5 Things to Do in Nottingham This Week

If you’re looking for Halloween, Nottingham style, look no further. The Maze are once again giving us the opportunity to support our scene by putting on a night of the best bands Hoodtown has to offer. Taking to the stage this week will be Beeston born Nacus Kunan, folk boggers Bendigo's Bazaar, newbies Edith Keeler Must Die and Sophie Smith, singer-songwriter sensation. As always, it will only cost £3 to come along and support the talent, but it wouldn’t be a Halloween spesh if there wasn’t some sort of deadly deal. If yer turn up in fancy dress, they’ll let you in for nowt. Many bands that have played Notts in a Nutshell have gone on to do great things in Nottingham and beyond, so it’s a perfect place to catch emerging talent. Send ‘em a message over on their Facebook page if your band fancy playing a future show.
Tuesday 31 October, 7.30pm, £3, The Maze, event link

None of us could have predicted the shocking events of 2016. Brexit, Trump, losing Bowie… let’s not even go there. If we had known that the year was going to throw us a massive curveball, at least we would have had some fun with it, like puttin’ money down to predict what ludicrous thing was going to happen next. That is exactly what comedian Mark Thomas does in his hit show; puts money where his mouth is. He collects predictions from his audience, examines their likelihood and gambles on their outcome. It’s a show that turns the whole audience into futurologists and gets ‘em in fits of giggles as he creates a hilarious and possibly accurate version of the world. And just maybe, he’ll make a few extra quid on the side. If you’re the kinda person who reads horoscopes on a daily basis, we think yer gonna love it.
Tuesday 31 October, 7.30pm, £12-£16, Djanogly Theatre, event link

Right you lot. Halloween is officially over. It’s time to hang the stockings and stuff some turkeys. Join Natalie from Upsydaisy Craft for an evening of Christmas crafting to get yersen in the mood for the festive period and make something lovely to hang on your tree. In this workshop you’ll have a play around with some clay to make eight keepsake hanging decorations, buttons or pieces to make into jewellery. Choose from a variety of cutters and stamps to shape your creations, have a go at giving them colour with glazing and then send them off to the kiln - you’ll be able to pick them up two weeks later. They’ll have plenty of Xmas and non-Xmas stuff if any of you Scrooges out there fancy taking part, you can always use them as a birthday or wedding prezzie instead.
Wednesday 1 November, 7pm-9pm, £30, Malt Cross, event link

We love a good poetry performance here at the ‘Lion, and there’s something kicking off this week that really grabbed our attention. Award winning performance poet Panya Banjoko, a.k.a. Panya The Poet, and singer-songwriter ABII have put their bonces together to create a show that’s not to be missed. ‘Soetry’ combines their individual talents to create a ‘soulful cocktail’ of spoken word and musical skill, and provides their audience with an inspiring evening of handcrafted lyrical pieces. They use this new kinda performance to explore human connections through a myriad of intricate relationships, from chance meetings to family ties. And, it’s free admission, so there’s no excuse not to go and check ‘em out.
Thursday 2 November, 7pm-8.30pm, free, New Art Exchange, event link

This week see’s the final of Nottingham’s own Simon Cowell-esq competition, Notts Factor. Eight talented musicians will be battling it out to the death to compete for prizes such as £500 and a day in a studio recording their own music. The acts will have to do their best to impress the tough panel of judges; Rastarella Falade, Martin Charles Burchill Valentine, Nina Smith and Joshwa Kempt, and the show is set to be hosted by Kemet FM’s very own Jackie P Garner. There’s even gonna be a guest appearance from last years winner, Chloe Rodgers-Ratcliffe, who has since taken the Nottingham music scene by storm. Come long if you’re after a night of good music and a chance to see the next big thing before they get discovered.  
Thursday 2 November, 7pm-10pm, free, Rescue Rooms, event link