There's more content than you would believe. Hopefully this will make finding it a bit easier...
Exhibition review: Pieces of Me at the National Justice Museum
Tue 18 Aug 2026Made by artist Elahè Raofi and built by the stories of members of Refugee Roots, a free exhibition at the National Justice Museum creates a space that says, ‘all are welcome’, while tackling themes of work, identity and belonging.
LeftLion's Latest Listens #49: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 31 Jul 2026In this 49th edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Richard Snow, Emily Ashberry, Pillow Fort and CATHEDRA...
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...
Food review: Ramen worth raving about at Shobu
Thu 30 Jul 2026While ramen might not be the most obvious choice for summertime, living in Nottingham means out of season weather is practically guaranteed. Shobu, a little Japanese restaurant on Friar Lane, is the perfect antidote to a dreary day....
Gig review: Playback launch showcase at The Carousel
Tue 28 Jul 2026Luke Brennan, the creator of Playback, wants to change the music industry for the better to help support the local scene. The first Playback showcase took place at Notts grassroots venue, The Carousel, and was completely sold out with 100% of ticket sales going towards the artists performing - proving that change is possible for the industry...
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...
Festival review: Splendour goes out in style
Fri 24 Jul 2026As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. For 18 years, Splendour Festival has been one of the highlights of the summer here in Nottingham, a community celebration that brings together UK music legends with some of the very best up-and-coming local bands. It began in 2008 with names including Kate Nash, The Charlatans and Ocean Colour Scene on the bill. However, with the event no longer able to viably continue, the 2026 edition marked the end of an era for our city's premier two-day festival. Determined to go out on a high, here is what took place at the last ever Splendour…
Gig review: Yard Act in-store at Rough Trade
Thu 23 Jul 2026Despite Yard Act having performed at Rock City a few years ago, LeftLion their fans jumped at the chance to see the band in the much more intimate setting of Rough Trade, and even get the opportunity to meet them afterwards at the album signing...
Exhibition review: Physical Culture and And The Soul is for the Birds at Nottingham Contemporary
Thu 23 Jul 2026Two very different exhibitions are currently displayed at the Nottingham Contemporary. In one, classical sculptures intersect with modern fitness culture. In the other, a Brazilian artist creates an imagined folklore…
Big City Reads - Young Adult Book Reviews
Mon 20 Jul 2026The Nottingham City of Literature free book giveaway campaign (29 June -12 August) features five compelling Young Adult titles, selected by young people, for young people…
Theatre review: Alice In Wonderland by Niche Artefact
Mon 20 Jul 2026We peaked through the looking-glass at Revolution de Cuba for an evening of art, theatre and expression with Niche Artefact's fabulously captivating Alice in Wonderland themed stage show and exhibition...
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…
Nadia on… the new guidance on single-sex spaces
Wed 15 Jul 2026Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome discusses the Government's latest guidance on single sex spaces
Theatre Review: The Market Deeping Model Railway Club at Nottingham Playhouse
Mon 13 Jul 2026The third of Nottingham Playhouse's new season by local playwrights is a charming production, written by William Ivory. It focuses on a group of seven men (and one woman) who bond and overcome personal traumas by exhibiting model railways...
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.
Another triumphant year for Gate To Southwell Festival
Sat 11 Jul 2026Dodging the heatwaves, we spent a couple of days on site at Gate To Southwell Festival. Pushing the envelope of folk, and with a collaboration with some of the most exciting Canadian musicians, it was easy to see why this local event is going stronger than ever...
Exhibition review: Drawn Through Time at Lakeside Arts
Sat 11 Jul 2026Nottingham's cultural landscape has quietly become one of the most exciting in the Midlands, with Lakeside Arts consistently bringing ambitious exhibitions to the city that challenge how audiences engage with contemporary art. Its latest exhibition, Drawn Through Time, is no exception. Housed within the Djanogly Gallery at the University of Nottingham, the exhibition takes what many might consider the simplest of artistic practices – drawing – and transforms it into something far richer: a way of navigating history, memory and imagination.
LeftLion's Latest Listens #48: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 10 Jul 2026This week, our music team reviews new releases from Ben McElroy, KID SPIRIT and E.R. Thorpe...
Theatre Review: Dyke Systems Ltd by Fag Packet at the Nottingham Playhouse
Fri 10 Jul 2026This award-winning theatre double act come to Nottingham with a comedy show that is part queer fever dream and part corporate seminar, and much more...
Gig review: mary in the junkyard at Rough Trade Nottingham
Wed 08 Jul 2026The 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 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...
Left Magpie: Notts County season review 2026
Wed 01 Jul 2026Our Notts County FC columnist gives a run down of the team’s successful 2025-26 season, whilst also trying to cram in as many literature and poetry references as possible…