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We chat to Set In Motion about what drives them, Splendour Festival, and their playlists...

Set in Motion are one of the Nottingham music scene’s most promising bands. Noted for catchy indie hooks, powerful songs and incredible live performances, over the last two years they’ve made a name for themselves as a guitar music powerhouse act. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Alfie Wallace, guitarist Dillan Telford, bassist Niall Hopkins and drummer Joe Carnell - outside the Fox and Grapes - to discuss their imminent Splendour Festival set, their future plans and what they’re listening to at the minute...

Cherelle Fulton tells us about Behind Closed Doors: a program spotlighting creative women in Notts

Over at New Art Exchange, Behind Closed Doors is creating a new space for women in the creative industries to connect, collaborate and reshape the scene in Nottingham. Co-ordinator Cherelle Fulton discusses what fuelled her projects, including live music night Can’t Stand The Rain, the importance of community and connectivity, and creating safe spaces for women.

Stage review: a beautiful night of drag, burlesque and art with Niche Artefact

Thursday night saw a flamboyant jamboree of creativity and performance as Niche Artefact returned to Revolución de Cuba for a beautiful night of drag, burlesque and art...

Theatre Review: The Nottingham Drag Pageant at The Nottingham Arts Theatre

It’s official- Nottingham cannot get enough of drag- and it knows how to do it better than most cities!...

Our June cover artist Lily Keogh talks festivals and perfectionism

This month’s cover artist Lily Keogh talks about festivals, neurodivergence and perfectionism.

Exhibition Review: Country Lives at Lakeside Arts

Over at Lakeside Arts, the current exhibition ‘Country Lives’ explores the use and depiction of the English countryside over the last 200 years. We went down to check it out…

"You okay mate?" The Notts pub that’s getting men talking about their feelings

The national mental health crisis and its profound effect on men is a phenomenon widely talked about that lots of people have posed different solutions to. In Sneinton Market however, LeftLion neighbours The Fox and Grapes pub are tackling the problem in a concise and simple way, inviting local blokes into the space to openly chat about whatever might be bothering them. Matteo D’Alesio went down to speak to the team about how to Get Men Talking…

Setting the stage: catching up with the Nottingham Playhouse's artistic director Adam Penford

Over the last few years the Nottingham Playhouse has become one of the most buzzing regional theatres in the UK. Originally established in 1948, the venue has a long history of attracting quality actors like Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench, Hugh Grant, Vicky McClure and Mark Gatiss to perform its stage. With a clutch of new awards and accolades over the last couple of years, we thought it high time to catch up with their artistic director Adam Penford…

We chat to filmmaker Naphat Boonyaprapa about his newest short Blossoming Hearts

I sat down in a Notts cafe with Naphat Boonyaprapa, a young writer, director, and filmmaker, based in Nottingham, to chat about his latest short film, Blossoming Hearts. 

We chat to filmmaking duo Bird Bros about their new film Lazar

Travel back in time with us to the 17th century as we hear all about Lazar, the fantastical odyssey set in an ancient Sherwood forest which follows a bard, an outlaw and oh, there are some nymphs of course...

Artworks: multi-medium artist and video creator Tom Hackett

For this month's Artwork we turned multi-medium artist Tom Hackett who's work is being exhibited at the upcoming New Art Exchange Open Exhibition from Friday 30 May...

Community action from #LoveChilwell brings people together this weekend

The only thing better than enjoying a beautiful Spring day out in Chilwell is enjoying it with other people in the community and making a difference at the same time. After its success in December, #LoveChilwell is back with another campaign and a Community Action Day on Saturday 7 June 2025.

Restaurant week, comic con, body positive art and Japanese pop-punk: Here's what's on in Nottingham 2 - 8 June 2025

There's a great mix of stuff happening this week in Notts - we've got Japanese pop-punk from Shonen Knife, Sneinton Avenues Vegan Market, Comic-con, Restaurant week and some inspiring exhibitions. Here's our top picks...

LeftLion Issue #184 June 2025

This month featuring our guide to local summer music festivals, Nottingham Poetry Festival, actor LaQuarn Lewis on BBC's What It Feels Like For A Girl, the Nottingham Attacks Two Years On, Nottingham Playhouse's Adam Penford, Nottingham Craft Beer Festival, the Lenton Centre, Future Makers and more...

"I love an ethical hacker": Overheard in Notts May 2025

Ethical hackers, Yorkshire Terriers and jacket potatoes feature in this month's Overheard in Notts...

Documentary Review: Ocean with David Attenborough

Join us as we review David Attenborough's new documentary, Ocean, which doesn't hide the destruction of the natural world, but inspires and motivates too...

Our May cover artist Becky Appleyard talks comic books, table-top games and advice

This month’s cover artist Becky Appleyard talks comic book art, inspirations, and advice for artists…

We chat to Davoli about music, life and Dot To Dot

Dot To Dot Festival is almost upon us! One of the hundreds of musicians performing at the day-long musical extravaganza is local artist Davoli. We spoke to him about his brand new EP, his inspirations, and what DTD means to him...

Artworks: Kelly Brown on the process of pencil drawing

For Artworks this month we spoke to local pencil artist Kelly Brown.

Theatre Review: The Zoo That Comes to You at Lakeside Arts

Collective Creations: we heard about the 1525 Collective at Nottingham Contemporary

Nottingham Contemporary is home to the 1525 Collective, a youth programme for Nottingham’s young creatives and has welcomed members such as local MP Nadia Whittome. From networking, to skill-building, workshops and projects, the collective extends a helping hand to the city’s creative youths. 

The founders of outreach website Nott Alone tell us about their mission to demystify mental health support

Back in 2021 educational psychologists Dr Maddi Popoola and Dr Orlaith Green launched NottAlone: a website aggregating mental health resources across the city and county in the most compassionate, clear and accessible way possible. Initially just a resource for young people, the website has since expanded to encompass adults’ mental health needs and linked live events with schools across Nottinghamshire, seeing huge traffic the whole time. With even more on the horizon for NottAlone, we spoke to Maddi and Orlaith about its inception and their outlook on tackling mental health issues.

Art exhibitions, community events and legendary gigs: here's what's on events this week in Nottingham 12 - 19 May 2025

This week in Notts, explore our material world, take One Step At A Time for community, or listen to some big tunes shaking the Arena... 

A 'Touch' of Frost - we speak to jungle legend Jumpin Jack Frost about his collaborations with Nottingham musicians and promoters

Widely known as the Godfather of jungle and drum n bass, Jumpin Jack Frost talks to us about his upcoming collaboration with a dynamic collective of Nottingham musicians and promoters.

Indie trio The Amazons talk Rock City, The Chameleon and their love of Nottingham ahead of their Rough Trade gig

While they may proudly herald from Reading, rock trio The Amazons’ thriving career has long been intertwined with our city too. From cutting their teeth in The Chameleon to sold out shows at Rock City, to even playing Motorpoint Arena with Royal Blood, they have spent the last decade making memories and building a strong fanbase right here in NG1. Now with shows at Rough Trade and Rock City coming up in the next six months, we decided to catch up with frontman Matt Thomson to discuss their longstanding romance with Nottingham…