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Future Sound of Nottingham 2026: chatting to the finalists

Future Sound of Nottingham is back again and provides you with a rare chance to go to Rock City for free (no ticket required). If you’re unaware of how it works, seven of the city’s artists and bands play Rock City’s main stage through one night, competing before a judging panel for the chance to play Wollaton Park’s Splendour Festival, in the summer. Here's what some of the finalists had to say... 

Interview: Alexis Gregory in Smoke, a queer thriller at Nottingham Playhouse

Smoke is a new play from acclaimed queer theatre-maker Alexis Gregory coming to Nottingham this month. As well as a hard-hitting, savage, comic-thriller, a panel follows the play, hosted by You Are Loved and exploring issues from the play. LeftLion speaks to Alexis about social media, drugs, homophobia and much more...    

Sam Heaton talks turning Notts County's The Nest into a versatile live events venue

In 2024 Notts County FC turned an old metal fabricators warehouse next to their stadium into a state-of-the-art live events venue. Thus The Nest was born and has since led a double life as a football fanzone and as a major player in Nottingham’s live music and events scene. We spoke to their events manager Sam Heaton about those last two years and their big plans for the future…

Concert Review: The Hallé with Euan Shields at the Royal Concert Hall

The Hallé returns once again to the Royal Concert Hall for an evening of Eastern European themed classical hits. This time with conductor Euan Shields, a rising international star already with an armful of accolades.     

How Dale Harvey's 'Great British Pub Crawl' became a social media sensation

Dale Harvey is a man on a mission to champion and save British Pubs. A former publican, in March 2022 he, alongside his partner Holly Booth, set themselves the challenge to visit every pub in Notts. A year or two later, having completed this, they expanded to covering all the pubs in England, Scotland and Wales too. Thus the social media sensation The Great British Pub Crawl was born. Four years, 9500+ beers and over 300k social media followers later ‘Professional Drinker’ Dale is fast closing in on visiting his 10,000th pub…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #46: Notts music we're currently spinning

In edition 46 of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from ALT BLK ERA, JJ Lovegrove, Margo Pelto and Vona Vella ...

How Foragers' Kitchen is bringing organic and local plant based produce to Sneinton Market

Just around the corner from LeftLion, Foragers’ Kitchen is one of the newest and most exciting additions to Nottingham arts and independents hub Sneinton Market Avenues. Opened in October 2025, it’s run by Notts-via-North-Wales chef Darcy Jerome Duncalf and his partner via Paris, Marianna Coulentianos (with help from a friendly greyhound named Dexter), and blends a plant-based menu with resolutely local and organic produce. We popped over to chat to Darcy about what brought him to our cosy end of Notts. 

Gig review: ALT BLK ERA at Rescue Rooms with Luna & The Lime Slices and St Agnes

Off the back of a European tour with Pendulum (and an appearance on the LeftLion Interviews podcast), Nottingham alternative-electronic duo ALT BLK ERA played a sold out homecoming show last weekend, bringing their genre-blending sound and compelling stage presence to Rescue Rooms, with support from St Agnes and Luna & The Lime Slices...

Gig review: Sugar at Rock City

A three-decade hiatus seemed to dissolve into sweet nothing as Sugar claimed the Rock City stage once again. Bob Mould, Malcolm Travis and David Barbe presenting something much more than a nostalgia trip, adding energy, humour and volume into the mix...

Theatre review: The BalletBoyz' Still Pointless at 25

The BalletBoyz are celebrating their 25^th anniversary with a show that revisits some of their most stand-out work. It’s eight pieces of art, performed by ten men from a dance company with one mission: to keep creating and commissioning daring work, and sharing it with as many people as possible.

Tattoo studio Good Mornink talk community, artistry and their upcoming charity flash day

Situated on the top floor of Hopkinson, one of Nottingham's most creative and quirky hangouts, tattoo studio Good Mornink is a welcoming community of international artists. Founder and Co-owner Melisa Büyük talks about turning dreams into the reality of owning a studio, and their upcoming charity flash day to raise money for Stonebridge City Farm...

Director Alison Rashley talks us through Television Workshop's best known actors

Workshop Director Alison Rashley talks through some of the Television Workshop’s best known actors and gives the lowdown on what they were like to teach…

Gig Review: Spear of Destiny at Rescue Rooms

Legendary Post Punk pioneers Kirk Brandon’s Spear of Destiny demonstrated that they are still a force to be reckoned with in today’s diverse music scene with an impressive performance that captivated the crowd at Rescue Rooms, playing a varied selection from their vast back catalogue, some of which featured on their recent Janus album. Here's what went down...

Pick Six: Nigerian-British writer Yomi Sode

For this month’s Pick Six we turned to award-winning Nigerian-British writer Yomi Sode who will be performing at Lakeside Arts on 11 June as part of Nottingham Poetry Festival.

Bittersweet streets: a look at artist Julian Pinnick's new exhibition at Broadway Gallery

Anyone who has lived in Nottingham for years will have snapshots in their mind of characters, shops and moments lost to time, but one local artist has gone a step further, memorialising fleeting scenes of Nottingham’s past in paint. Ahead of an upcoming exhibition at Broadway Gallery, Liz Johnson talks to Julian Pinnick about his creative journey and why slow art can capture a changing urban landscape

Film review: The Last Spy

Katherina 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

Thought-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...

A First-Time Traveller’s Guide to Handling Airport Transfers Smoothly

Airport transfers can feel confusing if you’re on your first international trip, especially after a long flight. A busy arrivals hall, unfamiliar signs, different payment habits, and several transport options can make a simple journey feel harder than expected. A little preparation before landing helps you leave the airport with more confidence and reach your accommodation without unnecessary delays.

From The Kitchen with Stéphane Luiggi, Owner and Chef at French Living

We chat to Stéphane, owner of French Living, about steak frites and a special New Year's Day meal... 

Film review: Surrender to It

From 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.

Undercover artist: Heather Hodkinson champions Green Hustle festival

Our Green Hustle festival-inspired May cover is the work of artist Heather Hodkinson who, as well as helping to shape the visual identity of Green Hustle, has lent her talents to promote lots of other green initiatives around Notts. She talks to us about her love of collage and why it’s important to get out and about.

Red Sea FC: the refugee football team building community through the beautiful game

Red Sea FC are a hardworking local football team. Founded in 2019, they provide a welcoming found- family and shared cause for refugees living in Nottingham. Freya Peters heads to the Forest Rec to meet founder Ezedin Osman to find out what motivates him and how the players are finding community far away from home… 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #45: Notts music we're currently spinning

In 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...

Theatre Review: Scenes from a Friendship at Nottingham Playhouse

Time-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...

Kalum Thompson: the teenage midfielder shining bright in Nottingham Forest's youth division

It’s been a turbulent year at Nottingham Forest FC. While prospects of Premier League survival have become brighter and the dream of European silverware more enchanting, in all the uncertainty there is one definite; the club has some serious talent waiting in the wings...

We paid a visit to the Nigel Doughty Academy to check in with the latest academy lads. The club has boasted some fine academy graduates over the last decade including Ryan Yates, Brennan Johnson and Matty Cash. So don’t be surprised if a certain Kalum Thompson is next to join that list! Now aged seventeen, Thompson crossed the Irish Sea last summer to join the Reds from Linfield. Like a duck to water the youngster has quickly marked himself as one of the most exciting prospects in youth football…