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Review: Backyard Festival at The Bodega

When Nottingham’s music scene comes together for a cause, magic happens — and that’s exactly what unfolded at this year’s Backyard Festival at The Bodega...

Life is a Cabaret: revisiting the iconic Parkside Club

Nottingham is well-known for having a vibrant nightlife that entertains a large student population, what with the countless clubs and bars, you are spoiled for choice. But did you know that this reputation has been in the making since the 60s? We chatted with Christine Fletcher-Noble to get a look into the suave and sexy Parkside Club on Station Street and its booming business back in the day...

We chat to Warren Ireland about life, music and local legends

Dan Bonnington caught up with local artist and ex-busker Warren Ireland, to talk about his musical inspirations, his influences and supporters, and just what makes Nottingham so special...

Review: JT Soar Fest 2024 at the Old Cold Store

JT Soar is 15! To mark this landmark occasion, the local recording studio, venue and all-round grassroots music heroes filled the Old Cold Store with live music from local, national and international bands – for a full weekend. We went along to celebrate with them...

Comedy Review: Juliette Burton in the LOL-GBTQ+ at the Lord Roberts Comedy Festival

Juliette Burton offers more than just laughs in her stand-up performances... 

Caves, campervans and comedy: the life of a Notts comedy promoter

Ian Whitcombe started off running comedy shows in his local pub and now has big names calling up for a gig. He talks to Left Lion about his role in the Nottingham Comedy Festival, the acts he has nurtured, and his own journey into the land of laughs... 

Review: Hockley Hustle 2024

This time last week, Hockley Hustle was in full swing, filling 50 venues across this beloved quarter of Nottingham with music from an incredibly diverse and talented array of artists, and raising money for local charities. Ignoring genre boundaries, our music team joined the action all day - here we present some highlights in words and pictures...

You having a Laugh? We met the talents performing at the Nottingham Comedy Festival

Now in its sixteenth year, the Nottingham Comedy Festival is back to alleviate any seasonal in November, with comedy talents from across the country scheduled for a visit to our city. We spoke to Festival Director Helen Stead and some of the comedians involved about what to expect from the multitude of lined-up performances.

The worms are coming! Our homegrown alt comedy troup are taking over.

As Nottingham's alternative comedy venue prepares for its first ever Wormhole Weekend, alternative comedian Rosa Keaton takes us for a worm's-eye view.  

Beccy D'Souza turns up the volume for our local talent

We caught up with Beccy D’Souza, Artist Development Producer at Nottingham Playhouse, for a peek behind the curtain at this year’s Amplify Festival line-up... 

Queer Up Duck! New LGBTQ+ Arts Festival Takes Over Nottingham

A brand new LGBTQ+ Arts Festival is taking place across Nottingham from 21 October to 2 November, celebrating the diversity and creativity of LGBTQ+ artists and communities. We took a closer look at some highlights of this very special celebration of queer arts and culture. 

Festivals of beer and film, theatre and storytelling - Here's what's on this week in Notts 7 - 13 October 2024

Check out a celebration of short films, sample a huge range of beer and cider, enjoy some human stories, or be entertained by a bit of music and theatre this week in Notts.

We speak with Wunderhorse about life, Rock City and everything in between

If you’re looking for a fresh and fast-rising guitar band to get excited about, look no further than Newquay-formed quartet Wunderhorse, who released their acclaimed second album Midas back in August. Ahead of a sold-out headline show at Rock City this month, we spoke to frontman Jacob Slater about the ethos behind the record and his past experiences playing live in Notts.

We spoke to Scouting for Girls ahead of their gig at The Weekend Festival

Since their formation in 2005, Scouting for Girls have earned a well-deserved place in the English pop-rock hall of fame, and cemented that status with the release of their latest studio album The Place We Used To Meet in 2023. The trio – Roy Stride on piano and lead guitar/vocals, Greg Churchouse on bass guitar and Peter Ellard on drums – combine irresistibly catchy tunes with boundless energy and a knack for crowd interaction, making their live shows particularly memorable.

Ahead of their upcoming gig at The Weekend Festival, we asked the band to share some insights into their music, touring, and dream gigs.

Actor and Comedian Colin Hoult on ADHD, Mapperley Hospital and Being a Vampire

He's worked with vampires, ghosts and Ricky Gervais. Now Colin Hoult is bringing his new comedy show to Nottingham and reveals to us how it all began, as a child, in the shadows of Mapperley...

Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival Returns Celebrating 47 Years of Beers and Cheers

Nottingham’s flagship celebration of ale and cider is back at Trent Bridge from Wednesday 9 – Saturday 12 October...

Alt-rock quartet Bored Marsh talk festivals, finding success and their upcoming EP

In just a few short years, alt-rock quartet Bored Marsh have gone from non-existent to becoming one of the hottest bands to emerge from the booming Nottingham music scene. Now with the release of their debut EP on the horizon, we sat down with frontman Joe Need and guitarist Brad Westby to discuss their rapid rise.

Artist Maximillion Speed talks about Surrealism and his collaborative art exhibition Circus of Life

The circus is coming to town later this month, with an array of artistic feats on display in a new exhibition at Surface Gallery. Showcasing the work of six very different artists, The Circus of Life playfully reveals both inner and other worlds, with shared themes of mental health, healing, playfulness and illusion. Ahead of the exhibition’s grand opening, artist Maximilion Speed treated LeftLion to a chat about the strange workings of creative thinking, why art should be made by humans, and what to expect from the work on show.

From indie gigs to horror film festivals: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week 2 - 8 September

Whether you're mad for musicals or already looking forward to the Halloween season, there's plenty to counteract the September blues this week in Notts. Here are our picks of the week from 2 September to 8 September. 

Review: Foolhardy Folk Festival 2024

Curated with care by Beans on Toast, this year's Foolhardy Folk Festival at the Arboretum once again provided great music, good vibes and trees galore... 

Festival review: Gloworm 2024

Our youngest reviewer at 20 months old, Silvia, has had a total blast at Gloworm Festival 2024 and we are here to give you lovely Notts folk a rundown of the day…

From DIY theatre to still-life art: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week 19 -25 August

This week, there's definitely no shortage of opportunities to indulge your artistic, theatrical and musical needs, from art at Richmond House to the return of the Foolhardy Folk Festival. Here are our Picks of the Week from 19 to 25 August. 

Playing for laughs: we chat to the Robin Hood International Improv comedy Festival

Hundreds of comedians and improvisers are descending on Notts, and not one has learnt their lines! The Robin Hood International Improv Festival is returning to Nottingham for the third time in September. We sat down with artistic co-director and improviser Lloydie James Lloyd to talk about the festival, the local scene and what people make of Nottingham.

We spoke to the organisers of Huldra Horror Shorts, a film festival in the woods this September

It’s still August, but if you are one of those people who hankers for Halloween, the Huldra Horror Shorts Festival might be for you. Taking place in the woodland near Notts Maize Maze this September, we meet the makers Dan and Kym Lord to ask what horrors await this year…

Festival Review: Y Not 2024

It’s the Midlands’ biggest indie extravaganza – Y Not Festival. Taking place a mere 35 miles from Nottingham, this year’s line-up boasted some of the best bands in the land, but also an abundance of the very best up-and-coming local talent too. With a big Notts representation on the bill, the LeftLion Music team went along to report on how their sets went down in the sun-sprinkled Pikehall fields, along with a couple of other highlights from across the weekend.