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When We Were B Boys: how breakdancing took over 1980s Nottingham

This year marks the tenth anniversary of a documentary about a less widely recognised part of Nottingham history. NG83: When We Were B Boys, follows a particular few years in the mid 80s when, through happenstance, Notts became the UK’s unofficial breakdancing capital. In advance of two events celebrating the anniversary of the film, two of its co-directors: Claude Knight and Luke Scott, reminisce on making it.

Left Stag: Dave Smith, Sandy Pate and Anglo Scottish Adventures in Ayr

With Burns Night on the horizon on Sunday 25 January, we invited our regular Notts County, Mansfield Town and Nottingham Forest football columnists to muse on the influence of Scotland in the history of their own clubs…

Below, Josh Osoro Pickering - our Mansfield Town specialist - tells a Mansfield-set story of Anglo-Scottish sport... 

Left Magpie: Jimmy Sirrel, Don Masson and the Anglo Scottish Cup

With Burns Night on the horizon on Sunday 25 January, we invited our regular Notts County, Mansfield Town and Nottingham Forest football columnists to muse on the influence of Scotland in the history of their own clubs. 

Below, Julian McDougall - our Notts County specialist - gives his take... 

Book review: The Undisputed King of Selston by Danny Scott

Writer Danny Scott’s memoir, The Undisputed King of Selston, delves into Nottinghamshire's rich mining history from a personal and emotional perspective. Marcus Lawrence delves into the journalist’s newest book, and his deep-rooted, generational connections to the city.

Pick Six: Savoy Cinema Manager Paul Scotton

For this month’s pick we turned to Paul Scotton, General Manager at the Savoy Cinema.

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #6: Natalie Duncan on Music Careers, Hockley Hustle, Goldie, Jools Holland, Ronnie Scott’s, Peggy’s Skylight and more

Our sixth episode features a conversation with Nottingham-born neo-soul, R&B, jazz (and more) singer-songwriter Natalie Duncan... 

LeftLion Contributor Scott Oliver Wins Prestigious Cricket Literary Prize

Former LeftLion sports editor, Scott Oliver, has won one of cricket’s most prestigious literary prizes, the Wisden Book of the Year, for his debut book Sticky Dogs & Stardust. The book is a collection of essays detailing the exploits of some of the sport’s bona fide legends – among them the former Notts players Garfield Sobers, Kevin Pietersen, Andre Russell and Imran Tahir - when they turned out in league cricket alongside enthusiastic amateurs who they were expected to dominate. Oliver himself also played at Wollaton CC for a time. To celebrate Scott's success we are delighted to present this extract from the book – covering Pietersen’s troubled stint at Cannock – along with an exclusive discount code.

Gig Review: Scott Matthews at Metronome

Scott Matthews was in town to promote his eighth studio offering, Restless Lullabies...

We Catch Up With Scott Matthews Ahead Of His Show At Metronome

With a UK tour underway, including a date at Nottingham’s swish Metronome later this month, LeftLion caught up with the West Midlands songwriter in his man cave adorned with string instruments of every variety… 

Theatre Review: Verständnis at Nonsuch Studios

A bilingual play about identity, language and dual nationality; written, directed, illustrated and performed by a group of people who hail from multiple countries...

Coming to Broadway Soon, Steve Scott Tells Us About the Kendal Mountain Tour

We chat to one of the Kendal Mountain Festival’s directors, Steve Scott, about the global appeal of adventuring, building a tight-knit community of thrill-seekers, and what to expect when their 2022 Tour comes to Broadway Cinema…

10 Years Later: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

After initially flopping at the box office, Edgar Wright's comic book adaptation now has a cult following. George White explains why...

Nottingham Comedian Scott Bennett: "There’s no such thing as regional comedy – if it’s funny, it’s funny."

Yorkshire lad Scott Bennett uprooted to Beeston a while ago, but he made sure he brought his Northern sense of humour with him. Ahead of his new tour Leap Year, which was nominated for Best Show at Leicester Comedy Festival, the comic invites us into his shed to talk touring, writing for some of the UK’s biggest comedians and his comedy heroes...

Tommy Scott from Space Talks Playing Spanky Van Dyke's This Friday

Calling all Space cadets. We had a little chat with Tommy Scott, lead singer and lyrical master of the nineties-famous Liverpool legends Space, about the band’s new album, getting back together, their tip-top moments as a band and their upcoming gig in Spanky van Dykes...

Art Review: Hurvin Anderson and Beverley Bennett Exhibitions

Two exhibitions have landed at the New Art Exchange that deal with the subject of diversity, and they are well worth checking out

DHP Family's Scott O'Neill On What It's Like To Be A Promoter

"About seven years ago I took a crazy risk in my pre-DHP days. I organised a tour for a very famous hip hop act, and confirmed three shows, including one at Brixton Academy"

Deborah Tyler-Bennett

"My advice to any writer lacking inspiration would be to get on their local bus"

Write Lion: Deborah Tyler-Bennett

"My advice to any writer lacking inspiration would be to get on their local bus"

Deborah Tyler-Bennett

"My advice to any writer lacking inspiration would be to get on their local bus"

Write Lion: Deborah Tyler-Bennett

"My advice to any writer lacking inspiration would be to get on their local bus"

Art Works: Laine Tomkinson

Laine Tomkinson tells us about her piece 'Gil Scott-Heron'