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We meet battle victors Cherry Stone

When indie five-piece Cherry Stone stepped on to the stage at Metronome for the 2026 edition of the Ultimate Battle Of The Bands contest, they were hoping to do well – but winning following a unanimous judges’ decision proved to be a euphoric and surreal moment. We caught up with the band as they prepared for their next episode(s)...

Battle Of the Bands

We catch up with Moonlit, winner of the 2025 Ultimate Battle of the Bands competition

Following their triumph at the Ultimate Battle of the Bands this year, and ahead of their Rough Trade appearance, we caught up with all six members of Moonlit to find out what the win meant to them, how they feel about playing Splendour Festival, and what else is on the horizon for them as a band…

The Ultimate Battle of the Bands 2025

The battle for the Marcus Garvey Centre and what it means for the community

For over forty years, the Marcus Garvey Centre in Lenton has served as an important cultural hub for the Black community, providing a space for live music, celebrations, educational training, business growth and day care for Black elders. With recent news that the centre is facing closure, LeftLion went down to find out what it means for the community and why it is being fought for.

Katherine Ryan: Battleaxe

The Deep State V. the Dictator: America's Battle Of Nightmares

Five of Nottingham's nastiest drag queens go head to head in the battle of the bitches

Liv Presents: The Prohibition Roast is another of the amazing comedy nights lined up at the Lord Roberts and part of the wider Nottingham Comedy Festival. But with wit as sharp as broken glass, do you dare go down to the basement...  

Eco-terrorist: Battle for Our Planet

The Ultimate Battle of the Bands 2024

Newark Book Festival 2023 - Battle of the Genres

In Photos: The Ultimate Battle of the Bands at Metronome

A selection of NTU and Confetti bands battled it out at Metronome last week...

The Ultimate Battle of the Bands 2023

Out of Time: How Two Ruddington-Born Soldiers Played Their Part in the Infamous Battle of Rorke’s Drift

While most of us will be familiar with the events of Rorke’s Drift from Zulu - the 1964 film that made a star out of Michael Caine - there is much more to the story than the Hollywood portrayal, including the presence of two Ruddington-born soldiers at the battle. In what has been described as amongst the most famous military actions in British history, the twelve-hour long battle demonstrated both the best of British bravery and the worst of the Empire’s seemingly limitless horrors…

The Ultimate Battle of the Bands

Out of Time: Nottingham's John Shaw and the Battle of Waterloo

It was the most famous battle in human history, helping to shape Europe as we know it today and finally ending Napoleon’s dreams of a French Empire. While the Battle of Waterloo ensured that names like Bonaparte and Wellington would be forever etched into history, it was the exploits of one man from Nottingham that caught the public’s attention more than any other on that day in 1815. With 18 June marking the battle’s 206th anniversary, we take a look at the extraordinary life and death of Cossall-born John Shaw…

"I started to cry because I just wanted to know what was wrong with me" - A 28-Year-Old's Battle With COVID-19

If you think that being young is protection enough from COVID, think again. 28-year-old writer and photographer Dani Bacon, who had no pre-existing health conditions, recounts her ongoing battle with the virus she contacted back in late July...

Out of Time: Frank Stratton and the Battle of the Little Bighorn

It was an event that sent shockwaves ringing through the country, and remains the most devastating military defeat the United States had ever suffered against the Native Americans. Not only was the Battle of Little Bighorn one of the most significant moments in the story of America, but the massacre of General George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry at the hands of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse remains amongst the most controversial and definitive military actions in U.S. history. And witness to it all was Frank Stratton, a 28-year-old former printer from Nottingham…

The Battle of Stoke Field: The Story Behind Nottinghamshire's Only Registered Battlefield

It was the battle that finally ended the War of the Roses, the bloody civil struggle for control of the throne that plagued England for decades, and has been described as one of the defining moments in the country’s history. With this month marking the 533rd anniversary of the events that took place on Nottinghamshire’s only registered battlefield, we take a look at the story behind The Battle of Stoke Field…

20 Great Battle Scenes from Film History

From the walls of Jerusalem to the beaches of Normandy, to the Mongolian plains and the waves of the Atlantic. Whether its spears and shields or bullets and bayonets, these are twenty of the greatest battle scenes in film history...

Glowing With The Flow: Lauren Firenze Gill's Battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Lauren Firenze Gill was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year at the age of 25. Here's her story...

DiY Collective's Pete Woosh on His Battle With Cancer and His New Musical Project The 52 Card Trick

As a founder member of the DiY collective, one of Britain's first house sound-systems, Pete Woosh has been a leading figure in the UK counter-culture for almost thirty years. Whether DJing solo or with his long-time DiY sidekick, Digs, he has performed everywhere from Glastonbury to Dismaland, Banksy’s apocalyptic theme park style art exhibition. But after being diagnosed with highly aggressive head and neck cancer in December of 2015, he decided to take a natural approach to treatment, and is about to launch The 52 Card Trick project to give something back to everyone that helped him...

Robin Hood Vs Sheriff of Nottingham Rap Battle and Mark Grist at Nottingham Poetry Festival in Photos

It was absolute carnage down at the Fox and Grapes for Poetry is Dead Good, as part of the Nottingham Poetry Festival...

Film Review: Battle of the Sexes

Emma Stone and Steve Carell star in the story behind the most watched televised sports event of all time

Bru-C Talks Grime, Rap Battles and His New EP

"There are gassy bars and hype tunes out there, but music is about expression and not following what everyone else is doing"