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Festival Review: Dot To Dot 2026
Sun 31 May 2026One of the hottest weekends of the year – what could possibly make it better? I know – Dot to Dot Festival! Always one of the best days in the musical calendar, the sun was shining bright this May Bank Holiday for the annual, jam-packed day of venue-hopping, new music discovery and general good times with good friends. Immersing ourselves in the festival’s unrivalled party atmosphere, this is what we encountered at another incredible Dot to Dot in 2026…
East Midlands Pamphlet Prize launched by Bad Betty, in partnership with Writing East Midlands and Nottingham Poetry Festival
Sun 31 May 2026Notts based independent publisher Bad Betty Press has announced the launch of the East Midlands Pamphlet Prize, a new initiative designed to support and platform poets living, working and studying across our region.
Art, theatre, and poetry: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 1 - 7 June
Sun 31 May 2026Summer's here, and Nottingham's ready for it. Here are some fantastic events happening this week which we think are worth checking out.
Festival Review: Bearded Theory 2026
Sun 31 May 2026Now a firm staple of the local festival calendar, Bearded Theory takes place in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside and is a haven for music lovers looking to kick start their festival season with plenty of wonder and family fun. Taking place over an extremely hot and sunny May bank holiday weekend, the 2026 edition boasted one of the most stacked line-ups of local, national and international talent that we can remember. To give us an insight, LeftLion contributor Marta Tavares went along to report from Catton Park…
Film review: The Last Spy
Fri 29 May 2026Katherina Otto-Bernstein’s insightful documentary ‘The Last Spy’ delves into the life of Peter Sichel, a German-born Jew who served in the United States’ secret service throughout the aftermath of Nazi occupation and throughout the Cold War.
Book Review: Spring Fever by Thomas Legendre
Fri 29 May 2026Thought-provoking, feasible and very hard to put down, Spring Fever is Thomas Legendre's third novel set between Nottingham and London. Somewhat dystopian in its depiction of a futuristic virus that affects both people and technology, the story follows protagonist Amanda Nigh meeting American ice hockey player Craig Merlau as they set about finding a cure for Spring Fever...
Theatre Review: RONiN at Lakeside Arts
Wed 27 May 2026RONiN tells the story of a swordswoman up against overwhelming odds in this innovative and visually striking show...
Theatre Review: Barnum at the Nottingham Playhouse
Wed 27 May 2026Roll up, roll up! Barnum brings big top joy to Nottingham Playhouse...
Film review: Surrender to It
Tue 26 May 2026From the creative mind of the Midlands’ own Nottingham Television Workshop comes Tim Bryn Smith’s latest feature film, Surrender to It. This compelling narrative weaves together a journey of adventure, the pain of loss, and the enduring power of friendship.
Film review: The Devil Wears Prada 2
Mon 25 May 2026Strike a pose, your favourite iconic quartet has strutted back onto our screens after twenty years, ready to fulfil fans with their charm, ambition, and cerulean clothes. The Devil Wears Prada 2, directed by David Frankel, has officially hit UK cinemas and here’s what to expect…
Gig review: DMA's at Rock City
Sat 23 May 2026Australian rock band DMA's have become a core part of musical memories for so many people. With music spanning a decade-and-a-half, their tours have become pilgrimages for their loyal fans worldwide. Their return to Nottingham was, of course, centred on Rock City...
Concert Review: The Hallé's Disco Dynamite at the Royal Concert Hall
Sat 23 May 2026Manchester's world famous orchestra The Hallé are back. And this time they are getting down with the groove. But will it go with a bang?
LeftLion's Latest Listens #45: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 22 May 2026In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from The Littlemen feat. Hector Moralez, Lucy Crisp, Darling I Dreamt and Kid Spirit...
Gig review: The Lemon Twigs at Rescue Rooms
Thu 21 May 2026New York City’s very own The Lemon Twigs came over from the States to treat the people of Nottingham to some whimsical, jangly goodness. We went to Rescue Rooms to catch the band on the first date of their UK tour...
Classical concert review: Warsaw Philharmonic with Krzysztof Urbański at the Royal Concert Hall
Thu 21 May 2026The Warsaw Philharmonic brings a night of Polish and Austro-German composers to Nottingham...
Theatre Review: Scenes from a Friendship at Nottingham Playhouse
Thu 21 May 2026Time-hop through nineties teendom into adulthood with the latest gem from Nottingham playwright, Jane Upton. A messy trip down memory lane to make us laugh, cry and celebrate the friendships that shape us...
Gig review: Girli at Rough Trade
Wed 20 May 2026Another day, another chance to see a great artist performing at Rough Trade. To celebrate the release of her new album It's Just My Opinion, Girli (aka Milly Toomey) headed out across the country to perform intimate in-store shows for her fans, including a return to Rough Trade. Girli’s music is a chaotic but fresh mix that sits at the intersection of electropop, pop‑punk and synth‑pop and she brought this out from the offset...
Gig review: Witches Mortuary at the Mist Rolling Inn
Tue 19 May 2026Witches Mortuary is a band that may be unknown to a majority of the music listening public, but their story is absolutely awe-inspiring. Forming in July 2025, this group of young, hungry musicians have made a name for themselves in the local scene with an album, EP, and this concert, their first, at the Mist Rolling Inn. Their flavour of stoner doom metal has really caught the attention of the Nottingham metal scene, and their talent has translated to relative popularity as they have caught traction all over the internet...
Dance Review: Breakin' Convention
Mon 18 May 2026Impressive Break Dancing on offer at Nottingham's annual festival
Gig review: The Wonder Stuff at Rock City (again!)
Mon 18 May 2026Four decades on from their small Stourbridge beginnings, The Wonder Stuff are still here playing live at one of their favourite venues. Tonight they are celebrating their 40th anniversary. But this isn’t just a nostalgia act: loss, line-up changes, hiatuses and everything else that you can throw at a band have taken their toll over the years, but their fans have remained loyal and they’re packing out Rock City tonight.
Theatre Review: Papillons at Lakeside Arts
Thu 14 May 2026Papillons: A beautiful invitation, fully realised...
Theatre review: Take Flight at Lakeside Arts is an aerial treat for parents and babies
Wed 13 May 2026Following a mother and baby bird through the early stages of parenthood, Take Flight by local theatre company Rebel Sparks came to Lakeside Arts this weekend, uplifting early years theatre to new heights. Izzy and Bobby Bradley went down to check it out...
LeftLion's Latest Listens #44: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 08 May 2026In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from Bloodworm, No Peeling, People Laughing, Cathedra and Paytron Saint & Emzae…
Gig review: Smash Into Pieces at Rock City
Wed 06 May 2026Swedish rockers Smash Into Pieces made a memorable stop in Nottingham, squeezing into Rock City as part of their UK and EU tour. While the venue was left in one piece, the impact of the gig will be marked in our minds for a long time to come...
Breakin’ Convention brings Hip Hop to Notts: founder Jonzi D tells all
Tue 05 May 2026Founded by Jonzi D, Hip Hop dance festival Breakin’ Convention returns to the Theatre Royal and Concert Hall this month. Bringing together world-class artists such as Ivan Michael Blackstock – a visionary creative behind choreography for Beyoncé - and local voices from rapper and spoken word performer Jah Digga to Hyson Green’s Take1Dance studio, in a celebration of dance, music and storytelling. Ahead of what’s guaranteed to be a boundary pushing celebration of one of the most exciting art forms to watch, Jonzi D talks to us about challenging preconceptions about where Hip Hop belongs…
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