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Catching up with Nottingham poet and cultural historian Panya Banjoko

Panya Banjoko is a Nottingham-born poet and cultural historian and a tour de force in our local literature scene. She’s also the keeper of the Nottingham Black Archive and has been a Patron of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature since it first received the accolade in 2015. We talk to Panya about past and current projects, her new StoryArcs fellowship and why mature ladies get more done…

Blues, dance, and Hong Kong culture: Here's what's on in Nottingham

There's lots of events this week set to spread some strong community spirit and selfless sentiment here in Notts. Here are some of our favourites... 

Margarita Witch Cult

Night Creatures Podcast #6: Oli Gibbons from Tumble Audio, Risque Rhodes and Build Beats on Notts and Rave Culture

Night Creatures is a LeftLion podcast, shining a light on the promoters of Nottingham. Your host and interviewer is Beane, co-founder of Nottingham’s beloved Soul Buggin’ night and he brings with him two decades of experience of putting on great parties in the city.

Gig review: The Ukrainians at Nottingham Ukrainian Cultural Centre

LeftLion Magazine Issue #192 February 2026

Featuring Andy Warhol, Child Friendly City, Jim Baron of Crazy P and White Elephant, Victoria Centre Market, Light Night, Architecture Social Club, Sherwood Forest Trust, Hidden Brew and more...

The Nottingham Culture Review of 2025

2025 is almost at an end, but what happened? Here's our potted history of another year of culture and entertainment in Notts…

The Nottingham Cultural Exchange: a place of community and belonging

Whether you’re a student, international or otherwise, new to the city, and looking to make connections with people in the same boat as you, or if you’re an established Notts resident who likes the idea of broadening your cultural horizons, the Nottingham Cultural Exchange is bound to do something for you. Since 2019, the meetup group has provided a welcoming opportunity to share your respective language and culture (with a drink in hand, of course, if you so choose). With its current home being Juicebar on High Pavement, the event has only grown in popularity – Riya Pereira met the organizers… 

What If a Robot Wrote This? a Creative Exploration Of Ai, Culture, and Your Imagination, With Jocelyn Burnham

A tale of five cities: five things that make Nottingham culture unique

It’s September, the start of the academic year – and with an increased number of student eyes on this magazine, we thought we’d highlight five qualities that make Nottingham culture special: literature, rebels, sport, innovation, and caves. Whether you’re new to Notts or a long-established resident, we hope that these historical tid-bits remind you why it’s great.

New Art Exchange's Community Kitchen is Offering Cuisine, Culture and Connection

Nottingham’s diverse communities are benefiting from an initiative that brings them together in an inclusive and welcoming space to enjoy healthy food, experience new cultures and forge new friendships in the city...

LeftLion Issue #184 June 2025

This month featuring our guide to local summer music festivals, Nottingham Poetry Festival, actor LaQuarn Lewis on BBC's What It Feels Like For A Girl, the Nottingham Attacks Two Years On, Nottingham Playhouse's Adam Penford, Nottingham Craft Beer Festival, the Lenton Centre, Future Makers and more...

Community, culture and the music at The Concert Hall: here's what's on events this week in Nottingham 26 May- 1 June

This week in Notts, cultural vibrations ring from the arrow of Robin Hood! 

Hippie Death Cult

Experience different cultures, historical theatre, and homegrown Notts music: here's what's on this week 5 - 11 May 2025

This week in Notts, learn the Afro Brazilian martial art of Capoeira, experience Greek culture, check out some historical theatre or enjoy some lovely homegrown talent from local musicians...

Offline crafting, theatre, day parties, cultural festivals, and 80s new wave: here's what's on events this week 10-16 March 2025

This week in Notts! Get yourself out to enjoy the first inklings of spring, plus a load of great events around the city. Check out a four day festival at New Art Exchange, enjoy gripping theatre at Nottingham Playhouse and Theatre Royal, get crafting in a no-phone-zone, or head down to Vicky McClure's Day Fever at the Palais...

Pick Six: Rastarella Music Programmer & Community Engagement Expert at Cultural Vibrations (Unity Through Music)

For this month’s Pick Six, we spoke to Rastarella - Music Programmer & Community Engagement Expert at Cultural Vibrations (Unity Through Music) and Radio Host at 97.5 Kemet Fm. Rastarella will oversee the music programming at this month’s Ay-Up Market.

The Nottingham Culture Review of 2024

Welcome to our annual culture review of 2024, a year marked by a national changing-of-the-guard from fourteen years of the Tories. On a local level, we saw highs and lows in Nottingham arts and culture, from the sad final days of some loved businesses to inspiring successes for individuals, artists, groups and charities….

Culture Club

Notts Culture Exchange

From LGBTQ+ arts and culture to Autumnal jazz: Here's what's on this week in Nottingham, 21 -27 October

There's a diverse helping of things to do this week in Nottingham. Whether you fancy enjoying an LGBTQ+ arts and culture festival, a jazz show, Su Pollard live at the Playhouse, a pagan market, or a funk show, we've got you covered...

Cultural Exchange Birthday!!

Ahead of his Pride set, Hacienda DJ Graeme Park talks Selectadisc, the evolution of clubbing culture and being a DJ in the 90s

From starting out as a teenager working in a Notts record shop to DJing around the world and playing to 8000 alongside a classical orchestra, Graeme Park is one of the original founders of the UK’s clubbing and rave scene. We caught up with him ahead of two new shows in the city at Nottingham Pride and Hacienda Live at Wollaton Hall…

Gig Review: Cultural Vibrations turns 15 at Nottingham Playhouse

Cultural Vibrations is the brainchild and legacy to the Nottingham music scene, of Rasta Rella aka Rastarella L Falade. From very humble beginnings the organisation has become a central part of World Music in our city and now celebrates its 15-year anniversary. We went along to the Playhouse to celebrate...

Celebrating 15 years of Cultural Vibrations

Cultural Vibrations (Unity Through Music) is Nottingham’s leading grassroots promoter for global roots music. As they celebrate their 15th anniversary with a concert at the Nottingham Playhouse on Saturday 13 July, we caught up with founder Rastarella Falade ahead of the night to hear how Cultural Vibrations began and what we can expect on the night.