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Gig review: Dusty 4 Track album launch at Rough Trade, with RonnieToldUs and Jinda Biant

Rough Trade was host to Dusty 4 Track last weekend as they celebrated the vinyl release of their debut album How Did I Get Here? with support from Jinda Biant and RonnieToldUs. Sophie Gargett went along to check it out...

A walk in the park: how the King George V Memorial Fund helped preserve our green spaces

We’re lucky to have lots of local parks in Nottingham – but they don’t just establish or maintain themselves. As the lungs, playgrounds, and life-givers of our city, they’ve seen a whole range of uses over time, from wartime food growing through to cricket grounds, football pitches, and skate parks. Celebrating the enduring legacy of King George V’s memorial fund, genealogist and local historian Russell Davies of Leaves of History digs deep into the origins of the parks it bestowed, and their shifting purposes and stewardship.

Review: Dave Rowntree in conversation at Metronome

Spring has sprung and swept into town not one, but two members of much-loved 1990s indie survivors Blur in recent weeks. Following a dazzling appearance by virtuoso frontman Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz at the arena the night the clocks went forward, much-loved drummer Dave Rowntree’s date in our fair city may be far more low-key but is still engaging and enlightening. Here on the latest leg of his Q&A tour to promote his new coffee table-style photographic memoir of the band’s early days, No One You Know, Rowntree spent 90 minutes regaling the audience with the stories behind the celluloid images under the trusty stewardship of BBC Radio Nottingham’s Dean Jackson...

Gig review: RockCorps at Rock City with Tinie Tempah, JayaHadADream and LYVIA

Nottingham RockCorps rocked Rock City on Wednesday night, with unforgettable performances from local stars JayaHadADream and LYVIA. The main headliner was the one and only Tinie Tempah...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #43: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Book of Churches, Dusty 4 Track, Firmament and JJ Lovegrove...

Gig review: Idlewild at Rescue Rooms

Nearly 11 years since they last played the venue, beloved Scottish rockers Idlewild returned to Rescue Rooms this week. Bringing with them songs from their 2025 self-titled album along with a stacked catalogue of classics from across their 30+ year existence, they put on one hell of a performance to kick start this short run of UK dates. Here’s what went down…

Theatre Review: Apple of Discord at The People’s Hall

When gods gather for a wedding, chaos is never far behind. So say Nottingham's theatre company Chronic Insanity in their amazing immersive production entitled Apple of Discord. LeftLion joins the madness..

Gig review: Eyre Llew at The Grove, with Ella Clayton

Nottingham’s ambient veterans Eyre Llew gave an assembled crowd at The Grove a taste of a new era. With support from the sublime Ella Clayton, we experienced a magical evening...

Gig review: Gorillaz at Motorpoint Arena

It’s incredible to think that across their 25+ year existence, the world’s most famous animated band – Gorillaz - hadn’t performed in Nottingham until now. However, in support of their highly ambitious and India-inspired new record The Mountain, Damon Albarn brought a huge ensemble along to the Motorpoint Arena to finally right that wrong. Here’s what went down at Gorillaz’s visually epic and guest-filled debut show in Nottingham… 

Gig review: Kofi Stone at Rescue Rooms

Theatre Review: Horrible Histories Live (& Dead): The Concert at the Royal Concert Hall

It may be horrible but still it is a much-beloved children's TV series that educates as much as entertains. And this weekend the horribleness came to Nottingham...

Classical Review: The Hallé – Vive la France! at the Royal Concert Hall

Manchester's much beloved orchestra, The Hallé, is a regular visitor to Nottingham. This time with a treat for the francophiles with all things French, n'est-ce pas?

LeftLion's Latest Listens #42: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from Leah Wilcox, Eyre Llew and Origin One & Snowy... 

Gig review: Seas of Mirth at Rough Trade

Seas of Mirth returned to Nottingham on a tide of hilarity and art, bringing jellyfish, tug-of-war and quirky musicianship to the Rough Trade floor. Here's what went down...

Theatre review: Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal

Why go to London’s West End when London’s West End can come to you? Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon did just that when his spectacular production opened last night at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal...

Gig review: Holly Humberstone at The Level

A year-and-a-half ago, Holly Humberstone showcased her new album at an intimate, acoustic ‘hometown’ performance at The Level. On Saturday, the Grantham-born and Nottingham-anchored star returned to the same venue with a formidable array of new experiences now on her CV and with her third album close on the horizon...

Gig review: Nova Twins at Rock City

Supported by the excellent genre-mashing talents of Precious Pepala and the histrionic, witchy goth-grunge power of Venus Grrrls, Nova Twins visit to Nottingham sat atop a bill that brilliantly demonstrates the ever-flourishing female talent in rock today. It’s a vanguard they are very much at the forefront of as they support their latest album Parasites & Butterflies. Expansive tours and devoted fans are the reward for the sheer hard work and creativity in pushing the punk aesthetic and sound forward into the modern landscape...

Gig review: Connexion Man at The Grove, with flöat and Andrew Tucker Leavis

The Grove has hosted a steady run of single, EP and album launches over the past year and a half, and this time it was Connexion Man stepping up to mark the release of their debut record A Forest and a Town...

Theatre review: Nine Sixteenths at Nottingham Playhouse

The story and epic fallout of Janet Jackson’s 2004 Super Bowl is creatively re-examined through the lens of a real-life, queer black girl coming of age tale in this authentic, eye-opening and funny four-woman show.

Theatre Review: Punch at Nottingham Playhouse

Punch premiered at the Nottingham Playhouse in 2024 and went onto international acclaim. A true story that shocks yet inspires. Now, by popular demand, it has come home. With a whole new cast, how is it bearing up?  

Theatre Review: RSC Hamlet at Theatre Royal

All hands on deck for a flawless nautical take on Hamlet...

Film review: Palestine 36

1936. Tensions are rising across Mandatory Palestine, as the grip of British colonial forces tightens. Rising unemployment, heavy Jewish immigration, and an infectious sense of frustration trigger a national general strike and acts of violence that change a nation.

Gig review: Artio at Rough Trade

Hailing from Leeds, with their fiercely unique, self produced, DIY ethos Artio are a band perfectly suited to be playing Rough Trade for the intimate opening show of their tour. Fresh off the back of the release of their new album Soul Rot, an ode to creative burnout, identity, and the emotional toll of simply having to exist, especially to a baying algorithm, the band brought out many a new and dedicated fan alike, setting off the evening with an even more intimate meet and greet before taking to the stage...

Classical Concert Review: The Hallé Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall with Denis Kozhukhin

The Hallé Orchestra returns to Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall with an astonishing performance by pianist Denis Kozhukhin...

Gig review: Widow's Rock n Rollium with Hystamine and You Want Fox at Billy Bootleggers for International Women's Day 2026 Nottingham

On International Women’s Day Billy Bootleggers played host to the Widow’s Rock n Rollium - a spicy night of cabaret, burlesque, bands and fierce femme energy, featuring bands You Want Fox and Hystamine. We went down to check it out…