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Altered State: Nottingham’s vital role in 1990s dance culture

Thu 09 Jul 2026

In his book Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House, journalist Matthew Collin documents the cultural explosion sparked by the potent combination of house music and MDMA, which catalysed a remarkable upsurge of creative activity, from London to Glasgow, Manchester to Belfast – and Nottingham. Matthew tells us what made the city integral in this powerful cultural movement.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #46: Notts music we're currently spinning

Fri 05 Jun 2026

In edition 46 of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from ALT BLK ERA, JJ Lovegrove, Margo Pelto and Vona Vella ...

Gig review: ALT BLK ERA at Rescue Rooms with Luna & The Lime Slices and St Agnes

Thu 04 Jun 2026

Off the back of a European tour with Pendulum (and an appearance on the LeftLion Interviews podcast), Nottingham alternative-electronic duo ALT BLK ERA played a sold out homecoming show last weekend, bringing their genre-blending sound and compelling stage presence to Rescue Rooms, with support from St Agnes and Luna & The Lime Slices...

LeftLion Interviews Podcast #18: Nyrobi and Chaya of ALT BLK ERA on winning a MOBO, playing Jools Holland, touring with Pendulum and homecoming gigs

Fri 22 May 2026

This episode we are joined by Nyrobi and Chaya of ALT BLK ERA, who talk about their whirlwind year of winning a MOBO, appearing on Jools Holland and touring Europe with Pendulum…

Thought-provoking theatre, alternative rock music and local art: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham 11 - 17 May

Sun 10 May 2026

This week in Notts! Enjoy original theatre and gritty alternative rock, or head south of river and meet Ladybay's artists in their studios. Here's our top picks...

Golden era: catching up with electronic-rock duo ALT BLK ERA before their Rescue Rooms show

Thu 07 May 2026

In 2022, sister duo and Notts natives Nyrobi and Chaya Becket-Messam emerged onto the local music scene as electronic-rock act ALT BLK ERA. Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength, from winning a MOBO award in 2025 to touring late last year with drum and bass band Pendulum. It’s been a while since we’ve caught up with Nyrobi and Chaya, so they set aside time to walk us through their crazy journey to this point.

Rage against the running machine: local class Rockfit's alternative take on fitness

Tue 06 Jan 2026

Looking to shake off the ‘toxicity’ of the festive season, let your ‘bodies’ hit the floor, and get ‘one step closer’ to your fitness goals? Well, if you have a penchant for alternative music, get yourself down to RockFit, Nottingham’s alternative fitness class where friendly metal fans rock out to work out. We spoke to Nottingham instructors Jack ‘Kastor’ Wilkinson and Sam ‘Blu’ Rynne to discover what it’s all about…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #36: Notts music we're currently spinning

Fri 28 Nov 2025

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2025, our music team reviews new releases from Marseille, Kelsey and The Embers, Richard Snow and ALT BLK ERA...

Festive light trails and markets, Notts alt rock and dark cinema: Here's what's on in Notts this week 24-30 November 2025

Mon 24 Nov 2025

This week, enjoy a live concert of Amy Winehouse's original band, adore the new festive light trail at Wollaton or take yourself and the family down to the Nottingham Christmas Market. Let the festivities begin!

Emma Oldham Wins Oxford Flash Fiction Prize

Mon 10 Nov 2025

In recent years there’s been more recognition that a short story’s impact isn’t limited by its brevity. Flash Fiction has blossomed into its own discrete art form - and we’re now pleased to say that we have a champion of the form among us...

Review: Karma Weekender at Saltbox (Saturday)

Sat 05 Apr 2025

The second day of Saltbox's Karma Weekender festival proved to be an exciting, eclectic, and sometimes surreal experience...

Review: Karma Weekender at Saltbox (Friday)

Fri 04 Apr 2025

Music festivals don’t have to be stuck in a muddy festival to have connotations of carnage and chaos. This equally applies to all day inner-city ones, as the Karma Weekender at Saltbox proved. Here's what happened on the first day...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #15: Notts music we're currently spinning

Fri 14 Feb 2025

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Confyde, Idolvein, Cara Flynn, Marseille and ALT BLK ERA...

Gig review: ALT BLK ERA at Saltbox

Wed 29 Jan 2025

ALT BLK ERA are Nottingham’s alternative crown jewels, made up of sisters Nyrobi and Chaya, who both provide lush and powerful vocals, along with their instrumental backbone of Sam on drums and Alex on guitar. Hot on the heels of the release of their debut album, the incredible Rave Immortal, we went down to Saltbox for their sold-out launch party...

Alternative sister duo ALT BLK ERA talk songwriting, honesty and working with Wheatus

Sat 04 Jan 2025

From a MOBO award nomination and TikTok fame to playing packed tents at the country’s largest rock festivals, alternative duo ALT BLK ERA became one of Nottingham’s big breakout acts in 2024. With their highly anticipated debut album Rave Immortal set for release at the end of January, 2025 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for sisters Nyrobi and Chaya. To find out more about the making of the record and their plans for the upcoming year, we sat down for an expansive chat…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #13: Notts music we're currently spinning

Sat 14 Dec 2024

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from ALT BLK ERA, Jayahadadream, Pretty Windows and Alice for Breakfast...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #11: Notts music we're currently spinning

Sun 24 Nov 2024

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Grain Mother, ALT BLK ERA (with Wheatus), and Drew Thomas...

The worms are coming! Our homegrown alt comedy troup are taking over.

Mon 21 Oct 2024

As Nottingham's alternative comedy venue prepares for its first ever Wormhole Weekend, alternative comedian Rosa Keaton takes us for a worm's-eye view.

From alt-rock and grunge, to football and surrealism. Here's what's on in Nottingham, 23 -29 September

Sun 22 Sept 2024

There's no shortage of energetic gigs, side-splitting comedy, or thought provoking art and design shows, to keep you busy in Notts this week. Here's what's on.

Babylonia and historical fiction with Times bestselling author Costanza Casati

Sat 07 Sept 2024

Young Italian author Costanza Casati shot into The Times’ bestsellers list with her first novel Clytemnestra, respinning mythology through a woman’s eyes. Her follow-up Babylonia is doing just as well, so we caught up with her in Nottingham during her recent book tour to brush up on our Bronze Age…

Alt-rock quartet Bored Marsh talk festivals, finding success and their upcoming EP

Wed 04 Sept 2024

In just a few short years, alt-rock quartet Bored Marsh have gone from non-existent to becoming one of the hottest bands to emerge from the booming Nottingham music scene. Now with the release of their debut EP on the horizon, we sat down with frontman Joe Need and guitarist Brad Westby to discuss their rapid rise.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #3: Notts music we're currently spinning

Fri 30 Aug 2024

In this week's edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team's picks of the latest and greatest sounds from all around Nottingham and the Midlands, we review new releases from ALT BLK ERA, Cappo, Pink Cliffs and River Drive...

Rights for Flies: the alternative rock band with an environmental twist

Mon 26 Aug 2024

It’s summer. The wasps are coming for your ice cream, the flies for your park-bench picnic… but before you start swatting, have a listen to Rights For Flies. We spoke with Tobi from the Nottingham based band and activist collective to hear about hoverflies, breaking boundaries, and how art gives us the chance to champion environmental action.

We talk to Fast Forward, a creative learning outlet that teaches music as an alternative to traditional education

Wed 29 May 2024

Fast Forward Direction Thru Music is helping transform the lives of students through the power of music. We spoke to founders Stevie Lee and his fellow musicians/co-founders, along with several students, to hear about their important work and the crowdfunder that hopes to help them train more students in music production skills.

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