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Classical music at Nottingham Theatre Royal & Concert Hall with Matt Wigley, Music Programme Manager

Whatever genre of music you’re into, it’s likely you’ll be able to find an iconic music venue in Notts catering for your taste. Taking care of the classical corner, Matt Wigley has been Music Programme Manager at the Royal Concert Hall since the end of 2024, attracting top orchestras and classical superstars to the city. He talks to us about upcoming acts, world-class acoustics, and why anyone can get into classical music…

LeftLion's Latest Listens #53: Notts music we're currently spinning

In the 53rd edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews releases from Otala, Matt Blaney, Wayne Banks and Make Strangers...

Undercover artist: Iulia Matei celebrates creative pastimes with our September 2026 cover

This month’s cover artist Iulia Matei talks comics, creativity and letting things figure themselves out.

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.

Nadia on… Nottingham’s maternity services

Nottingham East's Labour MP Nadia Whittome discusses Nottingham's maternity services.

Content warning: baby loss, death.

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

This 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.

Out of Time: How Sneinton's Victoria Lesiure Centre once hosted wrestling matches

Wrestling matches at what’s now the Victoria Leisure Centre on Gedling Street happened recently enough to be a childhood memory for some, but for others, it’s an almost forgotten occurrence. Here’s the colourful and chaotic history… 

Best London Restaurants and Pubs for England Matchdays

Discover the best hidden London restaurants and pubs for England matchdays. From Soho favourites to Shoreditch sports bars...

Art works: PRF by Iulia Matei

For this month’s artworks, illustrator and regular LeftLion contributor Iulia Matei shares the concept behind her new graphic novel PRF (Punk Rock Fairies) and why we need independent art now more than ever.

Pick Six: comedian Matt Forde

For this month’s Pick Six, we turn to political comedian and impressionist Matt Forde who brings his show Defying Calamity to the Theatre Royal on Sun 31 May.

Theatre Review: Matt Parker – Getting Triggy With It at the Nottingham Playhouse

Matt Parker is a best-selling author and stand-up performer, who has built a reputation for being a wizz at mathes.  As part of his mission to bring maths to the masses, he has just been in town. Leftlion crunches the numbers... 

LeftLion's Latest Listens #40: Notts music we're currently spinning

Welcome to the fortieth edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens! This week, our music team reviews new releases from Hhymn, Kezia Gill, Matt McCarthy, Vee Adu and Terza Rima...

Review: Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures - The Red Shoes at the Theatre Royal

A stunning reimagining of the classic film

LeftLion's Latest Listens #37: Notts music we're spinning in 2026

In this, the first edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from Daudi Matsiko, Ruby Aeron, ktlyle, LYVIA and Verbal Warning...

Life behind bars: with Matt Hinton, owner at Brew Tavern

For this month's instalment of Life behind bars, we speak to the man who looks after a claimant to being Nottingham city centre's smallest pub.

Gig review: Dea Matrona at Rescue Rooms

In a big week for overseas acts playing in Britain, with Lorde, Mac Demarco and Alex G making stops across the country, Nottingham closed out the week with a band from slightly closer to home. Belfast’s blues-rock duo Dea Matrona played to a packed audience at Rescue Rooms, marking their first headline stop in the city. After opening for Swedish band Royal Republic at Rock City last year, the band are back and ready to run their own show, delivering a confident set that could sway even the toughest of crowds...

A laughing matter: meeting four performers at the Nottingham Comedy Festival 2025

The Nottingham Comedy Festival returns between Friday 31 October - Sunday 9 November for its 17th year, and will see a diversity of comedians from across the country visit Notts for ten days of unparalleled fun and laughter. Wondering what to expect? Below we meet four performers featured on the festival line-up…

Actor Matt Gavan gives the inside scoop on Nottingham Playhouse's new play Eureka Day

Matt Gavan has acted in big hitting films and series like Christopher Robin, Masters of the Air and Pennyworth. But now he is treading the boards in Nottingham Playhouse's new comedy Eureka Day. Leftlion caught up with Matt on day two of rehearsals... 

Gig review: Daudi Matsiko at Metronome

The one-and-only “King of Misery” Daudi Matsiko moved us all with his heartfelt music, latest stories, mental health activism and his award-winning personality during a magical evening at Nottingham’s Metronome…

From the Kitchen: With Luke Matterson, chef at The Pudding Pantry

For this instalment of From the Kitchen we reached out to Luke Mattherson, who works at The Pudding Pantry - an independent, coffee and desserts restaurant popular across the city.

Follow the stickers: Notts filmmaker Matt Watts on the stories behind sticker art on the streets

Hidden amongst the barrage of commercial advertisements and billboards that dominate our city landscape, the more curious among us may be drawn to some unusual markings; the plethora of quirky stickers plastered on lampposts, signs and electrical boxes. Follow the Stickers is a short film by Nottingham-based documentary filmmaker Matt Watts. Here he shares his journey of tangents, discovering artists, events and more obscure messages of the underground sticker world, and telling us why we should keep an eye out for them too… 

Stage Review: Matthew Bourne's The Midnight Bell at the Theatre Royal

An intoxicating cinematic escape to 1930s Soho...

Left Magpie: August 2025 The First Match

Julian McDougall is back with his thoughts on the opening game of the season (Notts County v Newport)...

Left Magpie July 2025: Going to the Match with Stuart Maynard, Martin Paterson and LS Lowry

Our monthly Notts County column is back after a hiatus and now penned by Julian McDougall, formerly of the beloved Notts County fanzine The Pie and currently of the excellent When Saturday Comes magazine. Here he muses about the appointment of Martin Paterson and the nature of supporters in the “Lowry-esque’ setting of Meadow Lane...

"You okay mate?" The Notts pub that’s getting men talking about their feelings

The national mental health crisis and its profound effect on men is a phenomenon widely talked about that lots of people have posed different solutions to. In Sneinton Market however, LeftLion neighbours The Fox and Grapes pub are tackling the problem in a concise and simple way, inviting local blokes into the space to openly chat about whatever might be bothering them. Matteo D’Alesio went down to speak to the team about how to Get Men Talking…