There's more content than you would believe. Hopefully this will make finding it a bit easier...
Gig review: Bob Log III and The Gadgets at Billy Bootleggers
Mon 17 Aug 2026The innovative, inventive and outrageous American bluesman Bob Log III is currently on a UK tour that reached Nottingham's own sleazy rock n' roll dive bar, Billy Bootleggers a week ago. Richard Wilkinson-Smith went down to the centre of the city to check out what this unbelievably entertaining gutter-blues space cadet was all about.
Undercover artist: Lucy Holt on music industry design and her August 2026 cover for LeftLion
Mon 17 Aug 2026Our 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
Sun 16 Aug 2026Next 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...
Art works: White Falcon I by Marcus Rowlands
Wed 12 Aug 2026For 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.
From Pinot to Americano: ØKENDE’s new city centre location
Tue 11 Aug 2026West Bridgford born coffee shop and bakery ØKENDE is known for its cool, minimalist design and elegant pastries. Last month, this popular independent opened a second store on Broad Street, introducing a new day-to-night spot in Hockley.
MOIST: A Publishing Press with a Difference
Sun 09 Aug 2026Based 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...
Nottingham City of Literature's Big City Reads: meeting four authors involved
Fri 07 Aug 2026The Big City Reads campaign continues until 12 August to provide free books to young people across the city. With a mix of very different stories covering this year’s theme of identity, we asked four young writers to interview some of the selected authors about their work...
René House: A race against time to change homeless people’s lives
Fri 31 Jul 2026René House, a new hub for people experiencing homelessness is opening on Mansfield Road, and there's just one month to transform the new space. We meet fundraiser Shani Jayawardena to learn how the community can help...
LeftLion Issue #198 August 2026
Fri 31 Jul 2026Our August 2026 issue features EMiDORA, burlesque artist Ruby D'Woo, Warp Miniatures, the new Nottingham league football scene, and lots more.
Gig review: As It Is at Rough Trade
Sat 25 Jul 2026Rough Trade Nottingham feels more intimate than usual tonight, with bodies packed shoulder‑to‑shoulder and buzzing with the kind of anticipation that only comes with a long‑awaited return. As It Is are back with their new self‑titled album, their first release since 2022, and the room carries that shared understanding that this isn’t just another in‑store, it’s something that many fans thought they would never see - a chance to see As It Is again and what the band look like in this new era...
Notts Pride, immersive theatre shows and great sporting events: here's what's on in Nottingham this week: events 20 July - 26 July
Sun 19 Jul 2026This week in Notts is just as vibrant as the last. If you're still not ready to say goodbye to the summer festivals, Boho Festival might be your solution. Or maybe you're looking for a change of pace? Whether it's an immersive theatre show at People's Hall, sporting events to get your adrenaline pumping, live music and more, here's what Nottingham has to offer this week...
Long live the queens! We chat to the Gladrags drag queens ahead of Nottingham Pride
Fri 17 Jul 2026Here in Notts we’re often blessed with the talents of some top notch drag artists – most perform as part of the well loved Gladrags collective and club night. For Pride 2026, on Sat 25 July, many of the queens we know and love will be seen in action for the grand afterparty at The Palais. In preparation, Bee Green catches up with five performers who are on the lineup…
Splendour Festival's last hurrah, musicals, ballet and immersive art experiences: here's what's on in Notts this week: events 13 July - 19 July
Sun 12 Jul 2026This week is one for the books, including Splendour Festival celebrating their final weekend, Beyond Monet & Beyond Van Gogh, a convention for hit sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, and events for theatre, music and ballet fans alike.
LeftLion Interviews Podcast #19: Selina Mosinski (AKA Charity Shop Sue) and Matt Chesney of Backlit Studios on Selina’s new Edinburgh Fringe show Puss in Boots: a Working Class Fairytale
Fri 10 Jul 2026This episode we are joined by Selina Mosinski (AKA Charity Shop Sue) and Matt Chesney of Backlit Studios to talk about Selina’s new Edinburgh Fringe show Puss in Boots: a Working Class Fairytale.
Pick Six: playwright and actor William Ivory
Tue 07 Jul 2026For this month’s Pick Six we turned to Notts born screenwriter, playwright and actor William Ivory ahead of his play The Market Deeping Model Railway Club, which runs at the Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 25 July.
People Laughing: Music to dance and cry to
Fri 03 Jul 2026People Laughing landed on the Nottingham music scene in January 2026 with big tunes, smooth aesthetics and catchy songwriting. The trio, made up of singer/guitarist Matt Grocott, bassist Ollie Carnell and drummer Luke Hallam, have showed no sign of showing, with a three-date residency at Nottingham’s legendary Acoustic Rooms, sets at big venues including The Bodega and Rescue Rooms, and even an appearance at Nottingham’s biggest festival, Splendour, upcoming. Singer Matt joined up for a chat to tell us all about the project, what they draw from and what’s next...
LeftLion Issue #197 July 2026
Fri 03 Jul 2026Our July issue features Notts Pride 2026, NG83: When We Were B Boys, the drag queens of Nottingham, Sidedoor Social, the Future Sound of Nottingham 2026 winners, Write Queer, and loads more...
More than a gig a day: Catching up with Isaac Neilson
Thu 02 Jul 2026Singer-songwriter Isaac Neilson is from Buxton in our neighbouring county and based here in Nottingham. But since 1 January it’s been hard to find him in the city. On that fateful day, Neilson began a mind-blowing challenge: to perform a gig on every single day of 2026. LeftLion caught up with Neilson at the halfway point of the year…