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Splendour Festival 2026

Preview: Inside Papillons' Radical Approach to Openness at Lakeside Arts

Papillons, coming soon to Lakeside Arts, is a collaboration between music makers Manchester Collective and the dance-theatre company Thick & Tight. Leftlion interviews the artists for an insight into what is billed as 'a performance like no other'...

We chat to the people behind the Christmas Covers Party at The Bodega

Whether it’s grabbing a glass of mulled wine from one of the faux ski chalets in the Market Square or catching a screening of misty-eyed festive staple It’s A Wonderful Life at The Broadway, there are certain Yuletide traditions which are paramount in any true Nottinghamian’s December calendar. Another event high up on the to do list has been taking place for the last 22 years. First held at fondly-remembered Junktion 7 on Canning Circus in 2002, the Annual Christmas Covers Party has graced everywhere from Hopkinsons to The Maze over the last two decades and now resides at The Bodega. Ahead of this year’s event on 20th December, LeftLion caught up with three of the organisers and past performers, Alex Hale, Scot Lambert and Joey Chickenskin to garner intel on how it all works…

Comedian Rosa Keaton shares highlights from the coming Club Wormhole Festival

Alternate comedy is thriving in Nottingham. And among the comedians leading that boom is Club Wormhole, very much a home for non-conventional humour. And with Wormhole Weekend coming up, now is a great time find out more... 

Comedian Carl Donnelly previews his new gig at The Squire Performing Arts Centre

TV and radio comedian Carl Donnelly is touring with his first new show in five years. So what kept him so long? It's quite a story and one he shares with Left Lion... 

Left Brian: 2025 Season Preview

Our monthly footy columns are back and we are completely delighted to unveil Julie Pritchard, the creator of the classic nineties 'Brian' fanzine, as our new Nottingham Forest FC columnist...

Left Magpie: 2025 Season Preview

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's his predictions for the coming season at Meadow Lane...

Left Stag: 2025 Season Preview

The Thompsons on Splendour Festival, street names, and the Major Oak

Here's what Nottingham's most opinionated grocers had to say about this month's topics in LeftLion...

Festival review: Sunday at Splendour 2025 in Wollaton Park

Festival review: Saturday at Splendour 2025 in Wollaton Park

After a year away, the biggest weekend in the Nottingham musical calendar returned – Splendour Festival. With a stellar line-up of indie legends, pop icons, local heroes and the very best emerging talent from the Midlands and beyond, we headed down to Wollaton Hall to catch all the Saturday action…

Splendour 2025

Ten reasons not to miss the return of Splendour Festival this year

After a brief hiatus, Nottingham’s much-loved Splendour Festival is back and ready to reclaim its place in the East Midlands’ cultural calendar. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July, the two-day music extravaganza returns to its original home in Nottingham, Wollaton Park. With expanded stages, some very well-known names in UK music, and plenty of surprises in store, Splendour 2025 is more than just a returning festival — it’s a celebration of live music, community, and Nottingham culture. 

Whether you’re planning to go for the sing-alongs, the new discoveries, or just a great pint with friends in the sun, this one’s not to be missed. To help get you hyped, here are ten very good reasons why you should mark your calendar now.

We chat to Set In Motion about what drives them, Splendour Festival, and their playlists...

Set in Motion are one of the Nottingham music scene’s most promising bands. Noted for catchy indie hooks, powerful songs and incredible live performances, over the last two years they’ve made a name for themselves as a guitar music powerhouse act. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Alfie Wallace, guitarist Dillan Telford, bassist Niall Hopkins and drummer Joe Carnell - outside the Fox and Grapes - to discuss their imminent Splendour Festival set, their future plans and what they’re listening to at the minute...

Local indie rockers The Publics talk influences, community and Splendour Festival

Local indie legends The Publics are known for high energy live shows and a unique double frontman approach. From a huge, sold-out Rescue Rooms headline spot back in December to a main stage slot at Splendour this year, they’ve been up to some very big things. We caught up with lead guitarist Elliot Stephenson to discuss their influences, ethics and upcoming plans…

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.

Competition: Win Tickets To Splendour Festival 2025

Splendour Festival is back on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20  July after a year's hiatus. The festival returns to Wollaton Park bigger than ever with dozens of well known acts and lots of upcoming talent on the line-up. And we have two pairs of tickets to give away...

Five reasons not to miss Bearded Theory this year

A plethora of top quality artists, creative activities and unique educational content… Bearded Theory really does have it all. The festival takes place over the late Bank Holiday weekend in the beautiful setting of Catton Park, under an hour from our Nottingham doorsteps. Here are five reasons you can’t afford to miss the 2025 edition…

Comedy Preview: Disabled Cants at the Vat and Fiddle

Disabled Cants are performing at the Vat & Fiddle. Who are they? A revolving lineup of comedians with disabilities, here to make us laugh. Funny man Benny Shakes shares with LeftLion his journey to comedy gold...  

Lucy Adlington – Exclusive Preview Author Event

Preview: Showstopper at Mansfield Palace Theatre

Fancy a night out watching a show that has never been seen before and will never be seen again? Mansfield Palace Theatre have just the show for you next week…

Preview: The Animator at Lakeside Arts

Against the subversive background of 1920’s Berlin, Lotte Reiniger pioneered groundbreaking new methods of animation and filmmaking . The story of this ‘Queen of Silhouettes’ is coming to Lakeside later this month. Beverley Makin shares why this production matters...  

Splendour 2025 Line-Up Announced: Bloc Party, Jake Bugg, Clean Bandit, Kaiser Chiefs, Travis, Levellers & More

Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Travis and Jake Bugg will headline Splendour Festival this July along with Clean Bandit, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Natasha Bedingfield, Echo & The Bunnymen, Seasick Steve, The Levellers, The Fratellis and many more...

The Claw's January Recap & February Preview for the Nottingham Panthers

Catch up on all the action from January as we break down the season so far, plus a look ahead at what’s in store for the Nottingham Panthers in February…

Beat The Streets 2025 preview: 10 acts you must see

Since its inaugural event in 2018, charity festival Beat The Streets has firmly established itself as the annual curtain-raiser for Nottingham’s music scene. We look at ahead to this year's edition...