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LeftLion's Latest Listens #41: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Willow Bay, Drivelheads, LOCAL LOSER and Firmament...

Gig review: The Vaccines at Rock City

English indie rock band The Vaccines triumphantly returned to Rock City to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of their debut album. They delivered a legendary performance to an electrified crowd, creating a striking and memorable night for the masses...

Theatre Review: The Woman in Black at Theatre Royal

It delivers more genuine fear than most big-budget horrors...

Gig review: Only Notts at The Palais

“Turn pain into purpose” are the words of Only Notts director Reece Walker to summarise his mission through the cause. After a close and tragic loss, Reece and his friends found comfort in creativity. This has snowballed into a successful mission to raise awareness for men’s mental health and the power of music, all while encouraging the community to engage in the arts in some form or the other...

Theatre Review: The Marriage of Figaro at Theatre Royal

Scheming Spaniards, slapstick, mistaken identity and cross dressing make for an entertaining update to the Mozart classic in Opera North's new staging of The Marriage of Figaro at Theatre Royal...

Gig review: Folk Bitch Trio at The Bodega

All the way from Australia to start a sold-out headline tour of the UK and mainland Europe, Melbourne’s Folk Bitch Trio debuted at The Bodega on Saturday night...

Theatre Review: Fixing at Nottingham Playhouse

Repairing a 1952 Sunbeam Talbot Mark II becomes a metaphor for growing up, self care and finding your identity...  

Gig review: Gene at Rock City

Gig review: Leigh-Anne at Rough Trade

Leigh-Anne brings her debut album My Ego Told Me To to life in an intimate Rough Trade performance where, in a stripped back setting, the former Little Mix star proves that authenticity and connection can be just as powerful as arena scale pop success…

Gig review: Less Than Jake, The Bouncing Souls, The Aquabats and The Bar Stool Preachers at Rock City

On their ninth time appearing at Rock City, ska-punk legends Less Than Jake brought waves of nostalgia and cheer to Nottingham, supported by The Bar Stool Preachers, The Aquabats!, and The Bouncing Souls...

Gig review: Sleaford Mods at Rock City

Following the release of their stunning new album The Demise of Planet X, Nottingham’s own Sleaford Mods headed to the iconic Rock City in their home town for two nights on the No War No Death tour. Both nights were completely sold out, an indication of the popularity of this minimalist post-punk duo…

Gig review: Willow Bay at The Carousel

Willow Bay welcomed their new EP Evangeline to a jam-packed Carousel last Saturday night. They crafted together an evening with undeniable chemistry, between both the band and the audience…

Theatre Review: Matt Parker – Getting Triggy With It at the Nottingham Playhouse

Matt Parker is a best-selling author and stand-up performer, who has built a reputation for being a wizz at mathes.  As part of his mission to bring maths to the masses, he has just been in town. Leftlion crunches the numbers... 

Gig review: Sorry at Rescue Rooms

In celebration of their defiant record Cosplay, released late in 2025, Sorry hit Nottingham's Rescue Rooms as part of their tour. They proved distinctive and compelling in their own right...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #40: Notts music we're currently spinning

Welcome to the fortieth edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens! This week, our music team reviews new releases from Hhymn, Kezia Gill, Matt McCarthy, Vee Adu and Terza Rima...

Gig review: Myles Smith at Rescue Rooms

This week, University of Nottingham graduate Myles Smith returned to Rescue Rooms, a venue he last played in 2019 for one of the intimate BRITs Week 2026 shows supporting War Child. Seeing Myles back in Nottingham, in a smaller venue that holds memories, made the night feel even more special...

Theatre Review: The King Stone at Nottingham Playhouse

A brand new play channels the mystical energy of the Nine Ladies, Derbyshire's stone circle. But what can ancient monuments and the spinning cosmos say about relationships down here on earth... 

Theatre Review : I’m Muslamic, Don’t Panik at the Lakeside Arts Theatre

From Bristol to Tehran and back again, Bobak invites the audience on a journey to accept his own heritage, in the face of a hostile western media...

Gig review: Of Monsters and Men at Rock City

Icelandic legends Of Monsters and Men are back making folk-music history with their UK & Europe Tour following the release of their latest album All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade. We caught them as they stopped of at - where else - Rock City...

Gig review: The Ukrainians at Nottingham Ukrainian Cultural Centre

Film review: Hamnet

Chloe Zhao (acclaimed director of Nomadland) treats the story with dignity, passion and dedication. Knowing how tough the scenes would be to film, she insisted on the cast having dancing sessions after particularly difficult takes

Gig review: Kezia Gill at Rock City

Kezia Gill, backed by a band of top musicians, realised her dream of playing a headline show at Rock City, in the city where she was born. She performed to an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd, which included all of her family and friends, and plenty of fans...

Gig review: The Callous Daoboys at Rescue Rooms

The Callous Daoboys were back in town this week, riding the high of their highly praised 2025 album I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven. After quickly selling out The Bodega, the gig was promoted to Rescue Rooms which (unsurprisingly) also sold out! LeftLion headed there to catch the band for what is likely to be the last time before they graduate to Rock City and beyond…

Film review: Train Dreams

Answering Johnathan Ross’s question on ‘…choosing an ambitious project like Crime and Punishment for a debut’, Aki Kaurismaki responded, ‘Hitchcock said he would never touch that book because it is too difficult. And I said, “I’ll show you, old man.” It was too difficult.’

Theatre review: Midsommer Murders at Theatre Royal is a classic who dunnit with a set stage twist

Nostalgia and crime merge in Midsommer Murders, currently showing at Theatre Royal...