There's more content than you would believe. Hopefully this will make finding it a bit easier...
Interview: Alexis Gregory in Smoke, a queer thriller at Nottingham Playhouse
Mon 08 Jun 2026Smoke is a new play from acclaimed queer theatre-maker Alexis Gregory coming to Nottingham this month. As well as a hard-hitting, savage, comic-thriller, a panel follows the play, hosted by You Are Loved and exploring issues from the play. LeftLion speaks to Alexis about social media, drugs, homophobia and much more...
Free entry to Rock City and Nottingham painted red: Here's what's on this week 8-14 June
Sun 07 Jun 2026Live music, free exhibitions and artistic workshops, here's what's happening in Nottingham this week.
Red Sea FC: the refugee football team building community through the beautiful game
Sat 23 May 2026Red Sea FC are a hardworking local football team. Founded in 2019, they provide a welcoming found- family and shared cause for refugees living in Nottingham. Freya Peters heads to the Forest Rec to meet founder Ezedin Osman to find out what motivates him and how the players are finding community far away from home…
LeftLion Interviews Podcast #18: Nyrobi and Chaya of ALT BLK ERA on winning a MOBO, playing Jools Holland, touring with Pendulum and homecoming gigs
Fri 22 May 2026This episode we are joined by Nyrobi and Chaya of ALT BLK ERA, who talk about their whirlwind year of winning a MOBO, appearing on Jools Holland and touring Europe with Pendulum…
Interview: Aisling Loftus, Nick Preston and Oliver Huntingdon on Television Workshop's new play ' I Had A Wheelbarrow'
Wed 20 May 2026Nottingham’s Television Workshop and acclaimed director Shane Meadows are collaborating on I Had a Wheelbarrow, a play about football. Leftlion were invited along to the County Stadium for the filming and met with a hat-trick of Workshop alumni. Aisling Loftus (Sherwood), Nick Preston (Ladhood) and Oliver Huntingdon (Grantchester) kindly tackled the questions…
We meet battle victors Cherry Stone
Mon 11 May 2026When indie five-piece Cherry Stone stepped on to the stage at Metronome for the 2026 edition of the Ultimate Battle Of The Bands contest, they were hoping to do well – but winning following a unanimous judges’ decision proved to be a euphoric and surreal moment. We caught up with the band as they prepared for their next episode(s)...
LeftLion Interviews Podcast #17: Crazy P’s Jim Baron on international tours and festivals, soundtracking The Sopranos and his new venture White Elephant
Fri 08 May 2026This episode we are joined by Jim Baron from Crazy P who talks about his career in music, starting a band in Notts that became internationally renown, soundtracking for film and TV and his new venture White Elephant...
Interview: BalletBoyz directors Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt at Nottingham Playhouse
Thu 23 Apr 2026After 25 years of pushing boundaries, BalletBoyz return to Nottingham with a radical new show celebrating their silver anniversary. Artistic Directors Michael Nunn and Billy Trevitt talk to Leftlion about the story so far...
Alex Hale and the Private Sector talk new name and new music
Sun 19 Apr 2026Alex Hale is a well-known name for anybody versed in the Nottingham music scene. In the newly-named Alex Hale and the Private Sector, joined by bandmates Daniel Barradell, Dominic Brady, Luke Gilborn, Stephen Marsh and sometimes (when he's not busy running The Grove) Cam Worne, he is embarking on a new era…
LeftLion Interviews Podcast #16: Notts County’s James Belshaw on his career, coming home and how he nearly signed for Notts several times before
Sat 18 Apr 2026This episode we are joined by Notts County FC goalkeeper James Belshaw who talks about his career, coming home to play for Notts County FC and how he nearly signed for Notts several times before...
In conversation with Bob Mould about Sugar, politics and the power of finding your voice
Wed 15 Apr 2026Thirty years on from their untimely split, American indie punk pioneers Sugar reunite to play an extensive UK tour with a date at Rock City on 31st May. 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the power punk trio with the super deluxe reissue of their 1992 debut album Copper Blue and the release of two new songs: House of Dead Memories and Long Live Love. We chatted with Iconic frontman Bob Mould about all things Sugar, Hüsker Dü, and the current state of political affairs in the US...
Theatre Interview: Sam Harry Macgregor actor and writer from Hold The Line at Nottingham Arts Theatre
Wed 08 Apr 2026Hold the Line is a new play coming to the Nottingham Arts Theatre that lifts the lid on life and work at the NHS 111 telephone service. Rising star Sam Harry Macgregor, who wrote and stars in the play, talks to Leftlion about the journey...
LeftLion Interviews Podcast #15: Blur’s Dave Rowntree on NASA, Nottingham gigs and his new book of old Blur photos
Fri 03 Apr 2026This episode we are joined by Blur drummer Dave Rowntree who talks about Blur's early years, his memories (or lack of) of their Nottingham appearances, NASA and space and his new photo book No-one You Know'..
Rediscovering wild medicines and food with The Nottingham Forager
Wed 01 Apr 2026Nestled in roadside thickets, hidden amongst hedgerows and sprouting from our local playing fields, parks and playgrounds, a world of forgotten foods quietly grow. With shoots spurting from the ground as we move into spring, Sophie Gargett spent some time with Lucy Buckle, aka The Nottingham Forager, to discover more about identifying, picking and eating wild food.
Theatre Interview: Rosalie Minnit, star of Clementine, appearing at Nottingham Playhouse in April
Thu 19 Mar 2026Lady Clementine has until her 27th birthday to find The One. But love is never easy and Clementine promises a show that is both funny and thought provoking. Rosalie Minnit, actress and writer behind the show, shares her insights with Leftlion...
Interview with Andre Harris: 'Memory Making' fundraiser and his Power of Drums
Tue 10 Mar 2026Leftlion had the pleasure of catching up with community figure Andre Harris - well-known for supporting young people through his love of drums, and commitment as a youth worker and teacher. For years, Andre has worked with members of the Nottingham community for many years, but has sadly been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Now, Andre’s son, Tom, has organised a special fundraiser event for his dad, called Memory Making, hosted at Bestwood Lodge on Saturday 14 March...
An interview with Crystal Mah-Wing about the Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature Map
Mon 09 Mar 2026Nottingham was awarded UNESCO status as a City of Literature in December 2015. As part of their celebrations to mark this decade milestone, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, the University of Nottingham and Visit Nottingham worked together on an AHRC funded research bid to bring the map to Nottingham.
As part of the project, Research Affiliate Crystal Mah-Wing was employed to help create a map, showcasing our cities best literary locations, for locals and tourists alike. We spoke to Crystal about the process, the team she worked with and what to expect when it’s out at the end of March…
Catching up with Willow Bay ahead of their EP launch show at The Carousel
Mon 23 Feb 2026Melodic folk-trio Willow Bay are back with a bang on 28th February as The Carousel hosts the launch of the band's first-ever EP, Evangeline. The live-performance chemistry between the three members is contagious, and they have been known to silence every audience member in sight with their angelic harmonies. We caught up with the band (lead vocalist and guitarist Aaliyah, guitarist and banjo player Matt, and electric guitarist Ben) to dig deep into the story of the EP and their development as a band...
Gina Birch on truth, insight and how to live a life devoid of convention
Fri 20 Feb 2026An emblem of passion, a staple of creativity... Gina Birch has been key to establishing and presenting the female voice within the punk music movement. Nottingham born Gina is well-known as a founding member of The Raincoats but her contribution goes much, much wider. Ria Serena found out more for LeftLion...
LeftLion's Latest Listens #39: Notts music we're currently spinning
Fri 13 Feb 2026In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens for 2026, our music team reviews new releases from ALT BLK ERA, Book of Churches, The Red Line, People Laughing and Pict...