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Nottingham Poetry Festival 2018: All We Need Is The Art of Love

We've been looking forward to this one: “super sibilant sisters” Panya Banjoko and Abii spent their evening exploring their heritage through vibrant verse and music at the stellar Soetry event. We sent our Chloe Rose Whitmore down to hear what they had to say. 

Doing the Bookshop Hop at Nottingham Poetry Festival

A dazzling evening of new connections and resonant readings at two of Nottingham’s thriving bookshops, Blackwell’s and Five Leaves…

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2018: Lions and Tigers and... Trees?

Oh my. We've had a great time observing this year's poetry festival from the shadows, but this Thursday it was our turn to hog the limelight. Under a web of fairy lights, MC and organiser Aly Stoneman and co showed off some of the best and brightest poetry we at LeftLion have to offer. 

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2018: Tuesday's Child is Full of Poe(try)

Another day, another evening of poetic wonderment. We sent our Chloe down to the Fox and Grapes to check out this month's Poetry is Dead Good special, featuring comedy rap-battle legend and fastest tongue in the west Mark Grist. 

Comedy Poet Elvis McGonnagall is Tartanned Up in Nottz

Described as “side-splittingly funny”, “flamboyant” and compared to performance poets Adrian Mitchell and John Cooper Clarke, World Slam Champion and festival favourite Elvis McGonnagall is set to take Nottingham by storm on Friday night at Antenna. Tackling topics of the day head-on, his stand-up style of delivery and polished verse critiques the world’s woes with charm, intelligence and a bag-full of Scottish colloquialisms. LeftLion caught up with him for a quick chat ahead of his show with support from Poetry is Dead Good’s Stephen Thomas and our very own Bridie Squires…

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2018: Another Manic Monday

This festival has us rushing about like a bunch of blue-arsed flies, and we love it. Here's today's round-up of all the groovy poetry that came out of Monday 24th April, 2018. 

The Nottingham Poetry Festival 2018 Survival Guide

Nottingham's gone poetry mad, and with stellar events popping up in venues all over the city it can be hard to know where to start. Thankfully, your old pal LP Mills is here to give you the rundown on this year's Nottingham Poetry Festival. 

Riding on Solomon’s Carpet: Poetry from Nottingham’s Refugees

“Projects like this open doors for people like me,” says Victoria Mponda, of her experience with Riding on Solomon’s Carpet, an anthology of poetry from refugees and asylum seekers living in the East Midlands...

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2018

Festival season officially starts here, and it’s kicking off with a right wordy celebration of all things lyrical...

Preview: John Carpenter Season at the The National Justice Museum

The National Justice Museum is holding its first ever film season, and they've picked an absolute belter...

10 Nottingham Pubs Where You Can Get Your Game On

We checked out the ancient, the retro and the downright filthy. Get right competitive with your mates, just try not to punch each other... 

Review: FanSHEN Justice Syndicate Event

I’m going to put my cards on the table; when I got my tickets for FanSHEN’s Justice Syndicate show, from the name I was expecting a superhero-related show. I can’t say I was disappointed though, as what I got was an interactive jury experience. It’s much more interesting than it sounds... 

Poetry Profile: Two Days With the DIY Poets

Every now and then you’ll come across something that does exactly what it says on the tin. Nottingham’s own DIY Poets are a prime example of this, with their tagline “We’re Nice and We Don’t Always Rhyme” neatly printed on the front cover of each issue of their monthly zine. We decided to pop in for a chat with the gang to get a gauge of just how nice they are, and we were not disappointed.

Poetry, Persecution and Protest at Amicus ALJ Spoken Word Night

Last Monday saw a collection of young poets take to the stage in protest of one of the most controversial topics discussed in the twenty-first century: The death penalty. We decided to head to Jam Café to see the University of Nottingham’s Poetry and Spoken Word Society in action.

Word War III: Poetry by First Story Students at Farnborough Academy

Local author Paula Rawsthorne treats us to a selection of writings from her First Story students at Farnborough Academy, published in their anthology Word War III...

6 Games to Play with the Family This Christmas

Christmas is a time of love, joy and wonder. And blazing rows with estranged relatives and late-afternoon boredom. Find remedy for the latter and fuel for the former in this article, as this year, we're gifting you with a comprehensive list of the only games you'll wanna play this December 25...

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2018 is Coming

Clear out your lungs and get your pathos out, the third Nottingham Poetry Festival is gearing up to be a corker...

Gone Feral: Punk and Poetry at Low-Light Magazine launch

Who doesn't love a bit of punk? Hi-Vis are back with their DIY dazzlers, and we went down to the Chameleon to see what they had to say for themselves. 

Dr Kevin Harvey on Poetry and Dementia

Dr. Kevin Harvey is an Assistant Professor in Sociolinguistics over at the University of Nottingham. Alongside a group of his students, he’s been reading poetry with dementia sufferers in care homes across Nottingham, with some astounding results...

Anti-Austerity Movement We Shall Overcome Brings Music and Poetry to Notts

Musicians and poets are joining forces this week for a long weekend of charity gigs in and around Nottingham. Under the national banner of the anti-austerity movement, We Shall Overcome, they’re bringing you a stellar weekend of local talent. In return, they’re asking you to dig deep and donate to help vital support services stay afloat…

Ten Greatest Film Sporting Rivalries

To celebrate the release of Borg vs. McEnroe, we take a look at ten of the greatest sporting rivalries in film

Celebrating Women in Punk at The National Video Game Arcade

A night of exploring women's role in British punk...

Jackie Kay at Inspire Poetry Festival 2017

Scotland's Poet Laureate Jackie Kay celebrates family and friendship with a reading from the heart at Southwell Library...

Hollie McNish at Inspire Poetry Festival 2017

Swearing and drinking in the library with Hollie McNish

Aurora Poetry and Short Fiction Open Competition 2017 Prize Awards