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LeftLion's Latest Listens #48: Notts music we're currently spinning

Fri 10 Jul 2026

This week, our music team reviews new releases from Ben McElroy, KID SPIRIT and E.R. Thorpe...

In photos: Paint By Numbers at The Bodega

Fri 10 Jul 2026

Nottingham's summer 2026 edition of the popular Paint By Numbers day festival took in both spaces of The Bodega and spanned multiple genres, headlined by Coach Party. Nigel King charted the day - and 13 bands - in pictures...

Gig review: mary in the junkyard at Rough Trade Nottingham

Wed 08 Jul 2026

The avante garde South London trio mary in the junkyard chose Nottingham for the first stop in their album promo tour, appearing at Rough Trade for an instore performance and singing. We were there to experience their unique, genre-spanning approach to music...

People Laughing: Music to dance and cry to

Fri 03 Jul 2026

People 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...

Gig review: Midrift, Glare and Glixen at The Bodega

Sun 28 Jun 2026

The Bodega may not sound like the best place to be on a sweltering hot June evening, but when there’s cold drinks, air con and a night ahead of you that’s full of shoegaze magic, there’s nowhere much better. There are three bands on the bill, but each band is alternating as headliner each night on the tour. This is both unusual and exciting; and maybe something more bands should take note of...

Nottingham Puppet Festival, music at the waterfront, film quiz, and history made fun: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 29 June - 5 July

Sun 28 Jun 2026

This week our list of things to look out for this week includes the Nottingham Puppet Festival, Waterfront music festival, a walk down memory lane with events for music, film, and the sewing history in prisons.

Review: Hot Pot at Lakeside Arts

Sat 27 Jun 2026

This new play, by Nottingham's Hongwei Bao, explores East Asian LGBTQ+ narratives as four friends gather round the dinner table for a night of memories and revelations...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #47: Notts music we're currently spinning

Fri 26 Jun 2026

In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from Drinking With Lucy, EMiDORA, Saffron Gray and Isaac Neilson...

Theatre Review: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold at Theatre Royal

Thu 25 Jun 2026

A new play, based on a classic novel by British author John le Carré, is showing at Nottingham's Theatre Royal starring TV actor Ralf Little as a weary 1960s MI5 agent...

Gig review: All Them Witches and Steak at The Palais

Tue 23 Jun 2026

A intoxicating night of psychedelic desert rock came to The Palais on Thursday as Nashville's All Them Witches came to Notts, with support from Steak...

Gig review: Feel the Nusic, Future Sound of Nottingham 2026

Tue 23 Jun 2026

With two coveted spots on the Splendour Festival main stage up for grabs, this year's Future Sound of Nottingham competition, organised by Feel the Nusic, was once again hotly contested. LeftLion was there to revel in all the music, and to see the winners crowned...

Theatre Review: Smoke at Nottingham Playhouse

SMOKE is a new play from acclaimed queer theatre-maker Alexis Gregory whose work has appeared in the West End and internationally. Award-winning filmmaker Campbell X directs...

LeftLion at Download 2026

Sun 21 Jun 2026

LeftLion's Kieran Lister spills the tea on his first time experience at the legendary Download Festival, which last weekend - despite the crowds - once again turned Donington Park into a place of mass catharsis, self-expression and freedom...

International movements, queer events, and classic film & music : Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 22 - 28 June

Sun 21 Jun 2026

The next week in Nottingham is jam-packed with events catering to all - including a play uplifting hidden voices in our community, two documentary screenings about critical movements, and a night of gothic drag bingo at Rough Trade. Here's our full list of things we'd recommend getting involved in.

Gig review: India Arkin, Dring and Emily Ashberry at The Grove

Sat 20 Jun 2026

On the same evening that England were triumphant in their opening World Cup game against Croatia, tucked away in The Grove a magical evening of live music was taking place. Headlined by immensely talented, Bristol-based singer-songwriter India Arkin, with support from local artists Dring and Emily Ashberry, it marked the first Nottingham gig from promoter Music Observer, also known as LeftLion’s own Music Co-Editor, Phil Taylor. Here’s what went down…

The tree might have stopped growing, but the spirit of the Major Oak lives on

Fri 19 Jun 2026

After the Major Oak’s sad passing was declared yesterday, Environment Editor Adam Pickering shares his thoughts and looks to the tree’s legacy, as well as countywide initiatives restoring Sherwood Forest.

Play Review: Television Workshop's I Had A Wheelbarrow at The Nest

Wed 17 Jun 2026

The Nottingham Television Workshop, famed for nurturing many local actors, is launching a play about Notts County FC and fans. You can't get more local than that...

Book reviews: Nottingham City of Literature's Big City Reads giveaway 2026

Wed 17 Jun 2026

Big City Reads is a free book giveaway campaign run by Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature to encourage reading for pleasure among young people in Notts. Returning for its fourth year, they’ll be giving away 2250 books this summer. Here, members of Nottingham City of Literature’s Youth Selection Panel have reviewed some of their favourites from the shortlist.

Gig review: Finn Forster at The Bodega

Thu 11 Jun 2026

Bryan Johnson, Sting, Neil Tennant, Little Mix, Cheryl, Sam Fender… the North-East is truly the musical gift that keeps on giving. It often leaves us asking, “Can there be any more phenomenal acts ready to join the hall of fame?” The answer is yes, and his name is Finn Forster. For anyone who missed out on his show at The Bodega, here’s why you need to grab tickets when he inevitably returns to Nottingham...

Gig review: Pigeon Pit and Cheap Dirty Horse at The Carousel

Wed 10 Jun 2026

Britain and America’s ‘Special Relationship’ is currently strained on a geopolitical level, but in the folk-punk sphere, things have never been stronger. Washington’s Pigeon Pit and Nottingham’s own Cheap Dirty Horse have united for a joint-headline tour across the UK this month, and their evening at the Carousel was everything you would expect from the two bands: loud, bold, unapologetically pro-LGBT+, and above all, a lot of fun...

Theatre Review: The Choir of Men at the Theatre Royal