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To paddle or not to paddle? Meeting canoeist and researcher Beth Gill

Beth Gill has seen many things in the River Trent: e-scooters, bins, floating plastic. But, the thing that interests her most is invisible to the naked eye. When not training and competing as a world champion canoe athlete, she is researching microbial contamination, and the health risks that it poses to communities using Nottingham’s rivers. Beth told us more about her research and why it’s important.

Meet 2Two’s and Omari Marsalis: the champs of the Future Sound of Nottingham award 2026

Last month the Future Sound of Nottingham awards took place once again, giving seven artists the chance to battle it out on Rock City’s main stage. With a diverse line up of exceptional talent, ranging from folk and alternative rock to soul and grime, the audience and industry panel placed their votes for who should play at this year’s Splendour Festival. We spoke to winners 2Two’s and Omari Marsalis to hear where they came from and how they’re feeling about opening Splendour.

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

Competition: Win A Family Ticket to Beyond Monet or Beyond Van Gogh at Motorpoint Arena

Two stunning immersive experiences which bring the work of a pair of iconic artists to life are coming to Nottingham in a show like you've never seen before. We have two pairs of family tickets (which admit 5 people each) to give away. All you have to do is answer our simple question below...

Under the microscope: who deserves to win NTU's Images of Research 2026?

Each year, the talented researchers at Nottingham Trent University are asked to capture their work in a single striking image for the Images of Research competition. Here's a look at the top finalists and how you can vote for whose work you think should win...

Future Sound of Nottingham 2026: chatting to the finalists

Future Sound of Nottingham is back again and provides you with a rare chance to go to Rock City for free (no ticket required). If you’re unaware of how it works, seven of the city’s artists and bands play Rock City’s main stage through one night, competing before a judging panel for the chance to play Wollaton Park’s Splendour Festival, in the summer. Here's what some of the finalists had to say... 

Left Stag: May 2026 - The Future Is Amber

Was this season the best ever for Mansfield Town FC? Our columnist Joshua Osoro Pickering things it's certainly up there...

Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet launches yoga sessions alongside their immersive Nottingham summer exhibition

Fancy doing some stretches to a backdrop of Van Gogh's Starry Night? Or perfecting your balance while staring at Monet's The Beach at Sainte-Adresse? Nottingham art lovers have the opportunity take part in a unique series of yoga sessions this summer set amid some of the world’s most mesmerising masterpieces.

Universities for Nottingham’s Collaboratory Research Hub programme is seeking committed Nottingham citizens for paid event shaping local research

The groundbreaking Collaboratory Research Hub programme is looking for local workers, people who are active in the community, and those with lived experience of facing complex challenges to take part in upcoming paid events that will help set the research agenda...

Nottingham’s universities invite local residents with life and skills experiences to apply for community-focused research PhD projects

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Nottingham (UoN) are inviting people from the local community to apply for paid, full-time PhD, and part-time Placement research projects that aim to improve the lives of communities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire...

We chat to Sonya Madan of Echobelly about touring, enduring friendships and the state of the nation

Beyond the Wall: the New Art Exchange team talk telling stories with street art in Hyson Green and Morocco

In recent years, the New Art Exchange gallery in Hyson Green has sought to firmly centre their ambitions in serving the local community – placing the cultural needs of the neighbourhood first. A big part of that has been their street art and murals project: Beyond the Wall, which via lots of ambition and creativity has spanned both Hyson Green and Marrakesh, Morocco. We spoke about the project with NAE CEO Saad Eddine Said and artist Laura Decorum – whose work has been vital to Beyond the Wall…

Under the microscope: who won NTU's Images of Research competition 2025?

What is this intriguing image you may ask? No, it’s not a distant vision of our universe or a throwback to an early 2000s screensaver. Each year the talented researchers at Nottingham Trent University – at which 86% of research is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent – are asked to submit one photo of their discoveries to the annual Images of Research competition. 

This year’s winner is Shraddha Bajpai, a Research Assistant in the School of Science and Technology, who took viewers deep into our genetic make-up with her image, Last Duct Standing.

Back to the future: chatting with the dual winners of Future Sound of Notts 2025

Back in July, what could safely be described as Nottingham’s most exciting music competition: Future Sound of Nottingham, returned to Rock City – eight local acts taking the stage to showcase their talent. R&B singer Saffron Gray and alt-rock trio Archy & the Astronauts were crowned dual winners, and bagged nothing less than a main-stage slot at Splendour Festival later last month. We thought that it was the perfect time to catch up with these two acts (before they’re swept up by the national music press, of course)... 

Gig review: Future Sound of Nottingham Final at Rock City

The Future Sound of Nottingham is one of our city's most exciting music competitions. In the culmination of this year's event, eight acts from across the area competed at Rock City in a high energy final. Read on to find out which musicians were awarded the opportunity to perform at Splendour Festival...

We speak to this year's eight Future Sound of Nottingham finalists

The Future Sound of Nottingham returns to the Rock City main stage this Sunday 6th July. Eight Nottingham artists, living their dream and playing the most iconic stage in the city... plus there are two slots on the Splendour Festival main stage up for grabs! We had a chinwag with the eight finalists so you can get to know them a little better. Read on to hear from No Cash Refunds, Emily Alice, Megs, Molly in the Metro, Louie Walsh, Benji Romeo, Archy & The Astronauts and Saffron Gray...

Preview: Future Sound of Nottingham at Rock City 2025

Returning for 2025, the Future Sound of Nottingham gives Nottingham and Nottinghamshire musicians the opportunity to play the iconic main stages of both Rock City and Splendour Festival.

How Colwick design studio Future Makers wants to reinvent the plastics industry

Like it or not, our modern world is built on plastic - and whilst the long-term health and ecosystem impacts are still poorly understood, the early signs are pretty alarming. Tackling this issue is set to be a generations-long task, but pioneering Colwick-based design studio Future Makers are giving it a crack, turning waste plastic into useful, solid, creations that are built to last, whilst giving back. Founder and Director Tristan Hessing guides us through their manufacturing process, the education gap hampering creatives working with this abundant material, and why we need more young people joining and innovating in the plastics industry.

New frontiers: Co(l)laboratory at Universities for Nottingham seeks new community partners for 2025

It's that time of year again, when the Co(l)laboratory programme, facilitated by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent, is seeking new research and PhD proposals from local organisations. If you work for and represent a community organisation, in fields like medicine or education, and think you know how best communities in Nottinghamshire can be progressed, Co(l)laboratory wants to hear from you. 

Beyond the Blame: Photographer Jayne Jackson on her social justice exhibition Asking For It at the National Justice Museum.

Documentary photographer Jayne Jackson’s award-winning exhibition Asking For It examines the pervasive issue of victim blaming in sexual and gender-based violence through a historical lens. Ahead of its installation at Nottingham’s National Justice Museum, we spoke to Jayne about the personal, political, and emotional layers of the work, highlighting the urgent need to shift societal perceptions and better support survivors of sexual violence.

Circle of Light director Tiffany Jade tells us about the future of creative hub Fisher Gate Point

Over the past five years Fisher Gate Point has been slowly blossoming into a creative and cultural hub in Nottingham, home to numerous collectives, businesses and events, from the Hockley Hustle crew, to Circle of Light. With a new cafe, exhibition and events space, they are currently gearing up for their launch party on International Women’s Day. We spoke to one of the people at its helm, Tiffany Jade, about the many programs she’s facilitated at the centre.