JT Soar's Phil Booth: "The gigs aren't here to make money for the space."

Over the past decade, an angular building in Sneinton has grown into one of the UK’s most revered DIY music spaces. JT Soar, a...

Food Review: Cafe Coco Tang

27 January 20

We headed to the Vietnemese-inspired eatery everyone's talking about in Nottingham...

4 Acts to Clock at Beat the Streets 2020

23 January 20

Beat the Streets, the annual day festival raising money to improve the lives of homeless people in Nottingham, is back for 2020 on Sunday 26 January, and they’ve pulled out all the stops to kick-off the decade how they mean to go on. As well as bagging Jake Bugg for a performance slot, you can also catch the likes of award-winning folk singer and activist Grace Petrie and everyone’s favourite live karaoke band Bamalamasingsong. But enough about the big guns – our music editors have selected four lesser-known names that they think you should fight your way to the front to see...

Food Review: Burra Khana

24 January 20

We got along to Burra Khana to check out the food...

Live Music Review: Slipknot at Motorpoint Arena

23 January 20

When Slipknot first emerged like a chip pan fire in 1995, they had clearly set their stall out to shock the world into submission. Fast-forward over twenty years, and their success in that mission is brazen; they are making a fiercely anticipated return to Motorpoint Arena following the release of their sixth studio album We Are Not Your Kind last year – an album which tore its way to Number One on the Billboard Album Chart…

Silent Orchestra: The Multi-Sensory Instruments for Dementia Patients

22 January 20

At Hackspace, three local artists have been building and tinkering with musical instruments that trigger lights and vibrations. Behold, the Silent Orchestra. Inspired by the concept of synesthesia, this project is the answer to a City Arts callout for an installation to help improve communication between dementia patients with hearing loss and care home staff…

Nottingham Trent University's University Hall

22 January 20

Opposite Nottingham Trent University’s Arkwright building stands another striking piece of architecture. The University Hall is a brand-new venue that’s aiming to bring modern classical music and other exciting performances to both its students and to the city. We spoke to Pro-Vice-Chancellor Barbara Matthews about the making of a masterpiece, the reaction so far, and what they’ve composed for its future…

What A Decade: Nusic on Why Nottingham Should Be Crowned the Music City of the Last 10 Years

19 January 20

If you live in Nottingham and are passionate about that music thing, it’s fair to say this is the best decade we’ve ever had. And not just us: there’s a case that musically, Notts has had one of the best decades in the whole of the UK…

Film Review: Live Twice, Love Once

22 January 20

This emotional, award-winning Spanish drama takes a real and honest look at the importance of love...

Film Review: Just Mercy

22 January 20

Michael B. Jordan fights injustice within the justice system in this compelling true story...

Book Reviews: January 2020

20 January 20

We've rounded up a couple of books to get you through this massive Monday morning of month. Or not.

Film Review: Weathering With You

20 January 20

Three years after the release of his modern classic Your Name, visionary anime director Makoto Shinkai returns to UK screens with another heartfelt hit…

Theatre Preview: Rhymes Against Humanity at Metronome

20 January 20

Like a bit of improv? You're gonna love these guys...

Interview: Georgie on Her Inspirations and Imminent Hometown Show

20 January 20

Outrageously talented singer-songwriter Georgie needs no introduction round these parts, or far and wide for that matter. With her rich Americana sound, she's been capturing the hearts of audiences and collaborators (including Adele's Chasing Pavements co-writer) since the very beginning. We sat down with our favourite Mansfield lass ahead of her hometown gig next month...

Pond Life Party’s Ultimate Prize

19 January 20

Next time you’re browsing through Indeed or handing your crumpled CV out around town, ever wondered what it might be like to sack it all off and do work experience with Pond Life instead? Harry found out after winning a comp at its fourth birthday ‘do...

Review: Easy Life’s Lunchtime Session and Signing at Rough Trade

19 January 20

Following their newest 'Junk Food' mixtape release, the Midlands group paid a visit to Notts one lazy Sunday afternoon for a laid-back in store set, featuring some greasy garms. Bobby Twidale tells all...

Live Music Review: The Big Moon at Rough Trade

19 January 20

London’s kick-ass indie rockers The Big Moon were back in Nottingham to debut their sleeker, stripped back second album Walking Like We Do at an exclusive in-store gig at Rough Trade...

Notes From a Mental Health Nurse: Music as a Healer

18 January 20

Each month, our anonymous mental nurse, who has over two decades on experience working in Nottingham, will deal with a specific mental health issue with practical, accessible advice. This month, to fit the theme of our music special, they talk us through how we can use the medium for some much needed peace...

Overall There is a Smell of Fried Onions

16 January 20

Cast your mind back to the 1990s – an era before mobile phones, the internet and LeftLion. Back then, a printed magazine called Overall There Is A Smell of Fried Onions was covering and nurturing Nottingham’s music, culture and events scene. Under the leadership of Paul Kilbride, it published fifty-odd issues between 1991-98, distributing them for free in venues all over the city...

Review: Daliso Chaponda - Blah Blah Blacklist at Nottingham Playhouse

18 January 20

Malawi's Got Talent: Come for the Madonna gag, stay for the awkward questions...

Film Review: 1917

17 January 20

Sir Sam Mendes’ World War One epic is the most Oscar-nominated film of the year, but that means nowt without the ol’ LeftLion stamp of approval…

Juan: Nottingham Short Film Looking for Funding

17 January 20

We had a chat with Ben Keeling, former student of Nottingham College, about his upcoming student film Juan, Nottingham’s growing cinematic community and how you can get involved with his project. 

20 Great Battle Scenes from Film History

17 January 20

From the walls of Jerusalem to the beaches of Normandy, to the Mongolian plains and the waves of the Atlantic. Whether its spears and shields or bullets and bayonets, these are twenty of the greatest battle scenes in film history...

Music Reviews: Pete Whoosh’s 52 Card Trick

16 January 20

DiY collective founder Pete Whoosh started Spirit Wrestlers following a cancer diagnosis which led him to explore holistic treatment and reconnect with the healing power of music. Back in March 2019, the not-for-profit label launched  The 52 Card Trick project, releasing tracks on a weekly basis for a year and donating the proceeds to chosen charities that support natural healing. Packed with soothing sounds from known names including Hot Toddy, Brawther and Ex Friendly, alongside gems from local talent and beyond, as the project comes close to the end we look back at the breadth of releases and check out some highlights...

Art Review: 2020 MU

16 January 20

Our Adrian pottered down to Surface Gallery to check out another marvellous exhibition...
Festival of Science and Curiosity