from Newcastle, but her long-time working relationship with Notts-based producer Steve Grainger means that she is an honorary citizen. We chat to her all about her latest single Wait Too Late, her upcoming appearance at Dot to Dot, and her unofficially-announced upcoming sophomore EP...