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Breakin’ Convention brings Hip Hop to Notts: founder Jonzi D tells all

Founded by Jonzi D, Hip Hop dance festival Breakin’ Convention returns to the Theatre Royal and Concert Hall this month. Bringing together world-class artists such as Ivan Michael Blackstock – a visionary creative behind choreography for Beyoncé - and local voices from rapper and spoken word performer Jah Digga to Hyson Green’s Take1Dance studio, in a celebration of dance, music and storytelling. Ahead of what’s guaranteed to be a boundary pushing celebration of one of the most exciting art forms to watch, Jonzi D talks to us about challenging preconceptions about where Hip Hop belongs… 

We chat to Day Fever co-founder Jonny Owen

Day Fever is less than two years old but has already become a cultural sensation. Launched in early 2024 with a debut event in Sheffield’s City Hall Ballroom and growing to a nationwide tour that’s sees thousands around the UK hit the dance floor each month, the message is clear: people everywhere are craving a space to let loose, laugh, and dance, all before 8pm. Ahead of Day Fever's return to Nottingham on 20th September, We sat down with co-founder Jonny Owen to discuss how the event came about, how it has become so popular and why Nottingham is the ideal venue...

Soul Survivor: veteran DJ Jonathan on cutting his teeth at The Palais in the 1970s

Jonathan (aka Jonathan Woodliffe) has a long history of DJing in Nottingham. To many his name is synonymous to many with the early days of Rock City, but before that he cut his teeth as a DJ at The Palais. We asked Jonathan about his experiences of the Palais back in those halcyon days of the 1970s…

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #9 DJ Jonathan on The Palais, the changing art of DJing, Northern Soul, Jazz Funk and Tiswas

Our first podcast of 2025 and we're back with a chinwag with a veteran DJ, talking through the 1970s Nottingham scene at The Palais De Danse, as well as the changing face of music, festivals and more...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #14: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this, the first edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2025, our music team reviews new releases from Rainbow Frog Biscuits, Bad Milk Blood Robot, Eleanor McGregor and Divorce...

In photos: Robert Jon & The Wreck at Rock City, with Eddie 9V

Classical Concert Review: The Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra with Jonathon Darlington at the Royal Concert Hall

Jax Jones, The Selecter and More Join Madness, Tom Jones, Becky Hill, Ricky Astley for Derby Summer Sessions

The mighty Live Nation and leading live music and event promoter Cuffe & Taylor have announced the latest artists to join the bill at the inaugural TK Maxx presents Derby Summer Sessions music festival this July...

We Catch Up With Jon McGregor, Chief Editor of The Letters Page, About the Evergreen Tradition of Letter Writing

As The Letters Page journal turns ten, chief editor Jon McGregor looks back at the beginnings of his journal and delves into how the evergreen tradition of letter writing weaves into the digital age as he sheds light on what makes the appeal of finding a letter in your postbox forever greater than a ping on a screen…

Gig Review: Jonny Kerry at Peggy's Skylight

If you are lusting for warm evenings in a quaint bustling Italian town in the middle of summer, then look no further - Jonny Kerry and his band can take you there...

In Photos: Mamas Gun and MT Jones

Mamas Gun returned to Peggy’s Skylight to promote the undiluted soul music and meaningful lyrics of their latest album Cure The Jones alongside support from MT Jones’ distinct crooning vocals…

Jonathon Doering Reflects on Upcoming Book, Enlarging The Tent

Ahead of his new book Enlarging the Tent, Jonathon Doering reflects on George Floyd and the importance of activism

Nusic New Music Podcast #237 with Mez, Jonny Olley, Chloe Rodgers, George Gadd and More...

This week’s New Music Podcast features new music inspired by Maccy D’s, the most long-awaited debut single ever, plus a detailed breakdown of a rapper’s tax arrangements.

This podcast may contain some fruity language. Sensitive ears – you have been warned.

Nottingham Contemporary is Reopening with Grace Before Jones: Camera, Disco, Studio

It’s hard to sum up someone like Grace Jones in a single word. Singer, model, actress, songwriter, record producer. Icon. With a life as eclectic as it was iconic, it’s only fitting that she’s the subject of the expansive, multimodal new exhibition, Grace Before Jones: Camera, Disco, Studio at Nottingham Contemporary. Caroline Barry headed there for a sneak preview to find out more... 

Under Cover Artist: Stuart Jones

We’re back in print with a bang, and Stuart Jones’ cover – a love-letter to all things print – is the cherry on top of this 48-page cake. We chat with this month’s cover artist to find out more about his work...

Interview: TV funnyman Spencer Jones is coming to Notts

Meet Spencer Jones; Twice nominated in the Edinburgh Festival comedy awards, a regular in BBC2's Upstart Crow and coming to Notts this month for an appearance at Just The Tonic...

Kelvin Jones on His Super Bowl Advert and Upcoming Nottingham Show

With his song Call You Home going viral, being certified gold and airing to an estimated audience of 100 million people during the Superbowl, it’s been a rollercoaster few years for Kelvin Jones. We caught up with the Zimbabwe-born, UK-raised singer-songwriter as he heads to Nottingham to support Kovic at The Bodega… 

Jonny Owen: The I Believe in Miracles Director on His Role as Nottingham Forest Director

As an actor, you might know Jonny Owen from his roles in Shameless, Murphy’s Law or Svengali. But it was moving behind the camera for his hugely successful 2015 documentary I Believe in Miracles  – which charted the rise of Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor to European Cup winners in 1979 – that started Owen on a path to becoming a director at the club he has grown to love...

LeftLion Film Podcast #17 - Jonny Owen

Hosts Ashley Carter & Derry Shillitto talk to actor and filmmaker Jonny Owen about his 2015 documentary I Believe in Miracles, and his new role as director at Nottingham Forest

Live Review: Bill Ryder-Jones at Rough Trade

Bill Ryder-Jones pops up at Rough Trade to celebrate the release of his new album Yawn with an intimate set.

Notts Councillor in Proper Epic Trek

Here in Notts we don’t do things by half; Arif Qureshi’s taxi is trashed by yobs, you lot club together to buy him a new cab. Trump pops over the pond and Notts rocks up and performs a mass conga in protest. The city is reported to have one of the worst reading rates in the country and we enlist Dolly Parton. OK, that last part might be a slight exaggeration but, having said that, the head of Nottingham City Council is leading by example and embarking on a colossal challenge to give our kids access to free books.

Talent, Talks and Tapes at Five Leaves McGregor Launch

Not content to take it easy, author, storyteller, and long-time friend of the mag Jon McGregor has just released his new collection The Reservoir Tapes, hot off the heels of their initial airing on BBC Radio 4. Last Tuesday he made an appearance at Five Leaves Bookshop to launch the collection, so we thought we'd send our Chloe Campbell down to see what he had to say for himself. 

The Write Stuff: Nottingham-Based Author Jon McGregor Set to Judge Leicester Writes Competition

Not content with being “Britain’s second-best short story writer”, Jon McGregor is set to judge the 2018 Leicester Writes short story competition. 

Music Video: Jonjo ft Motormouf - Cherry Tree

A couple of badass local artists get funky in this here piece of work...

Jon McGregor on His Latest Novel, Reservoir 13

Jon McGregor is a novelist who describes himself as “Britain’s second-best short story writer.” He’s lived in Nottingham for over ten years, and in that time, he’s written four novels, one short-story collection, fifteen radio plays, and lived on a narrowboat. This month, we caught up with Jon for a chat over some falafel in a Moroccan restaurant...