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Gig review: Nouvelle Vague bring bossa nova new wave suave to Metronome Nottingham

French bossa nova collective Nouvelle Vague came to Notts last week to bring sumptuous spectacle and sophistication to Metronome with their new-wave covers...

Theatre Review: Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak at Lakeside Arts

Using a combination of comedy, storytelling and knitted vegetables, Victoria Melody treated us to a tale of resistance that was both tender and galvanising...

Exhibition review: Quiver at Lakeside Arts

Kate MccGwire's latest solo exhibition, Quiver, is a powerful overview of 25 years' worth of work. Typically, it does not shy away from the uncomfortable. Bulging, writhing and rippling through more than three rooms at the Lakeside Arts Centre, Quiver is a body of sculptural work made alive through the dualities MccGwire is fascinated with: the potent beauty of the natural world, and its powerful, sometimes grotesque underbelly…

Artworks: Anna Mylonas of Nine Two Five Silver

For this month’s Artworks, we hear from Anna Mylonas, a Notts-based silversmith who runs Nine Two Five Silver.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #35: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2025, our music team reviews new releases from Kai-Otee, LYVIA, Bored Marsh, Fools & Sages, Willow Bay and Revenge of Calculon...

Hart of the Wood: the film installations at Newstead Abbey inspired by forest folklore

With its elegant ruins, serene rolling gardens and rich literary history, Newstead Abbey already makes for an atmospheric autumnal wander, but currently, another escape awaits within its historic landscape. Dotted within the grounds, the Hart of the Wood project shares a series of intriguing 16mm films exploring the seasons, our relationship with folklore and the land. We spoke to Notts filmmaker Benjamin Wigley to hear about the artistry and story behind these curious hand-powered moving pictures…

Artist and actor Heather Agyepong on her latest exhibition at New Art Exchange

Heather Agyepong is a British-Ghanaian photographer, visual artist and actor based in London. In 2024 she entered her work into the New Art Exchange Open and won one of the awards. This led to her current solo exhibition From Sunrise to Sunset, She Worked to Reform Herself: Part 1 which is on show in the city until January. She told us more about her intriguing art practice, finding space for rest and life as an actor…

Left Brian: November 2025 - A New Daw...Dyche!

Our Forest columnist Julie Pritchard, the creator of the classic nineties 'Brian' fanzine, is back to give her thoughts on the last month at the city ground. Strap yourself in! 

Rap artist JayaHadADream on her debut record and the Nottingham music scene

Since winning last year’s Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent competition, things have only been on the up for Cambridge-via-Notts artist JayaHadADream. From collaborating with both local names and national heavyweights in dance music and hip hop, like Andy Zoutr, Gardna, and Flowdan, to receiving nods from the likes of Stormzy, there’s truly no stopping her. Wonderfully, she also got her start right here in Nottingham.

With her debut album Happiness From Agony now released, plus a Metronome show this month, she told us how life’s going at the moment.

Undercover artist: illustrator Isabelle Farrar is busy and inspired

Artist Isobelle Farrar, who designed this month’s spooky cover, tells us about her inspirations and recent projects…

Sweet spot: taking a look at Effy’s new pastry collection

Since arriving on the Nottingham coffee scene in 2019, Effy has become a favourite haunt for local coffee connoisseurs in the know. Now this indie coffee shop is developing a reputation for its equally impressive pastries. Food co-editor Lucy Campion chats to owner Mitch Farr about the shop’s growing bakery operation.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #34: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from flöat, The Missing Diamonds, Emily Sanders, Di$mal and Lucy Crisp...

Journalist and author Frances Ryan on her new book and life as a woman with disabilities

Nottingham journalist and author Frances Ryan is Britain’s leading writer and activist for disabled people. She has spent years calling out reckless government policies and social ignorance towards disability, and been a beacon for people living with disabilities. This year she released a new book describing the daily differences of living with a disability. We caught up with her for a chat…

A conversation with Cara Thompson: Nottingham’s new Nature Poet Laureate

Back in late August, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature announced Cara Thompson as the city’s first Nature Poet Laureate. Cara is an art-ivist, performer, and writer, a founding member of the Nottingham Black Creatives Network and the 2021 winner of Slamovision. Her work draws heavily from her Caribbean-British background – encouraging creative discussion of social issues. Below we meet Cara and learn all about her… 

Inside The Correction Unit, a new sci-fi thriller made in Notts

Released on 23 September, The Correction Unit is the latest project from talented Nottingham-based filmmaker Derry Shillitto. The film follows a group of young offenders forced into a brutal correctional system with an AI, voiced by Bella Ramsey, at the centre. When one teen starts resisting the institution, questions arise surrounding control and human rights. To find out more about the production, which has featured almost entirely Notts talent, we spoke to Derry and young actor Zak Hopkinson.

A new Queer club night arriving in Nottingham: The creation of 'Trancesexuals'

Former LeftLion Screen Editor Autumn Parker and local artist & DJ Chan Hyacinth have teamed up to create a dynamic multi-genre trans powered club night collective Trancesexuals. Trancesexuals is a warm and welcoming space to showcase talented trans DJs across the UK, with an emphasis on alluring visuals, authentic vibes and a dynamic range of unique sounds. Their nights take place at trans-inclusive spaces and often hold specific themes to match the transcendental music and mood of the night. We caught up with Chan and Autumn to get more details of their club night, how Trancesexuals affirms the trans community and how the collective initially came together...

Artist Hetain Patel on his new audio visual show and his early career spent in Notts

Hetain Patel is an English visual artist specialising in performance, sculpture, video and photography. Born and brought up in Bolton, his work is influenced by identity, his family's Indian heritage and mainstream Western pop culture. Hetain came to Nottingham in 2000 as a Fine Art student and spent more than a decade here before spreading his wings; exhibiting in Norway, India, Belgium and more. He’s back with his latest work as part of nottdance Festival 2025…

Primary talks about their new open exhibition and visual arts in the Lenton and Radford community

Primary  has a lot going on. After years of renting, the multi-purpose arts organization bought their own building in 2020 (no mean feat in a sector that’s often chronically underfunded), and have since enjoyed an incredible period of growth, with investment from Arts Council England kicking off an upgrade project for their pretty beautiful Grade II listed former school building. This month Primary will host an exciting new open exhibition, so we decided to find out more about the building and its connection with the local community.

Theatre Review: Sealskin at Lakeside Arts

A spellbinding tale of selkies comes to Lakeside Arts... 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #33: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Bored Marsh, George Gadd + The Aftermath, Molly Godber and The Red Line...

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #14: Artist, Performer and Filmmaker Hetain Patel on Inspiration, Superheroes, Nationalism and Nottdance

This episode we are joined by artist, performer, filmmaker, sculptor and general arts polymath Hetain Patel to talk about his time in Notts, his work, superheroes, nationalism and quite a lot more...

Actor Matt Gavan gives the inside scoop on Nottingham Playhouse's new play Eureka Day

Matt Gavan has acted in big hitting films and series like Christopher Robin, Masters of the Air and Pennyworth. But now he is treading the boards in Nottingham Playhouse's new comedy Eureka Day. Leftlion caught up with Matt on day two of rehearsals... 

Artworks: Lucy Suggate and Tender Stones

For this month’s Artworks, we speak to dance artist and choreographer Lucy Suggate about her work Tender Stones, which will be performed this month as part of the 2025 nottdance Festival.

Stapleford singer George Gadd talks about his new band and debut album Too Many Ghosts

He’s been a stalwart of the local Nottingham music scene for over a decade now, so it seems quite remarkable that George Gadd’s debut album – the recently-released Too Many Ghosts – has taken this long to manifest. We caught up with the Stapleford singer-songwriter to hear about the making of this deeply personal first record, his musical influences, as well as his upcoming launch show at The Bodega…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #32: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this autumn edition of LeftLion's Latest Listen, our music team reviews new releases from Vona Vella, Cara Flynn and Dekker...