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René House: A race against time to change homeless people’s lives

René House, a new hub for people experiencing homelessness is opening on Mansfield Road, and there's just one month to transform the new space. We meet fundraiser Shani Jayawardena to learn how the community can help...

Gig review: As It Is at Rough Trade

Rough Trade Nottingham feels more intimate than usual tonight, with bodies packed shoulder‑to‑shoulder and buzzing with the kind of anticipation that only comes with a long‑awaited return. As It Is are back with their new self‑titled album, their first release since 2022, and the room carries that shared understanding that this isn’t just another in‑store, it’s something that many fans thought they would never see - a chance to see As It Is again and what the band look like in this new era...

Life Behind Bars: with Craig Pennington-Hayes, Owner of The Lord Roberts

Craig Pennington-Hayes, wwner of Hockley's Lord Roberts pub, talks community spaces, famous guests and dogs called Robert.

Long live the queens! We chat to the Gladrags drag queens ahead of Nottingham Pride

Here in Notts we’re often blessed with the talents of some top notch drag artists – most perform as part of the well loved Gladrags collective and club night. For Pride 2026, on Sat 25 July, many of the queens we know and love will be seen in action for the grand afterparty at The Palais. In preparation, Bee Green catches up with five performers who are on the lineup… 

The tree might have stopped growing, but the spirit of the Major Oak lives on

After the Major Oak’s sad passing was declared yesterday, Environment Editor Adam Pickering shares his thoughts and looks to the tree’s legacy, as well as countywide initiatives restoring Sherwood Forest.

Life Behind Bars: With Sofia Kellas, Taproom Assistant at Neon Raptor

We visit Neon Raptor, our Sneinton Market neighbours, to chat to taproom assistant Sofia Kellas. 

The 19.5 Challenge: how the West Area Project breaks barriers for learning disabilities

One of many groups that have found a home at The Lenton Centre, the West Area Project is a not-for-profit providing activities for people with learning disabilities. To highlight research showing that people with learning disabilities and/or autism die 19.5 years earlier than the general public, during National Learning Disability Week volunteer Rich Davis is taking on a challenge walking, rowing, cycling, swimming and running to raise money...

In photos: JJ Lovegrove and Chloe Rodgers at Buonissima Aperitivo Bar

Local multimedia artist JJ Lovegrove celebrated the launch of her new immersive album with a stunning performance at Buonissima Aperitivo Bar. Chloe Rodgers provided support...

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…

Theatre Review: Barnum at the Nottingham Playhouse

Roll up, roll up! Barnum brings big top joy to Nottingham Playhouse...

Life Behind Bars: with Isad ‘Happy’ Habibovic, General Manager at 400 Rabbits

We visit 400 Rabbits to chat to Isad the General Manager about cocktails and Ed Sheeran.

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #17: Crazy P’s Jim Baron on international tours and festivals, soundtracking The Sopranos and his new venture White Elephant

This episode we are joined by Jim Baron from Crazy P who talks about his career in music, starting a band in Notts that became internationally renown, soundtracking for film and TV and his new venture White Elephant...

Classical Music Review: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Domingo Hindoyan at the Royal Concert Hall

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is yet another orchestra proving you do not need to go down south to see world-class concert music. And now they're back with a new conductor. Can they still cut the musical mustard... 

How ANTI All Genders Barber adds an extra dose of inclusivity to cutting hair in Nottingham

While getting a haircut is a fairly ordinary part of life for some, having a stranger alter your appearance can feel daunting for others, especially if you’re trans or non-binary and find yourself tangled up with widely-debated, unequal gender-based prices, or neurodivergent and don’t feel great about the socially-sanctioned small talk. Nottingham’s ANTI All Genders Barber is looking to provide a solution to that… 

Life Behind Bars with Vicky Pamo Simples, Bar Supervisor at The Beeston Social

Vicky Pamo Simples tells us what it’s like to be a supervisor at multi-purpose food and drink hub, the buzzing Beeston Social… 

Laid bare: James bassist Jim Glennie talks the story of the band before their Motorpoint show

Plenty of legendary bands have come out of Manchester but James are one of the most enduring. Through four decades the group have continued to evolve – delivering iconic indie anthems like Sit Down, She’s a Star and Laid – alongside their famously unpredictable live performances.

They’re playing Motorpoint Arena this month, as part of a UK tour in support of their new Definitive Best Of collection – in advance bassist and founding member Jim Glennie looks back on the story of the band… 

Theatre Review: Horrible Histories Live (& Dead): The Concert at the Royal Concert Hall

It may be horrible but still it is a much-beloved children's TV series that educates as much as entertains. And this weekend the horribleness came to Nottingham...

Life Behind Bars with Tong Man, Proprietor at The Pillar Box Sherwood

We dropped into Sherwood hotspot The Pillar Box to speak to proprietor Tong Man

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...

Gina Birch on truth, insight and how to live a life devoid of convention

An emblem of passion, a staple of creativity... Gina Birch has been key to establishing and presenting the female voice within the punk music movement. Nottingham born Gina is well-known as a founding member of The Raincoats but her contribution goes much, much wider. Ria Serena found out more for LeftLion... 

Life Behind Bars: with John Slee, Manager at The Lincolnshire Poacher

We popped in to see John Slee, Manager at The Lincolnshire Poacher, to talk about whiskey, stables and famous guests...

Tusk 'til dawn: Jim Baron of Crazy P fame on his new musical project White Elephant

Best known as one of the founders of Notts electronic music titans Crazy P, Jim Baron (aka Ron Basejam) is a man with his fingers in several musical pies. This month sees the release of World Elephant Day, the first album from White Elephant – a collaborative project with Ben Smith (of Smith & Mudd fame) and fellow Crazy P member Chris Todd. In a wide-ranging catchup, Jim takes us from the halcyon days of nineties Notts to his solo work, and how The Sopranos played a role in the story of Crazy P…