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Gig review: Berlioz at Rock City

Jazz, house, electronica... all is fused in a wondrous and poetic musical array in the work of Berlioz. His performance at one of Nottingham's most legendary rock venues proved that our city welcomes all genres with open arms...

Gig review: Man/Woman/Chainsaw at The Bodega

Let's face it: Man/Woman/Chainsaw should be on your ones-to-watch list. Hailing from London, the talented five-piece have been a true come-of-age story. Upheld in a vibrant and supportive DIY community, their debut EP Eazy Peazy has been snatching headlines with its theatrical beauty and joyous experimental frolics. During a celebratory tour, the band hit up Nottingham's beloved Bodega with a point to prove...

Folk music, theatre, Light Night and dancing: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham 24 February - 2 March

The nights are getting brighter and there's lots of reasons to get out in Nottingham this week! Enjoy some soothing folk music, mesmerising light displays, breath-taking belly dance, hilarious theatre or late night DJs...

We speak to Keep Our NHS Public, a campaign group against privatisation and underfunding

Our oldest contributor Mike Scott is the chair of the Notts branch of Keep our NHS Public, a two-decade old organization campaigning against privatization and underfunding of the National Health Service. With more discourse than ever on the problems that the NHS is facing, we speak to Mike about why the institution that saves us is so worth saving.

Gig review: Punk Rock Factory at Rough Trade

After catching Punk Rock Factory’s unforgettable performance at Rock City last year, our designer Natalie was so impressed that she didn’t hesitate to grab a ticket for their intimate gig at Rough Trade, and an unforgettable experience...

How Sarah Bard went from battling chronic illness to breaking through in wheelchair tennis

Wheelchair Tennis player and Nottingham resident Sarah Bard is nothing less than a soldier. Having fought through lifelong chronic pain and mobility problems, which peaked after an accident she suffered at age thirty, she’s cemented her position as one of our city’s most admired sportspeople. Back in 2018, LeftLion joined other local media in promoting Sarah’s story, and ‘Go-Fund-Me’ for a new wheelchair to help her travel to national tournaments. Here we pass Sarah the pen to tell her inspiring story.

Gig review: Circa Waves at Rock City

Celebrating the release of new album Death & Love Pt.1, Circa Waves brought their festival anthems to the legendary venue that is Rock City with a high-energy performance that spanned across the range of their six studio albums. Birmingham indie rockers Peace joined as main support... 

Gig review: Marvin's Revenge at JT Soar

Marvin’s Revenge not only hosted and performed a blazing gig at Nottingham's JT Soar, but at the same time rasied funds to make their New York dreams come true. We got in on the action...

Universities for Nottingham’s Co(l)laboratory programme is seeking committed citizens for paid events shaping local research

The groundbreaking Co(l)laboratory programme is looking for local workers, people who are active in the community, and those with lived experience of facing complex challenges to take part in upcoming paid events that will help set the research agenda.

Gig review: Welly at The Bodega

Immersive, exciting and utterly captivating - that was the atmosphere as Welly hit The Bodega's stage, unleashing creative chaos from the first moment. With The Pill and Polly Money setting the scene, the evening was unforgettable and proved this band are absolutely one to watch...

Feathers and royalty: Matthew Bourne's New Adventures - Swan Lake flaps into town

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures - Swan Lake returns to The Theatre Royal. After thirty years, has the ballet lost any of its charm? 

Gig review: Bayside at Rescue Rooms

If Bayside are one of those bands always on the periphery of your scene knowledge... make them one of your go-to bands. Their makeshift ‘Greatest Hits’ tour has pin-balled the enigmatic five-piece through the last 25 years, and with a stop off in Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, it was a headline show hard to forget...

Gig review: Hamish Hawk at Rescue Rooms

Quirky, energetic and immensely talented character Hamish Hawk continued his A Firmer Hand tour with a visit to Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, bringing a breath of fresh air and wowing the appreciative crowd...

From Masterchef to Market Street: Vanilla Bean bakery and café opens in Bingham

Opened by former MasterChef contestant Amy Vyse, Vanilla Bean is an artisan bakery, café and patisserie in Bingham, which doubles as the new residence for popular Nottingham supper club Incognito Club. Lucy Campion, food co-editor, chatted to Amy about her culinary journey so far and tried a selection of the baked goods on offer.

Gig review: Delights at The Bodega

Mancunian indie outlet Delights are simply incredible. They mix indie with funk and lo-fi sounds and ideas to create a chilled and cinematic sound that was built for the stage. We caught up with them on the third night of their UK headline tour, promoting the album If Heaven Looks A Little Like This, with support from Flat Party and Leah Wilcox...

Gig review: Noisemakers' Guild & Club Rivera at The Chapel, with Jude Forsey

Noisemakers' Guild took to the stage at The Chapel for a performance with Italian jazz funk band Club Rivera. With young local singer-songwriter Jude Forsey in support, the night was one to remember...

Living Sobar: Friar Lane's Café Sobar talk redefining recovery

Founded back in 2014 by local addiction recovery charity Double Impact, Café Sobar has become a beacon for change for many in Notts. Providing people in recovery a space for growth via meetings, volunteering and work opportunities, the venue team is ever-ambitious to redefine recovery through a unique, community driven approach. We met team-members Char Ogley and Pete Grimes to find out how, ten years on, the venue’s mission has evolved. 

We hear from GOBs Poetry Collective on their fifth anniversary

One of Nottingham’s leading poetry groups, GOBS Collective, turns five this year. With an impressive list of publications, events and live showcases under their belts, our Literature Editor Andrew Tucker talks about the need for such creative communities that help people find their poetic voice.

Gig review: High Vis at Rescue Rooms

Following on from their third studio album Guided Tour, which was well-received by fans and critics alike, High Vis threw down a marker at Nottingham's Rescue Rooms. Arguably one of the most enigmatic hardcore punk/rock groups on the live circuit at the moment, the second date on their tour saw the rock five-piece hit the East Midlands with a headline show too hard to forget...

Punk, Shakespearian tragedy, trans cinema, and photography exhibitions: here's what's on this week 17 - 23 Februray 2025

This week in Nottingham! Be sure to check out The DSM IV on tour at The Grove and Scotland’s finest Hamish Hawk at Rescue Rooms, if you love to cook or simply want to scrub up on your culinary skills check out James Martin Live down at the Royal Concert Hall, the history of trans representation will be televised in Broadway, indulge in a Shakespearian tragedy, or visit the critically acclaimed The Lovers exhibition at the New Art Exchange…

Gig review: Inhaler at Rock City

Inhaler are doing things big. This month, they embarked on their biggest-ever UK tour, covering eight cities. This followed four weeks in the US, and preceded 15 dates in Europe and a trip to Asia. We caught up with them at Rock City, where they played an enthralling 18-song set...

Hips Don’t Lie: we hear from belly dancer Marija Zinkevica about the upcoming Belly Dance Festival and building connection with the body through dance

After a career in computer science, Marija Zinkevica swapped life behind the screen for days onstage: teaching belly dance in Nottingham and performing in competitions around the world. Ahead of the first Belly Dance Festival at the start of March, we caught up with Marija to hear how this ancient dance can build confidence, community and a deep connection with the body.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #15: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Confyde, Idolvein, Cara Flynn, Marseille and ALT BLK ERA...

Gig review: Girl Scout at The Bodega, with Penny Moon

Sweden's Girl Scout delivered a highlight set at The Bodega during 2024's Dot To Dot Festival. Returning to the same stage less than a year later to deliver a blazing headline set, the band were welcomed warmly by an appreciative crowd, and supported deftly by local group Penny Moon...

In photos: Juga Naut at Peggy's Skylight