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Art works: White Falcon I by Marcus Rowlands

For this month’s Art Works we heard from Marcus Rowlands, whose intricate wooden mandalas are on display at the New Art Exchange’s Open exhibition throughout this month.

Spilling the tea: Frances Russell on managing the White Rabbit Teahouse through adversity

Serving tea, cake and scones, White Rabbit Teahouse is a quintessential British tearoom, providing a peaceful setting among the noise and crowds of the city centre. Behind the scenes, owner Frances Russell has weathered many storms to keep the business alive. Food co-editor Lucy Campion sat down with Frances to talk about the evolution of her teahouse, how the hospitality landscape has changed and what the future holds. 

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...

Truth or Legend: the case of Lady Godiva

For this month’s dive into Nottingham’s weird history, we take a look at the unusual life of Lady Godiva… 

Theatre Review: Kiss Me Kate by the West Bridgford Operatic Society at the Squire Performing Arts Centre

The West Bridgford Operatic Society puts on Kiss Me Kate, Cole Porter's famed musical that juggles a play within a play. Ambitious stuff. So how did they do...  

Gig review: Chasing Abbey at The Bodega

Traditional Irish meets alt-electric band Chasing Abbey played a storming sellout gig to a lively and enthusiastic crowd, some of whom had travelled over from Ireland to witness the band’s first ever visit to The Bodega in Nottingham...

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… 

Undercover Artist: Craig Whitemore shares his journey into professional graphic design and illustration

Our January cover artist Craig Whitemore shares more about his journey into professional graphic design and illustration.

Hart of the Wood: the film installations at Newstead Abbey inspired by forest folklore

With its elegant ruins, serene rolling gardens and rich literary history, Newstead Abbey already makes for an atmospheric autumnal wander, but currently, another escape awaits within its historic landscape. Dotted within the grounds, the Hart of the Wood project shares a series of intriguing 16mm films exploring the seasons, our relationship with folklore and the land. We spoke to Notts filmmaker Benjamin Wigley to hear about the artistry and story behind these curious hand-powered moving pictures…

Theatre Review: The Last Stand Of Mary Whitehouse at the Nottingham Playhouse

Today's youth might think Mary Whitehouse was some cartoonish figure-of-fun. A prude and a bigot, leftover from the Victorian era. Not at all. Known as the most dangerous woman in England at the time, she wreaked havoc. The Playhouse's brand new play shares the horror...  

Life in Light: catching up with landscape photographer Tracey Whitefoot

Born and bred in Nottingham, Tracey Whitefoot has spent the last two decades as a freelance photographer. In that time she’s photographed a lot of famous faces, as well as capturing the amazing cityscapes she has become known for. We asked her about her work and her exhibition, My Life In Light, currently on show at Nottingham Central Library…

Playwright Caroline Bird on writing The Last Stand Of Mrs Mary Whitehouse

The Playhouse continues its streak of consequential new plays with the upcoming The Last Stand Of Mrs Mary Whitehouse, starring Maxine Peake behind those infamous horn-rimmed spectacles. Caroline Bird speaks to Leftlion about how and why she wrote about the 'most dangerous woman in Britain'... 

Pick Six: Notts born athlete and Paralympian Richard Whitehead

For this month’s Pick Six we turn to Notts born athlete and Paralympian Richard Whitehead…

Beeston’s Lady Plaques: an interview with Tamar Feast

Since 2009, the Beeston and District Civic Society has installed 35 plaques to commemorate figures who are important to the local area. Despite this large number, every single one of these plaques honored a man. In January, this tradition was broken when the first ever plaque honoring a woman was unveiled. We spoke to Tamar Feast to find out the origins of the Beeston’s Lady Plaques initiative and what this could mean for the way we understand and commemorate historical figures in the future.

In photos: White Denim at Rescue Rooms

Gig review: Doves at Rock City, with White Flowers

With frontman Jimi Goodwin only at Rock City 'in spirit', Doves fought on to perform a Nottingham show that proved the resilience and quality of their back catalogue...

Truth or Legend? The Case of the White Lady of Wollaton

Fancy a ghost story this Christmas Eve? We thought that we'd revive this age-old Victorian tradition and discuss the mysterious legend of the White Lady of Wollaton...

Hitchcock meets Lord of the Flies in this exciting comedy-thriller at the Nottingham Playhouse

Rotten is a comedy about the Instagram generation that is as dark as it is funny. Its creator, Josie White, speaks with Leftlion about terrible things and how she came to write them... 

In photos: Could Be Real Tribute Festival at Newstead Abbey

LeftLion headed to the beautiful Newstead Abbey for a one-of-a-kind event featuring 10 of the UK's best musical tribute acts across two stages. It may not have been the real thing, but that didn't stop everyone having fun...

Gig review: Average White Band at Rock City

We headed down to Rock City for a musicianship masterclass from Average White Band, as they visited Nottingham as part of their final tour...