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Common Ground: Alan Lodge's upcoming exhibition documents protests, parties and festivals over the last fifty years

Opening this month at Bonington Gallery is Common Grounds: Counterculture & Confrontation since 1976, a retrospective of the work of Alan ‘Tash’ Lodge. One of the UK’s most prolific photographers of alternative lifestyles, Alan’s work gives a vivid first person insight into the new age traveller movement and the 90s free-party scene, raising questions about the right to gather, policing, surveillance and community.

Theatre Review: Till the Stars Come Down at the Nottingham Playhouse

A wedding might bring everybody together. Beth Steel is much more interested in what happens once they are all in the same room...

Stage Interview: Tracy Radford, artistic director at Unanima Youth Performance Academy

The Unanima Youth Performance Academy supports people with learning disabilities, developing theatrical skills and creating opportunities to perform. And they have just been awarded a grant to take their work to new levels. Tracy Radford, CEO and Artistic Director, shares the story of their success with Left Lion... 

Pick six: Notts folk artist Daudi Matsiko

For this month's Pick Six we feature Notts folk artist Daudi Matsiko who plays at Sneinton Market's By Our Hands We Make Our Way in 19 September.

Mansfield Town Film Festival 2026: in conversation with director Jay Martin

Coming up later this month, Mansfield Town Film Festival provides a packed three day schedule of working-class voices, locally made films, live screenings, masterclasses, and Q&As. We spoke to festival director Jay Martin about representation, community and why Mansfield is putting the East Midlands firmly on the cinema map… 

Folk legend: Jim Ghedi on his soundtrack for Michael Sarnoski's The Death of Robin Hood

Sheffield musician Jim Ghedi has for years carved a unique corner of folk music, but now that he’s composed the soundtrack for a new film starring Hugh Jackman: The Death of Robin Hood, a lot more people will probably be recognising his name from here on out. He’s also playing a gig in Nottingham in October, so there was no better time for us to meet and chat with him… 

Forged in Mansfield: local playwright Beth Steel on her play Till the Stars Come Down and going international

Born and brought up in Warsop, playwright Beth Steel has seen her work performed in London, Tokyo, Mexico, Iceland, Peru and more.  What’s particularly brilliant about this is that they’re usually set in her hometown of Mansfield. She tells us more about her fifth play Till the Stars Come Down, which is coming home to Nottingham Playhouse one week from now …

We talk to a band who define runaway success: Westside Cowboy

Manchester formed four-piece Westside Cowboy are one of the most exciting bands emerging on the current UK circuit. Within three years of forming during freshers week at university, they have toured with masterclass rock group Geese, secured the most viewed performance on the current series of 'Later… with Jools Holland', performed at  Glastonbury and filled venues of  thousands - all before their debut album was even released. Ahead of their Nottingham record store appearance, we sat down with Reuben (vocals / guitar) and Aoife (vocals / bass) to discuss the new album, their upcoming record store and headline tours, and meeting music legend Elton John...

Life Behind Bars: With Gaz Peacham, Deputy Manager at The Embankment Pub

For this month's edition of Life Behind Bars we take a jaunt down to Trent Bridge to speak to Gaz... 

Why Multi-Family Chalet Holidays Demand a Geneva Airport French Side Car Hire

The Route to Cappyness: Notts filmmaker Sharon Walia on her brand new documentary

Nottingham filmmaker Sharon Walia’s work has covered a variety of topics – from guinea pigs to refugees. With her newest documentary, The Route to Cappyness, she looks at how the world’s largest rodent could be the key to positivity across the globe, from Brazil and Japan to the USA and Wheelgate Park. We spoke to Sharon about why the capybara is important, how she made the film, and her travels across the UK, USA, Brazil, and Japan. 

Undercover artist: Lucy Holt on music industry design and her August 2026 cover for LeftLion

Our August cover artist Lucy Holt talks about projection art, previous projects and inspiration…

Tom A. Smith talks energy, dedication, and why he just keeps coming back to a certain local festival

Next week, Tom A. Smith will be returning - again - to the magical, intimate setting of 110 Above Festival, just a few miles from Nottingham. We caught up with the Sunderland artist for a quickfire interview...

Warp drive: visiting Warp Miniatures, Sneinton Market's own fantasy wargaming haven

Nottingham company Games Workshop and its ‘Warhammer’ brand of science fiction and fantasy miniatures have become part of our city’s cultural makeup. But just as every giant planet tends to have moons, a group of smaller stores orbit  it, comprising what’s often called the UK’s ‘Lead Belt’. Sneinton Market’s Warp Miniatures, run by Alex and Wingshan Huntley, is one such business.

LeftLion's Latest Listens #50: Notts music we're currently spinning

We have reached the 50th edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens! Thanks to all our writers who have contributed since our first edition in 2024, and a very big thank you to all the Notts artists who have made our lives better with their music. In this edition, our music team reviews new releases from Di$mal, Wayne Banks, Rainbow Frog Biscuits, Laura Williams and ronnietoldus...

The wondrous world of Ruby D’Woo: meeting Nottingham’s own burlesque and cabaret star

From workshop classes in Haus of Ruby D’Woo, to hosting top-notch live burlesque and cabaret shows across the county, Ruby D’Woo is Nottingham's award-winning burlesque and cabaret artist. Ahead of the Cosy Cabaret coming up next month, she tells us what brought her to the burlesque stage, how she crafts performances, and why burlesque has become a journey of self-expression, confidence, and empowerment for so many…

Locating Lawrence: August 1926

Grouse shooting is ‘an event for those that shoot, and a still bigger one for those that get shot’... Here's what DH Lawrence was up to 100 years ago this month.

Theatre Review: Waitress at Royal Concert Hall

Now celebrating its 10th year, Waitress returns to fill Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall with the delicious scent of baking pies, and a musical that’s equal parts emotional, witty and bittersweet...

Putting down roots: the story of the Windrush Generation and St Ann's Allotments explored in a new book

Colin Haynes’ book, Caribbean Pioneer Gardeners, tells the story of men whose love for gardening gave them much more than callaloo and oxheart tomatoes. It shares the true story of a group of Windrush residents who turned the neglected, overgrown Hungerhill Gardens, or St Ann's Allotments, as they would become known, into a Caribbean-inspired culinary and horticultural haven.

MOIST: A Publishing Press with a Difference

Based at Primary in Lenton independent press MOIST is smaller than traditional publishing houses, but for both readers and authors, this smaller size can bring certain advantages. Georgia Hamblett went down to find out more...