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Festival review: Splendour goes out in style

As 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…

Nature, folklore and tradition: we chat to the founders of the Sherwood Forest Trust Woodland Festival

With Sherwood Forest Trust Woodland Festival coming up this weekend, Jo Kingsley caught up with founder Graeme Turner, to talk about re-connecting with nature, keeping folk traditions alive, and celebrating Nottingham’s incredible creative talent...

Ten things Splendour Festival brought to Nottingham

This weekend Nottingham waved goodbye to eighteen years of its biggest festival, Splendour. This late-July homegrown occasion welcomed over 25,000 guests into the grounds of Wollaton Hall & Deer Park each year. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights and what it’s provided to Nottingham in the long run...

Life Behind Bars: with Craig Pennington-Hayes, Owner of The Lord Roberts

Craig Pennington-Hayes, wwner of Hockley's Lord Roberts pub, talks community spaces, famous guests and dogs called Robert.

What's happening at Gloworm Festival 2026?

It's less than a month now until Thoresby Park is transformed into the ultimate children's wonderland for Nottinghamshire annual family festival: Gloworm. As ever, it's going to be an exciting one, with 20+ meet and greets, a packed main stage program, and more than 100 live shows, performances, workshops, and hands on experiences to discover and enjoy around the festival site. 

If you're considering taking your little one(s) along, and making some great summer memories, here's everything you can expect...

Pride and Joy: the organisers of Nottingham Pride talk parades, protest, and vital services come together at the festival

Later this month Notts Pride is set to take over the city once again, bringing a celebration of colour, unity, diversity, and acceptance. Local author Becki Jayne Crossley met Chairperson Leigh Ellis who has been organising the festival for the past ten years. They covered how parades, protest, and vital services come together at the festival…

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

This 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

Dodging 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...

In photos: Radfest 2026

A warm midsummer's day and a packed line-up of talented young artists and bands from our area - what could be better? For its ninth edition, Radfest once again delivered great music, food and drink, family entertainment and the opportunity for younger performers to be seen and heard. Here are our photographer Nigel King's shots of this year's voyage of discovery...

Splendour Festival preview: In Conversation with Editors

They are arguably one of the most underrated bands in Britain. For over two decades, Birmingham alt-rock outfit Editors have barely put a foot wrong - from forging a consistently exciting and eclectic discography, to always delivering with their euphoric and pulsating live shows. With their eighth studio album, Surface, Echo & Sound, due for release in October and the band set to join Snow Patrol to close out the final ever Splendour Festival in style, we caught up with Editors’ bassist and founding member Russ Leetch, to discuss their storied career, their forthcoming new album and performing in Nottingham through the years…

Actor Chelsea Da Silva talks about Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile at Nottingham Puppet Festival

Later this week, as part of Nottingham Puppet Festival, an adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile comes to Theatre Royal. Lead actor Chelsea Da Silva tells us more...

Nottingham Puppet Festival, music at the waterfront, film quiz, and history made fun: Here's what's on in Nottingham this week, 29 June - 5 July

This week our list of things to look out for this week includes the Nottingham Puppet Festival, Waterfront music festival, a walk down memory lane with events for music, film, and the sewing history in prisons.

LeftLion at Download 2026

LeftLion's Kieran Lister spills the tea on his first time experience at the legendary Download Festival, which last weekend - despite the crowds - once again turned Donington Park into a place of mass catharsis, self-expression and freedom...

Life Behind Bars: With Sofia Kellas, Taproom Assistant at Neon Raptor

We visit Neon Raptor, our Sneinton Market neighbours, to chat to taproom assistant Sofia Kellas. 

Night Creatures Podcast #8: The Soul Buggin' crew on life as promoters, the vibrant Nottingham scene and things that wind 'em up

Night Creatures is a LeftLion podcast, shining a light on the promoters of Nottingham. Your host and interviewer is Beane, co-founder of Nottingham’s beloved Soul Buggin’ night and he brings with him two decades of experience of putting on great parties in the city...

Competition: Win A Pair of Tickets to Splendour Festival 2026

It's almost time for the biggest outdoor live music weekend in Notts taking place in Wollaton Park! This year's Splendour Festival line-up includes The Wombats, Snow Patrol, Primal Scream, Flaming Lips, Craig David, Editors and more. We have two pairs of tickets to give away...

What to expect from the Nottingham Puppet Festival 2026

This summer will mark the fourth year of Nottingham Puppet Festival, and if you're yet to experience it, then you’re guaranteed a very memorable time. 

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival returns for 2026

Nottingham Craft Beer Festival returns to Sneinton Market Avenues for its eighth year. Over 5,000 attendees are expected across three sessions on Fri 19 and Sat 20 June 2026.

Nottingham Poetry Festival 2026: top picks from the program

Nottingham Poetry Festival kicks off tomorrow with a 10 day city takeover. Catch shows from Brian Bilston, John Hegley, Yomi Sode, Henry Normal, Vanessa Kisuule and Nottingham’s own Nature Poet Laureate Cara Thompson. It’s a packed programme, so here's some top picks from their co-founder Henry Normal, director Tommy Rosley, and creative director Alma Solarte-Tobon...

Festival Review: Bearded Theory 2026

Now a firm staple of the local festival calendar, Bearded Theory takes place in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside and is a haven for music lovers looking to kick start their festival season with plenty of wonder and family fun. Taking place over an extremely hot and sunny May bank holiday weekend, the 2026 edition boasted one of the most stacked line-ups of local, national and international talent that we can remember. To give us an insight, LeftLion contributor Marta Tavares went along to report from Catton Park…

Festival Review: Dot To Dot 2026

One of the hottest weekends of the year – what could possibly make it better? I know – Dot to Dot Festival! Always one of the best days in the musical calendar, the sun was shining bright this May Bank Holiday for the annual, jam-packed day of venue-hopping, new music discovery and general good times with good friends. Immersing ourselves in the festival’s unrivalled party atmosphere, this is what we encountered at another incredible Dot to Dot in 2026…