#16 our style is legendary
Parental Guidance: Bad Words Inside!
proud Nottingham City Council is
to present
The Old Market Square may be at the heart of the city’s celebrations this March, April and May but there’s plenty going on around it. Why not also come along to some of the other events presented or supported by Nottingham City Council:
28 Apr - 14 Jun
Abolition of the Slave Trade Act Commemorative Exhibition
Nottingham Castle
3 May
Museums and Galleries Month Launch Event
Old Market Square
3, 10, 17, 24, 31 May
The Dungeoneer’s Cave Tour
Nottingham Castle
5 May
The Nottingham Refugee Campaign Brewhouse Yard Group May Day Celebration
5 May
Activity Session: Paper Kites
Green’s Windmill
Nottingham Castle
5 - 6 May
Nottingham Festival of Women's and Girls Football
Old Market Square
Heroes & Villains: Who do you think you are?
Galleries of Justice
6 May
Hardy Plant Society sale
Wollaton Hall & Park
12 Mar - 7 Apr
Exhibition: The Memories Shop
former Beatties shop, Mount Street
7 May
1940’s Knees-Up
Brewhouse Yard
7 May
May Day Windmills
Green’s Windmill
25 Mar
Windmill Fridge Magnets: Family activity
Green’s Windmill
7 May
Women’s FA Cup Final
The City Ground
8 - 9 May
Fine Food Fair
Old Market Square
25 Mar
Full Steam Ahead
Wollaton Industrial Museum
29 Mar
Talk: The rise and fall of the cap,1550-1900
Nottingham Castle
12 May
Tudor Fun & Games
Wollaton Hall & Park
12 - 13 May
National Mills Weekend
Green’s Windmill
30 Mar
Nottingham Classics: City of Birmingham Symphony
Royal Concert Hall
18 May
Nottingham Classics: Hallé
Royal Concert Hall
19 May - 1 Jul
Easter Family events
Green’s Windmill
31 Mar - 29 Apr
Exhibition: Public Spaces of Nottingham City Council
Brewhouse Yard
Nottingham Castle Exhibitions: EXPOSED Climate Change in Britain's Backyard
Nottingham Castle
31 Mar - 13 Apr
19 May
Dire Deeds & Horrible Hauntings
Wollaton Hall & Park
1 Apr
Talk: Smythson at Wollaton Hall
Wollaton Hall
19 May
A Night at the Museum
Newstead Abbey
1 Apr
The House at Newstead Abbey opens for summer
Newstead Abbey
25 May - 14 Jul
Exhibition: Heroes
Angel Row Gallery
1 Apr - 30 Sept
Exhibition: Jenny Baxter A Sense of Place
Newstead Abbey
25 May - 14 Jul
Exhibition: Janette Parris
Angel Row Gallery
26 - 28 May
City Pulse Music Festival
Various City Centre locations
26 May
CSI Green’s Mill
Green’s Windmill
26 May - 17 Jun
Exhibition: Luke Skiffington
Yard Gallery, Wollaton Hall and Park
26 May
Mothwatch
Green’s Windmill
27 May
Sunday Steaming
Wollaton Industrial Museum
27 May
The Green Festival
The Arboretum
28 May
Audio Massage in the Park
The Arboretum
27 May
Activity Session: Make a Glider
Green’s Windmill
30 May
Activity Session: Scone Baking for Children
Green’s Windmill
30 May
Activity Session: Masters of the Universe
Nottingham Castle
31 May
Activity Session: Easy Beads from Recycled Paper
Nottingham Castle
31 May
Pizza Baking for Little’uns
Green’s Windmill
2 Dec - 1 Apr
Exhibition: facing east: Contemporary Landscape Photography from Baltic Areas
Yard Gallery
2 Feb - 28 Mar
Exhibition: Parade
Angel Row Gallery
2 Feb - 28 Mar
Exhibition: A Picture of Nottinghamshire
Brewhouse Yard
10 Feb - 15 Apr
Exhibition: Glimpse: a selection from the Lace collections
Nottingham Castle
10 Feb - 29 Apr
Exhibition: Prickings: Catherine Bertola
Nottingham Castle
10 Feb - 29 Apr
Exhibition: Borrowings: Phil Eglin
10 Feb - 1 Jul
2 - 13 Apr
Easter Fun for Families
Brewhouse Yard
2 - 13 Apr
The Zone: Easter Activities Leisure Centres
Nottingham City Council
3 - 14 Apr
Guys and Dolls
Theatre Royal
3 - 4 Apr
Lace Making in the Galleries
Nottingham Castle
6 - 7 Apr
Flower and Bulb Festival
Old Market Square
6 - 9 Apr
Eggstravaganza! Family Easter event
Nottingham Castle
6 Apr - 6 May
Exhibition: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Yard Gallery, Wollaton Hall and Park
7 - 9 Apr
Wollaton Hall Grand Reopening For more information visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/enjoy
Wollaton Hall
6 Apr - 4 May
Exhibition: Parade
Angel Row Gallery
8 Apr
Easter Fun Day
Newstead Abbey
9 - 10 Apr
Lace Making in the Galleries
Nottingham Castle
12 Apr
Lace Making in the Galleries
Nottingham Castle
14 Apr
British Juggling Championship
Old Market Square
14 Apr
Have a Go Archery
Wollaton Hall
17 - 20 Apr
Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice
National Ice Centre
20 Apr
Nottingham Classics: The Hallé
Royal Concert Hall
20 - 21 Apr
Fine Food Fair
Old Market Square
Nottingham City Council also supports the following venues – visit the websites below for listings:
22 Apr
Anecdotes of Wollaton
Wollaton Hall
Galleries of Justice www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk
22 Apr
St George’s Day Celebration For more information visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/enjoy
Nottingham Castle and Old Market Square
Nottingham Arena www.nottingham-arena.com
26 Apr
A chance to see…Bags
Brewhouse Yard
26 Apr
Nottingham Classics: OAE & Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Royal Concert Hall
27 Apr - 12 May
I Have Been Here Before
Nottingham Playhouse
For further information about these events and many others log onto www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/enjoy or call the Nottingham Tourism Centre on 08444 77 5678 Information correct at time of print. Whilst every effort will be made to keep to this programme it may be necessary to make changes with or without notice.
Nottingham Playhouse www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk Royal Centre www.royalcentre-nottingham.co.uk
illustration: David Blenkey
LeftLion Magazine Issue 16 April-May 2007 Editor Jared Wilson (jared@leftlion.co.uk) Deputy Editors Al Needham (nishlord@leftlion.co.uk) Nathan Miller (nathan@leftlion.co.uk) Technical Director Alan Gilby (alan@leftlion.co.uk) Marketing and Sales Manager Ben Hacking (ben@leftlion.co.uk) Artistic Director Dave Reason (mail@woot-design.co.uk) Listings Editors Tim Bates (timmy@leftlion.co.uk) Florence Gohard (florence@leftlion.co.uk) Proofreading Charlotte Kingsbury (charlotte@leftlion.co.uk) Distribution Natasha Chowdhury Sophie Driscoll Photography Editor Dom Henry (dom@leftlion.co.uk) Photographers Al Greer (info@algreerimaging.co.uk) Ben Dennis Bobby G (bobbygphotography@googlemail.com) Bob Meyrick David Bowen (info@bophoto.co.uk) Jon Rouston (jon@jonrouston.co.uk) Pascale Duval Pete Cranston Johnathan Blackmore
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 20. 21. 23. 24. 26. 29. 30. 34. 36. 43. 44. 45. 46.
May Contain Notts The Square Root of Nottingham The C Word – Why you should vote! LeftEyeOn Gallery A Canadian in New Basford MyVice As High As Wutan Gets Neon Heights – The Power of Invention Model Morning and Stiff Kittens Meet The Klaxons You Slut! And the Dead City Presidents The Magic Numbers Black Vinyl Heart and Liam Bailey Special Brew - Beer baron Chris Holmes Lucy Porter England’s Meadows This is England – Andrew Shim and Vicky McClure LeftLion Friday 13th Extravaganza Artists profiles Out and About The Maze Nottingham Events Listings Nottsword / LeftLion Pub Quiz Tales of a Miserable Hypocrite and Nottingham Zoo Creative Writing Rocky Horrorscopes/ The Arthole/ Notts Trumps
Hello and welcome to another issue of LeftLion Magazine. You may notice that this issue is printed in glorious full colour. Here at LeftLion HQ we’re partying like Hollywood in the 1920’s to celebrate. But it’s a tough market to work in and a couple of other local free magazines that started after us have gone to the wall recently. We’re always up for representing underground and independent media (Saggy Pants and NotInNottingham you both rule), but there is a difference between putting out a magazine to represent your scene and putting one out to clean up on advertising revenue. These are issues that are hard to balance when working in the free press, issues we know very well as LeftLion is financed entirely by advertising revenue. But hopefully you agree that we have a good balance between commerce and content. In this issue there is coverage of some damn cool stuff. Music-wise we interviewed nu-ravers The Klaxons, who have strong links to the city as one of them studied at Nottingham Trent. Also in are The Magic Numbers, the chosen ones to officially open the brand new Market Square. We’re particularly glad to see the Market Square open again. The development work might have taken ages, but now it’s done we think it makes the centre of town look loads better. So we took the opportunity to look at the history of the well-known space. This issue also gave us a chance to go back to our roots. The release of Shane Meadows Dead Mans Shoes coincided with our first issue 32 months ago, when Shane became our first ever cover star. Since then he’s been busy preparing his latest epic This Is England. So we put some questions to two of the cast and took a look at his legacy. So much more to mention and not enough space. Also featuring are the uber-foxy comedian Lucy Porter, king of local pubs Chris Holmes, the guys from The Maze, Neon Heights, Old Basford, The Smears, Stiff Kittens, Model Morning and much more.
Illustrators Rob White (robwhite@thearthole.co.uk) Rikki Marr (rikki@dealmakerrecords.com) David Blenkey Contributors Alex Kocan Alasdair Catton Amanda Young Jesse Keene Louise Doherty Ian Kingsbury Jessica Troughton Jon McGregor Kate Jolly Kevin Stanley Michael Abbott Michael Simon Rebecca Kielty Rob Cutforth Roger Mean Samuel Rogers Shanthi Sekaran Tommy Goodall
LeftLion have been nominated as ‘Ambassadors to Nottingham’ for an award being run by BBC Nottingham and The Evening Post (who recently referred to us as “The High Priests of Nottingham Culture”). If we’re successful, you can expect a massive lion-style celebration with a pyramid of Ferrero Rocher in the corner! See you at LeftLion Extravaganza at the Rescue Rooms on April 13th…
jared@leftlion.co.uk
Magician In Residence Jack Curtis Thanks For The Roof Faber Maunsell www.fabermaunsell.com “I never thought much of the courage of a lion tamer. Inside the cage he is at least safe from people.” George Bernard Shaw LeftLion, 349a Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG5 2DA. 0115 9123782 If you would like to reach our readers by advertising your company in these pages please contact Ben on 07843 944910 or email ben@leftlion.co.uk LeftLion magazine has an estimated readership of 40,000 in the city of Nottingham. In February 2006 LeftLion.co.uk received over 500,000 page views.
Nominated as Best Free Music Magazine in the UK Record of the Day Awards 2006 www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
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Favourite Pubs In Notts Currently rocking my world: The Ropewalk, Moog and Fade Bar. I’m hoping the newly reopened Loft will be as good as it was when the Neon Heights crew owned it. Daley Thompson
with Nottingham’s ‘Mr. Sex’ Al Needham
Fade is awesome. Dogma’s always good for a boogie. Orange Tree, Fleece, Saltwater: all good. Muse is nice, especially on the third Wednesday of the month when it plays host to Opus… MrGeesBigCircus Fade Cafe is great! It’s recently become one of my fave Friday and Saturday night places and one of the barmen often wears a Drop in the Ocean TShirt, so they’re cool too. Sofy The Gladstone for the old man vibes. Hotel Deux for Rob’s knowledge and folk music. The Maze for live music. Fade for the Kingstone bottled cider and reading the paper. The Golden Fleece for the quiz. Lincolnshire Poacher for real ale and more old man vibes. Muse for Opus. ash d The Stratford Haven in West Bridgford, The Newshouse, The Bell Inn... I’m 17 going on 50. cheeky monk Ropewalk, Sir John, Ride, Moog, Malt Cross, Alley Cafe, Broadway, Bell, Trip, Fleece, Newcastle, Wax, Nada, Old Angel and Fade. I like pubs. Supine Ropewalk (like, every Friday evening without fail), Golden Fleece,Bar Seven (when Fran’s DJing there, anyway), Saltwater, Moog, Fade, Alley Cafe (though always full when I go in these days), Frog & Onion (but only after being up for two days). peej The Orange Tree wins easily for me. They serve the best Makers Mark and Coke in town, the bar staff are pretty cool and it’s got a great vibe. Also they have some quality nights on. JohnnyBulldog Golden Fleece: always someone in there you know and chances to meet people you don’t. Saltwater: whether it’s an afternoon pint, early evening swifthalf, peak time short or rockin’ out with my cock out at MHYH all day events, I love the place. Alley Café: I’m in there at least once a week, often for lunch. I’m not vegetarian but their food is ace and very inexpensive. myhouse-yourhouse
www.leftlion.co.uk/blog February 1
March 6
Violent and usually drunk Australian bit of rough Russell Crowe will play the Sheriff of Nottingham in another film about Robin Hood, it is announced. It’s bound to be cack, so we’ll say no more about it.
A Broxtowe woman is found guilty of receiving an entire kitchen nicked from the house across the road, whipped by an exboyfriend with a very large holdall and fitted while she was – ahem - bathing her kids. It happens to me all the time… I curled one off this morning only to discover an entire marble bathroom suite that wasn’t there before.
February 2 Notts Constabulary announce plans to adopt drug addicts and I dunno what to make of it. On one hand, I can’t think of a more heart-warming sight than seeing a copper taking half a dozen crack addicts from Sneinton to Tales of Robin Hood on a Saturday afternoon, but I can also see the impracticalities of chasing down a shoplifter whilst pushing a smackhead in a buggy.
February 5 Heroin addicts in Nottingham shit themselves even more than usual over the appearance of an extra-strong batch of Zammopowder in the city that kills two of them.
February 7 According to Home Office figures, violent attacks in Nottingham Prison have increased tenfold over the past ten years. They didn’t say anything about bumming, sorry.
February 8 Plans for a 100-metre high tower bestraddling Victoria Embankment like a environmentally-friendly colossus are announced, featuring wind turbines, an energy learning centre and a skate park. Hopefully, someone will work out how to harness the power of middle-class kids falling off skateboards and do something useful with it.
February 9
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS: In the article ‘Toad On Toad Action’ (LeftLion issue 15), we asked actor Ryan Maloney “What do you think to Toadie compared to other on-screen lawyers such as Quincy?” We would like to make it clear that Dr Quincy ME is a maverick New York state medical examiner working in the most fascinating sphere of police work (the world of forensic medicine), doing his best to bring justice to those families that the legal system are failing, not a lawyer. We apologise for any offence casused. For the record, we were thinking of Ironside.
In order to save time when writing this, all I have to do is press Alt-Shift-Ctrl-F2 at the same time and the phrase ‘There’s been a shooting in St Anns’ pops up.
February 12 The Police announce that drink-related violent offences have dropped by 20% in the city centre. Latest figures from the Market Square beat reveal that – hang on a minute…most of that’s been a bleddy building site for the last two years! In other news, office stationary theft at the World Trade Centre has dropped off considerably since 2001.
February 16 Two scab-bags in Bulwell rob a local shop after threatening customers and staff with a sword. God knows what’ll happen there when someone discovers gunpowder. The youths were described as wearing ‘sports clothing’, which narrows it down to 50,000 or so. The static coming off those Lonsdale tracky tops could electrify a supermarket.
February 19 Teenagers from Notts get sent to Belfast to learn how to resolve violent conflict. So if you start seeing big murals of 50 Cent on the sides of houses in the Meadows and pipe bands up and down Bestwood, you’ll know why.
March 5 More mithering over the two new tram lines that should have been built ages ago to Clifton, Chilwell and Beeston. Sigh.
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March 7 The council announces that Princess Anne will open the Market Square on 3 April, but they don’t actually say what she’ll be doing. Will she have the inaugural slash in the Square? Will she punch the Lord Mayor in the face in the official first fight by the Lions? There’s also going to be loads of concerts by people like The Magic Numbers and Tony Hadley.
March 8 Newark MP Patrick Mercer is forced to quit his role as Shadow homeland security spokesman (the chocolate teapot of the political realm) after stating in an interview that he’d met ‘a lot’ of ‘idle and useless’ ethnic minority soldiers who used racism as a ‘cover’.
March 9 A 17 year-old lad is stabbed to death in Nottingham, but the national media are too busy wringing their hands over the stabbings in London to notice.
March 12 The big local derby between Notts County and Mansfield (imagine Barcelona v Real Madrid but made out of Lego) passes without incident. Or goals.
March 13 The burglary rate in Nottingham has dropped to its lowest level for seven years. In forty years time, you’ll be telling your grandchildren about those golden days in 2007 when you could leave your fifth door lock on the snick.
March 14 Police step up patrols in a crackdown on Bulwell mouth-breathers who throw stones at the trams and leave branches on the line, as if it was a big metal snake that was going to decimate their crops of industrial-strength hydroponic skunk and devour the local virgin.
March 15 A divvy local solicitor admits attempting to smuggle weed into the local magistrate’s court for a crim on a drugs offence. Thank God she wasn’t defending a TWOCer.
March 16 After weeks of voting, it’s announced that the Notts band who won the chance to play the opening of the Market Square are Captain Dangerous.
March 17 Nottingham city centre reeks of Tory, as David Cameron and the other ones no-one can put a name to pretend to be a unified party on the cusp of power. See you next time there’s a General Election, chaps – oh, hang on, we won’t, because you never win owt round here unless you’re Kenneth Clarke.
The Square Root Of Nottingham When Billy Conqueror of the Normans shot fat southern ponce King Harold in the eye and became King of All England, Nottingham was in for some changes. Up until then, a group of Saxons had been living around what’s now the Lace Market for a few centuries, sipping fourgroat-a-pint mead, snorting ground dragon’s teeth and building up the fortified borough of Snottengaham (‘Snott’s people by the water’). In a shrewd example of early diplomacy, William realised he wouldn’t be all that welcome there, so instead of moving in with the Saxons, he built a fort around Castle Rock, resulting in two settlements on opposite sides of a valley, with a large chunk of No Mans Land in between. The Saxons held their markets around Weekday Cross (near La Tasca and the Pitcher and Piano), and the Normans did their thing inside their castle walls, remaining separate from each other for a few years, but by the 1070’s regular trading was well underway in the demilitarised zone - which became known as the Great Market Place. Thus, once a week on a Saturday, the Saxon and Norman settlements would set up a weekend market that attracted folk from surrounding villages like Sneinton, Radford, Lenton, Beeston, Carlton - even Grantham and Ruddington. It became a big social event too, with fayres and amusements set up for the traders and customers. Cattle would be baited by pitbulls before being butchered; cockfights and dogfights were commonplace, with bets flying all over the place.
and Norman communities remained separate and didn’t have to cross each other’s paths unless they could help it. Over the generations, the two settlements grew and joined to form one large town, and the Square became the centrepiece for the community, as it still is today. In 1926 the now permanent stalls of the meat markets (called The Shambles – deriving from the Normans’ attempts at the Saxon word for butcher, Flesh Hewers - from where Fletcher Gate takes its name) were knocked down and construction on Cecil Howitt’s new Council House began, which was opened by HRH Edward Windsor Prince of Wales in 1929. Since then, it has been the de facto centre of every major celebration in Nottingham from VE Day to Forest coming home with the European Cup, a place to gather for every memorial, - the spot where you meet that girl at work who you fancy and somewhere to put the Goths on a Saturday afternoon. Although the verdict is still out on the new Square even before it’s finished, it’s status as the very centre of Nottingham remains unchallenged - and even if the stone for the new Square might come from Portugal, Ireland and China, its roots are solid Notts.
TEN REASONS WHY SLAB SQUARE IS SKILL 1. At 5.5 acres, it’s the largest open market space in England. 2. Little John, the big clangy thing in the Council house, is the Barry White of British belldom, as it has the deepest tone of any bell in the UK. 3. It was originally cast as a replacement for Big Ben when it broke around the turn of the century, but they managed to fix it, so we nicked it for ourselves. 4. Oh, and its sound also travels further than any bell in the UK – up to seven miles on a clear day. 5. The stone used for the Council House was left over from the building work of St Paul’s cathedral in London. 6. The four statues on the top of the Council House represent Commerce, Civic Law, Prosperity and Knowledge, which are meant to be the hallmarks of the City of Nottingham. Stop laughing. 7. The Black Boy Hotel, designed by Watson Fothergill, was considered to be one of the finest examples of late 19th Century modern gothic revivalist architecture, and was so impressive that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert nobbed off the royal chambers in the Council House and dossed there instead. Then it was pulled down by 1960’s town planners and is now, erm, Primark.
Some commonly-used phrases still around today came directly from these medieval market place frivolities; “not enough room to swing a cat” comes from the somewhat distasteful marketplace game where someone would put a cat into a bag, swing it above his head before tossing it in the air for one lucky punter to shoot an arrow at it. If he hit it he would win a prize! “To let the cat out the bag” comes from a common practice on butchers’ stalls where a customer would select his pig ready for his Sunday roast only to get home and find the stallholder had swapped it for a cat.
8. The Lions, named Menelaus and Agamemnon supposedly to roar with delight whenever a virgin passes by. Enter punchline of your own devising here. 9. The favourite opening line by music hall comedians at the Theatre Royal? “I went past this enormous building on the way here tonight, and I asked the cabbie what it was. ‘The Council House’, he said. I said ‘Cor! If that’s what the council houses are like in Nottingham, I’m putting me name down for one”.
By 1284 the market had become such an event for the local districts that an annual fair took hold. This would, over the ages, become known the world over as Goose Fair, held for the 712th time last October (missing only ten years due to the two world wars). This stayed in the Square for six and a half centuries until 1928 when it outgrew its surroundings and moved to its current location on The Forest. Not only is it still the largest travelling fair in Europe, but is also the oldest fair of any kind in the world. During the Middle Ages, The Great Market Place had a 20-foot high wall running through the middle. Some say this was to keep the meat market separate from the other stalls, but due to the fact this wall was twice the height of any normal building, it was more than likely originally built to make sure the Saxon
words: Michael Abbott photo: Dom Henry
10. There’s a tunnel under the Council House that runs up to The Park, built by an extremely arrogant Victorian Lord Mayor who wanted to avoid mixing with the plebs on his way home. However, it got clogged up with said peasantry’s faeces and was abandoned a few years later. Haha!
photo: Johnathan Blackmore www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
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words: Shan thi Sekaran image: David Blenkey
The C Word
A Warning From America about why you should vote...
What do you remember of the 90s? Nick Hornby? Blur v Oasis? Throwing shapes and black light posters? For me, the 90s were California, the Clintons, and an era that unwittingly bred the most dangerous of national pandemics: complacency (I’m aware that some of you out there were born as late as 1987 and remember the 90s for saliva-soaked digestive biscuits and colourful, obese puppets with televisions lodged in their stomachs. I’m not talking to you).
Us
California in the 90s: Dot-Com explosions. Everywhere. Social failures of the 80s emerged from their parents’ garages to become internet wonder boys, the playboy princes of Silicon Valley. Money was in the air. Rush hour highways were jammed with new Jaguars and Lexi (singular: Lexus). 24 yearold millionaires crowded into San Francisco’s newly opened champagne bars and slurped bubbly from the navels of their taut-bellied girlfriends. Secretaries were hitting the jackpot with company shares, building rooms to store their gold coins, diving and swimming like Scrooge McDuck through their hordes of riches. The rest of the country was downloading internet porn, finding estranged classmates and sending mass emails of kittens constructed entirely from lower-case v’s. It seemed the only thing the US had to worry about was a stain on the dress of a Capitol Hill intern. What went wrong? How did America fall from its boom era into a decade of economic anaemia, wars that put us to shame and a widely detested administration that seems intent on making a mockery of its voting public? Firstly, to be fair, half those dotcom companies were a load of rubbish. But aside from that, the country took the same wrong turning that many wealthy, socially harmonious societies have taken in the past, from the British to the Roman empires (I’m not equating America with the Roman Empire. Settle down.). Cradled by the thought that we’d
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always have jobs and houses and food, we’d fallen into a deep, seductive sleep of complacency. When the 2000 presidential elections came round, we sauntered to the polls, hit the Al Gore button and hurried off to meet our friends for Thursday brunch. Finally, when the mess of recounts, bipartisan bickering and hanging chads came to a close, we found ourselves saddled with a president who at best had been just barely elected and possibly hadn’t even been elected at all. When the case was thrown to a state court to decide, we Americans, given the chance to do something about our nation’s future, took a step back, shrugged our shoulders and said to ourselves, It’s taken care of now. We’ll see what happens. Little did we know what we’d let ourselves in for.
You
and sent off to be tallied and recorded by elves. The rest is pretty self-explanatory. Information on this year’s candidates will be available from 10 April. So Thursday 3 May is the big day, but the second most significant is Wednesday 18 April – the deadline for voter registration. This is not automatic, even if you pay your council tax, but it is easy. If you binned the voter registration form sent to you by your council in October, just go to aboutmyvote. co.uk. Enter your postcode, click on ‘Register to Vote,’ choose your residency status and download the voter registration form. You’ll need to print this, sign it and send it off to the Electoral Registration Office at the Guildhall. It’s an easy to use website, with additional information on proxy and postal votes, voter registration and polling stations.
Here’s where you come in. You Brits don’t have it so bad, do you? You’re alright if you lose your job, you’re alright if you don’t. You get low-cost health care and organic veg, and there hasn’t been a race riot for a good year now. It’s easy to pass off national politics as the domain of white public-school males who have nothing to do with your daily lives. If you find David Cameron as boring as I do, you can’t be blamed for looking the other way.
Grumbling is the great British pastime - beats baseball any day. If you could whinge for England, maybe it’s time to turn your energy to something more productive. Complaining randomly about city centre parking will get you nowhere. Getting off your arse and taking a stand probably will. Last time round in Nottingham only 29% of those eligible to vote actually bothered – which is appalling by anyone’s standards. Now’s your chance to show you care about the city you live in.
But May’s local elections are a chance for you to reassess where you stand in your city’s future. How do you feel about recycling? Is the rubbish on your street out of hand? Do you want to see something done with your local leisure centre? These are issues you could actually do something about, either by choosing a candidate or even by running for office yourself.
As for America, the 2008 elections are still a long way off. Would we be better off if more people had voted in 2000 and 2004? It’s hard to say. If nothing else, take this lesson from us: when it comes to elections, the riskiest thing you can do is to do nothing at all.
Here’s how it works: Nottingham is split into wards, and each ward presents candidates for council elections. Candidates’ names appear on ballots at your local polling station. Polls are open from 7am-10pm on 3 May, after which ballots are collected
Get in touch with Nottingham City Council Electoral Services on 9154938 or email at elections@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
LeftEyeOn Gallery
Some choice cuts from our online galleries at www.leftlion.co.uk
clockwise from top left: Basil Brush - our favourite fox backstage during Aladdin at the Theatre Royal 23/12/2006 - Dom Henry Spectrum Breakdancers - Freestyle breakdancing going down upstairs in the Red Room at Spectrum 02/03/07 - Al Greer Nicolas Meier - live at the Bonington Theatre in Arnold 01/03/07 - Bob Meyrick Just Jack - live at the Rescue Rooms 11/02/07 - Jon Rouston Star Screen - Scott Price from Starscreen playing acoustic for LeftLion Unplugged at the Malt Cross 16/01/07 - Dom Henry Sabrina King - live at the Epiphany Fashion & Music Show held at Oceana on 25/10/06 - Al Greer Pink and Lilly - Pink and Lilly collection from the Epiphany Fashion & Music Show held at Oceana on 25/10/06 - Pascale Duval Duke Special - playing a sell out gig at the Social 19/02/07 - Dom Henry www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
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A Canadian in New Basford words: Rob Cutforth illustration: Rob White
I have been living here for a year and a half and I haven’t been shot, beaten up, mugged or even stabbed. If you listen to the media, this is quite an amazing feat, considering I live in Gun City. When I tell other Nottinghamians that I moved from Canada, they assume I’m the craziest man on earth. “You’re from Canada? What the hell are you doing here?!” So are Canadian cities little slices of utopia and Nottingham the seventh circle of Hell? No, we just have better PR. Not even mad cow disease, SARS and clubbing baby seals to death stop the tourists. I could tell you that I wear baby seal eyes for cufflinks, and you would still say something about our low crime, clean cities and beautiful scenery. I’ll let you in on a little secret; gun crime in Canada is no lower than it is here. My home city of Calgary, a city of almost a million people (the same number as Notts) had 42 murders in 2006, mostly gun-related. If you ask any Canadian what they know about Calgary, they’ll tell you about the Stampede, a giant rodeo that attracts visitors from all over the world. You never hear a peep about the crime. Crime is a fact of life for any city – it’s the ability to handle it that separates a city of culture from a city of depravity. A lot of damage has been done to Notts by the press and when it comes to misery, the British memory is long. You’re going to have to do something outlandish to shake the crime label. You are going to have to make friends with Robin Hood again. I hear you groan. I’ve heard it before. It’s the same groan that we Calgarians emitted when other Canadians called us ‘cowboys’ because of the Stampede, because we wanted to be hip and
metropolitan just like you. We don’t groan about the Stampede anymore, now that it makes $90M annually and (even though the city was smaller than greater Nottingham at the time) brought us the Olympics in 1988. Other cities would kill for Robin Hood. Was I the only one that was pissed off that the newest Robin Hood statue was unveiled by Sean Bean in Sheffield? You know what the first thing everyone who flies into the Robin Hood airport says? “Why the hell isn’t this airport in Nottingham?” I know I am a new resident of this city, but let me be the first to say Sean Bean can kiss my big, fat, tights-covered, Nottinghamite ass. We have to take Robin back immediately. We need to change the city logo to a bow and arrow, name a couple of streets
interact with the most established online audience in nottingham, features includE.. * your own page on leftlion.co.uk which you can update at anytime (i.e www.leftlion.co.uk/yourbusiness) * add images, descriptions, special offers, promotions and event listings * your logo on our homepage * your business featured in leftlion magazine In January ary ‘07 www.LeftLi eftLion. L oon.co.uk Li
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after the man and host a world event like the World Archery Championships. Who would dare go against Nottingham in applying for it? You’d have Korean kids peeing their pants at the idea of coming to Nottingham. We could use the press generated by the Archery Championships to turn it into an annual Robin Hood Arts festival celebrating all things Nottingham, making sure it doesn’t turn into some cheesy medieval fayre full of Goths and Dungeons and Dragons geeks. We can shake down any Gandalf wannabes at the gate and invoke an embargo on D20s and pewter figurines. It’s just crazy enough to work.
MyVice words: Louise Doherty
images submitted by friends of LeftLion from their own myspace sites.
It seems that these days the only thing you really need to be famous is an addiction. With Britney checking in and out of rehab virtually every other day, and our very own Robbie admitted for ‘addiction to prescription drugs’ (recreational varieties are so passé, don’t you know), an addiction is apparently the new must-have celebrity accessory. So presumably, anyone with a penchant for falling out of clubs in the wee hours and a weak mental disposition has a shot at the fame and fortune that comes with celebrity. Which is good, because I have an addiction too. That’s right, my name is Louise Doherty, and I’m addicted to MySpace. It might not be as rock and roll as Pete Doherty’s well documented heroin issues, or as wild-child as Amy Winehouse’s (alleged) coke habit, but I’ll have you know MySpace is worse than crack. I’m not the only one either - the internet is full of sites warning that MySpace can take over your life and ruin friendships, which I already knew, but I don’t think I can give it up. I’m not even sure I want to. See, unfortunately MySpace is far too useful. Everyone knows the rags to riches story of the Arctic Monkeys, but it’s invaluable for normal people too. Need to know what your mates got up to that night you had to work? Met a hot guy out when drunk and can’t remember what he looks like? Burning desire to see who your ex is dating now? MySpace can help you. It’s the all-seeing, all-knowing social oracle, akin to a modern day God for today’s atheist masses.
But MySpace asks much more than your average deity. Most religious figures only ask that you devote a few minutes a day to them, and perhaps the occasional Sunday morning, but MySpace demands that you get up early to worship before breakfast. It then eats at you all day, making you feel so guilty you have to check your messages at least 518 times at work. But the sign of a truly devoted MySpaceee is the way they preach to the uninitiated: “Have you got a MySpace? Oh you really should! It’s amazing, everyone’s on it…” I’ve even said on nights out “I can’t wait to check MySpace tomorrow! The pictures are gonna be so funny.” Whilst it is a good way of catching up on all the goings on you were too pissed to notice at the time, it does worry me slightly that my private vice is spilling into real life. As with any addictive substance, there’s a fine line between use and abuse. I might be in denial, but a bit of virtual stalking never hurt anyone. It’s purely for information purposes, and it helps when I see people I haven’t seen in a while because I can sound like I remember what they’ve been up to recently. It makes me a better person. But the MySpace casualties aren’t hard to find. A friend of mine decided to go cold turkey after receiving two disciplinaries for his MySpace antics during work hours. Before that he would choose to sit in front of his computer all night reorganising his ‘top friends’ and changing his profile picture, whilst we were at the pub laughing at him. But now alarm bells are going off in my head it’s not quite so funny anymore. Especially since my friend was back online less than a week after deleting his profile. I fear that it’s a one way road from here on in.
I’ll start lying about how often I log on (one of the first signs of spiralling addictions). I’ll begin to dream about MySpace conversations, waking up in a fevered sweat because I haven’t replied to a comment. Then I’ll start spending all day at work trying to determine if I really do know the person who just added me as a friend, leaving my boss no choice but to sack me. I’ll start sitting in front of my computer for 19 hours a day, stopping only to sleep and pay the takeaway man. I’ll stop washing and changing my clothes, spending my days mindlessly, deliriously browsing people in my area until I get RSI or bedsores or scabies. Oh my god, I need help! I’m going to delete my profile right now, start living in the real world and put all this MySpace stuff behind me. Get out whilst I still can. But then again, if I can’t quit smoking where there’s an imminent threat to my life, what chance have I got of beating the subversive, evil forces of MySpace? I might as well just resign myself to the inevitable downward spiral. On the plus side, maybe I could end up in rehab as the first casualty of MySpace, which would mean I could sell my exclusive story to Heat and build a tabloid career off the back of it. Every cloud…
Become mates with LeftLion on www.myspace.com/leftlion
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As High as Wutan Gets Wutan is a martial art which came into being in 1966, when Grand Master Liu Yun Qiao, the former head trainer to the bodyguards of Chinese President Chiang Kai Shek, retired from his post as Chairman of the Civil Defence Force. He chose twelve disciples to pass down his skills and named his school Wutan. It has now spread world wide with a school right here in Notts, so we caught up with instructor Anthony Godfrey for a chat on the finer points of self-discipline. words: Jesse Keene photos: Ben Dennis How did you first get into Wutan and how good are you at it? I first learned about Wutan through my friend Rob Doran, who was attending the school’s Kung Fu classes. He asked if I wanted to go to a Tai Chi demonstration that was taking place at the International Community Centre. I went along and was instantly hooked. It wasn’t long until I was practicing both Tai Chi and Kung Fu. Having showed my commitment, effort and loyalty to the school, Sarah Scotthorne, the founder of the Wutan Nottingham Branch and my old instructor, asked if I would like to assist her in the Kung Fu classes. Now I’m a qualified Instructor, I’ve found teaching has been a great way of learning: it’s benefited my training immensely and given me a deeper understanding of the material. In January, Kung Fu students competed in the National Competition and managed to win both the Team and Individual Gold in the Forms category, and the Silver (won by my step-son George!) and Bronze in the Sparring category.
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How does Wutan differ from other established martial arts? Wutan prides itself on being able to offer authentic, traditional Chinese martial arts. There’s a choice of different styles to suit the individual, no matter the age or ability. The classes are held in a positive and vibrant atmosphere, where there is a strong sense of community and belonging. Wutan’s aim is to benefit as many people as possible, promoting a harmonious and peaceful society through the practice of authentic martial arts. How intense is the training schedule? Training schedules vary between students. Like anything in life the more we put in, the more we get out. Martial arts used to be a way of life, and preserving your life! Practitioners would train eight hours a day, seven days a week. Not many people nowadays can make that kind of commitment, so we have to make it relative to our own lives. As long as students can feel the benefits, see progression and are enjoying their training, then job done!
What advice would you give people who are thinking about trying Wutan for themselves? People should first think about which discipline they would like to learn, ideally both. Kung Fu’s more suited to younger, energetic students, who will enjoy a physical challenge. Tai Chi is great for de-stressing, energizing and improving health. The junior classes introduce martial arts at a young age, offering positive goals and achievements. Then talk to us, or come down and visit a class. How many schools are there, and are there many in Notts? Wutan International has branches all over the world from Taiwan to Norway. In the UK there are schools throughout the country, the Headquarters are based in Southampton. In Nottingham we have classes on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. These take place at different venues including the International Community Centre, Portland Leisure Centre and The Sycamore Centre.
For more information check out www.nottinghamwutan.com At present Beginners Kung Fu and Tai Chi are held at The International Community Centre, 61b Mansfield Road. Junior Kung is held at Portland Leisure Centre, Muskham Street, The Meadows.
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Funky music inventors and DJs Neon Heights abide in Nottingham, but spread their talent far and wide across the international music scene. Highly respected within Dance music, their recent remixes include Fatboy Slim’s Champion Sound and Stevie Wonder’s If You Really Love Me. Fresh and smooth in sound these musicians have also recently collaborated with soulful singer Carina Andersson and USA’s J Todd. They are down to earth guys with a strong interest in music of all kinds, combining both Ying and Yang sensibilities. Cal Gibson and Tom Bailey current inventors of Neon Heights, made their way down to the Malt Cross for a Saturday bevy and chat about the music. Tom wandered in late clutching a crisp, square black bag with orange type; he just had to check out the latest offerings from Selectadisc on the way. Who plays what in the band? Cal: There is Tom Bailey on keyboard, myself Cal Gibson on guitar and keys, Emperor Mingus on Bass, Roscoe on Drums and Misterlong on Trombone and percussion. We work with a list of singers such as Rachel Harris and J Todd. Basically Tom and I do all the music in the studio with help from Simon White and then we draft in the others for live performances. If I were to walk into a record shop, in which section would I find Neon Heights? Tom: It would be in the dance section or downtempo. You’ve got a third album coming out soon. What can we expect from this? Tom: I’m going to be vague because it’s currently in progress and without a title. We’re still making new tracks, which can really change the overall feel of the album right at the last minute. Also we are trying to decide which pieces are finally going on and how that will shape the LP. It should be sorted and out in the shops by the summer time. What you can expect though are contributions from J.Todd, Carina Andersson and Rachel Harris, a fine mix of jazz, funk and dance. It’s looking nice. Tell me about a music epiphany you’ve had… Tom: For me it has to be working with big names in the industry. Oh, and them rating our music. Collaborating with Carina Andersson in A Beautiful Thing has been great. Cal: At the age of four I was at home listening to something my parents had put on - you know, parents’ sort of music. I wanted
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words: Amanda Young photos: Al Greer
r e w o The P
n o i t n e v n Of I
to get right inside the speakers and hear the volume at its most so I climbed into the cones. I learnt that it’s all about volume at a young age.
kids, turn them down or use the mute button. (Pondering the question…) Wouldn’t it be great to be an inventor…? Tom: You are an inventor… of music and words!
What software do you use and what is your favourite plug in. Tom: We use Logic and have a very fancy bunch of Waves plugs set up on a Mac. That’ll please the geeks!
Have you ever made any music using something from Anchor Supplies? Tom: Yes when I was at university I got a load of recording equipment from there, microphones and things, but nothing recently. Cal: What is Anchor Supplies? Tom: It’s an Army surplus shop selling loads of weird stuff. It’s just near the Notts County Football Ground and Cattle Market.
What are you a collector of? Tom: I’ve got a load of records stacked up at home - and shoes... Cal: Books and records. I like to occasionally hunt through Oxfam for some really obscure record. When you play live what is your favourite city and venue to play? Cal: We’ve got a massive following in Moscow, they are a very enthusiastic audience so it has to be Club Kult. Tom: The Big Chill, which we played in 2005, was fantastic. What makes Neon Heights different to other music out there? Cal: It is an eclectic mix of music pretty indefinable. It used to be house and dance music but now has tones of jazz, funk, soul, pop and chilled beats… it’s evolving music. Tom: We are still free to rewrite ourselves unlike some big bands. They seem to make their success form repeating themselves, which is only possible if you are fixed to a type of sound. What do you measure your success by? Tom: Not by money that is for sure! Cal: By someone across the other side of the world sending an email saying that they love the music and it touches them deeply. That is what really matters. Have free music downloads had an impact upon you? Tom: It has meant more people can listen to us online. Cal: I think it is the same feeling all round, losing out on money but access to lots of music. I’m sure the big music corporations will find a way to get their money back somehow though. Rober Adler, the US inventor of the remote control died today. What would you remote control? Cal: Probably George bush and Tony Blair, to switch them off would be great. Tom would probably want to remote control his
What’s your favourite plant? Cal: Trees, not any particular type, just trees in general. Oh… and squirrels too. I don’t have any preference over grey or red. Tom: It’ll have to be spinach. The big leafy spinach. Everyone these days wants baby spinach but I remember me and my mum growing spinach when I was young and having really big nutritious leaves full of iron. Picture this: I’m in a post-modern malaise and cannot think or feel, how are you Neon Heights going to get through to me? Cal: Aren’t we all in a post-modern malaise! Well, I would slap you about a bit; you know the domestic violence sort of stuff… or give you a really dark book to read. Tom: That probably isn’t going to help really. I would give some positive energy. Cal: You are so optimistic! I think the idea of us providing a bit of Ying and Yang would probably help her. What’s coming up for you in the next few months? Cal: Well we’ve got the album coming out, and a remix of Fatboy Slim’s Champion Sound to be released. We are thinking of planning a tour after the album is released to promote that. Then we have DJ gigs around the country. We aren’t really playing in Nottingham, as there aren’t many venues to play here so we generally go elsewhere. Tom: This is true, although for venues there is the Rescue Rooms, that’s a good one. www.neonheights.com
Morning Glory words: Glen Parver
Model Morning are a relatively new Nottingham band featuring former Echoboy guitarist Chris Moore, Pete Morley (vocals), Rich Davidson (bass), Ed Keenan (drums) and Rob McCleary (guitars). Their sound has been likened to shoegazing bands of the past such as My Bloody Valentine, but when you see them live you notice they’re far too busy jumping around to pay much attention to what’s on their feet. We caught up with them before their LeftLion Presents gig at the Orange Tree in May to ask a few questions…
and we’re playing with them on 7 April at the Rescue Rooms. What are your favourite hangouts in Notts? Pete: We like The Maze, The Social, Rescue Rooms and Rock City. I personally like The Golden Fleece on Mansfield Road. It has a really cool open mic night and it’s got a great vibe. Rich: You’ll find us most of the time in The Maze. It’s near to our studio, and has the best staff in Notts. What’s coming up for you over the next year? Rich: More gigs and more songs. Rob: Plenty of gigs. Hopefully we can create a bit of a buzz in Nottingham and have lots of fun. We just want to do what bands do - play to different people, get interviewed in magazines and quit the day job.
How did you get together? Pete: Chris met Rob through work when his previous band Echoboy finished and decided to put a band together. They asked me to sing, but I was about to go travelling. Chris brought round a CD of some layered guitars, got me wasted and I wrote a melody over it. We knew we’d got something special so I decided to stay. What was the inspiration for your name? Chris: There’s an Echoboy song with model in the name which I love. Model Morning seems to work with the music. Pete: It means something different to all of us. To me it symbolises a new beginning. What’s your favourite of your own tracks? Pete: It’s always changing for me. Usually it’s the latest one. Ed: Everybody’s Drunken Friend - it all comes together when the bass drops in. What are your favourite cities and venues to play?
Chris: The Troubadour in LA. I played there with Echoboy, which was an ambition of mine after reading about my favourite band, Marion, playing there. Pete: I love playing in London. You have to up your game as the bands there are tight and well rehearsed. Rob: The weirdest one was Notting Hill Arts Club. I spent the whole gig with my arse in the faces of these twats at the front eating their dinner while I was trying to serenade them.
Who else in Nottingham are you rating at the moment? Pete: I really like Spotlight Kid, the new brainchild of Chris Davies from Six by Seven. I sat in on drums for them for a couple of gigs last year which was a ball. Rob: Crimson Roadmap are ace. Onewordpoem are unreal - three 17 year-olds from Lincoln who are too talented for their own good. Amusement Parks On Fire are one of my favourite bands
Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Chris: Take the time and check us out. I hope you like what you hear and see. Pete: If you see us around, do say hello. We don’t bite unless you ask us to. Ed: Support Nottingham music. This is the worst place I’ve ever lived for getting to see live music (especially on Saturday nights) Rich: Don’t have nightmares.
Model Morning play LeftLion Presents at The Orange Tree with Lois on 5 May. www.myspace.com/modelmorning
Nice Pussys
words: Kevin Stanley
Miss Chief (Sonia) and Kitty Kate (Kate) are LeftLion Presents resident DJs The Stiff Kittens. After a series of storming gigs for us at The Orange Tree, they are now set to have it massive at this year’s Glastonbury festival. Their unpredictability, love of soundtracks, old school hiphop, nu-rave and funky breaks coupled with a defiance to “keep it fresh” never fails to get any club bouncing. We caught up with the two felines for a chat… How do you feel about being LeftLion’s first resident DJs? Kate: Like all our Christmases have been rolled into one delightful ball! Sonia: Over the moon mate, like the cow. It’s a total honour. I’ve always loved what they do, the eclectic style and to play alongside bands is just proper refreshing you know! So what’s the story behind the name Stiff Kittens? Kate: Apart from it sounding purrfect for two female DJs? Sonia: It’s out of respect for a band I love, Joy Division, they were actually called Stiff Kittens first and did a gig in Stockport (where me and Kate were born) under the name. So two women DJing, working closely together in hot, sweaty clubs… do you ever get any funny looks? Sonia: Yeah! The punters love it…we are close but not quite that much. Unless I’ve had a little too much JD… Kate: We just like to have a bit of fun…. Sonia: Yeah! You flirt! So it’s not all work, work, work then? Kate: It’s never work, always a pleasure, but sure, more drinks please… What’s your poison? Sonia: Bullet bourbon and full fat coke. Kate: Tequila - you can chuck ’em down fast! You mentioned that you were both born in Stockport, Tell us more… Sonia: Well we were both born in the same hospital actually, Stepping Hill, though never met till a few years ago, in Nottingham. I’ve lived everywhere from squats in Hackney, to flats in Cheltenham.
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Kate: I’ve lived in Nottingham most of the time, lived in London for a while with some freaked-out art students, but I don’t remember much of it… How did you get the Glastonbury gig? Sonia: I used to DJ at The Que Club in Birmingham with Spacehopper, and freakily enough the geezer who got my CD used to play there too so knew my history. He loved the CD, as did his cat, I have photos to prove it. You must be excited about it? Sonia: Oh yes! Like you wouldn’t believe, been wanting to play there for like ages. Can’t wait! The only thing is trying to stay straight long enough… and I’m not referring to the earlier question! Kate: It’s gonna be proper good, just can’t wait, and so many tunes I want to play! It’s great news. What was the last album that you bought? Sonia: Guillemots Through the Windowpane. Kate: Klaxons Myths Of The Near Future. So what are your favourite cities and venues to play? Kate: Nottingham is the place to be! We love The Social, The Orange Tree, and The Maze. Sonia: I think playing with LeftLion at The Orange Tree is actually my favourite as I really love the crowd there and the venue is cracking. Where’s the flying ducks though? We want flying ducks!! Playing at The Social is cool too as you can play what you like there, I love that. It gets very steamy and messy, great. So what have you got coming up over the next few months? Kate: Monthly LeftLion gigs, collaborations with Farmyard Records and Glastonbury. Then maybe world domination and generally making a nuisance of ourselves! Sonia: Couldn’t have put it better myself lady! Anythig else you want to say to Leftlion readers? Sonia and Kate: Stay Stiff! www.myspace.com/stiffkittens1
words and photo: Dom Henry Meet Klaxons, leaders of the ‘new rave’ scene and tipped to be one of the top bands of 2007 in a recent BBC poll. With a large underground following of young glowsticktoting fans, their blend of electronica and punk rock has struck a chord amongst people increasingly pissed off with label manufactured indie schlock. The term ‘new rave’ itself was coined by the band and despite being described by them as ‘a joke which got out of hand’ now describes a recognised youth subculture. Pounced on by the NME within a year of formation, recent tours have seen them spearheading the paper’s sellout ‘Indie Rave’ tour. By chance we caught them outside Stealth between soundchecks on their previous tour...
You guys look pretty knackered, is the hotel lifestyle taking its toll? James: Yep, don’t have a home. Disgusting. Jamie: I feel like Alan Partridge.
Simon: I’d say Manchester is better than Leeds. Fucking great when like 40 kids got up on stage. Simon: Whaaazit?
Heavy. Where did you all start out? James: 2005? November? In Deptford, used to be the home nest. Jamie: The nest! Simon: We miss it dearly. James: Biggest mistake ever leaving Deptford...
If you could get any band or artist to play in with you, who would you have? James: Shit Disco. Jamie: Datarock. Simon: Nirvana. James: Yeah, Nirvana, back from the dead. (murmured agreement)
Of all the tunes the fans shake a glowstick to what would be your favourite? Jamie: I love Magick. Magick’s massive. It chops and changes though, depends on the tide. Jamie: Whaaazit? What would be your favourite tune full stop? The kind of thing you’d play at your funeral. James: Don’t Stop Me Now. Simon: That’s dark. Fucking listening to Queen in a pub is bad enough, let alone when you’re dead. (laughter) Jamie: Izzzit? Of all the places you’ve been touring and staying what’s your favourite so far? Jamie: That fucking dark place. What’s it called? In Manchester. Simon: Ah, the Brittania in Manchester. Jamie: If you’re really up for prostitutes.. Simon: Prostitutes in the lobby, it’s a dark dark place. Jamie: A massive hotel, with chandeliers. James: They have rooms above a club which plays until 2am. So that’s your least favourite hotel. What’s your favourite venue? All: The Brittania! (laughter) James: Sheffield, the lovely Novotel and the Leadmill. Simon: I’d say that venue in Leeds as there is no barrier between us and the crowd. Jamie: Ah-ah-aaaah!
What can the flourescent clad hordes expect from your live show? Jamie: Enjoyment! James: 10 songs! Simon: 9 songs, cos we’re lazy bastards. (laughter) What are you listening to at the moment? Jamie: I miss my home! I miss my stereo.. Simon: A band called WZT Hearts. Crystal Meth Noise Music. Jamie: The iPod. Izzzat! James: All I listen to is Jamie going ‘izzzat, whaaazit’. Jamie: Whizzzit! (giggles) Is that what gets you out of bed in the mornings? James: Naa, sadly it’s our Tour Manager. Simon: Brian Saunders is our wake up call. Jamie: Whooose up for waking me up in Sheffield?! (weary laughter) Sounds like you miss the normal life. Where do you like to hang out when you’re not on the road? Jamie: Izzzat? Simon: I miss hanging out. We don’t have time to hang out James: Ahhh man, we used to hang out in this bar in London called the Old Blue Last. So if you could have a week off? James: Straight to the Old Blue Last! (laughter)
Simon: Straight to the pub,The Old Blue. Jamie: (sings) Straight to The Old Blue last… Jamie: Its like Albion! What was the last book you read? Jamie: Oooh, not much shit in books! Simon: J G Ballard’s Kingdom Come Jamie: Izzzzat! And the last thing which made you laugh? Jamie: Whhaaazat? James: Jamie! … Jamie now! (Jamie gets knowing looks) Jamie: Who’s up for leaving their mind back in Stoke? Was it a heavy night in Stoke? James: No.. Simon: Whaa? When was Stoke? Jamie: Don’t know, I was just saying that for the fun of it.. James: It was a heavy night in... where was it? Jamie: (sings) Every fucking night for the last nine nights! Simon: Leeds Jamie: Whaaazat? James: Leeds Simon: It’s all been pretty.. serious on this tour. Pretty serious eh? What have you got coming up this year? Jamie: Who’s up for the tour? James: Big tours. Big plans, big ideas. Jamie: No more stopping touring till the end of the year after next! Izzzat! James: We’re touring up till Christmas 2007. At least. Simon: All round Europe, America Jamie: Japan and Australia. James: Everywhere. Simon: Can’t complain man. Do you enjoy the road? James: Love the road Jamie: Love the road!
Do you like to camp out in the hotel when you go places or do you like to get out and explore? Jamie: (sings) We love to just see the venue in every town we go to. Simon: It’s a little bit like that. James: I don’t want to see the towns really. Horrible. Every town in the UK. Simon: Like a blanket of simulation. Laid over. Middle Earth. (laughter) Jamie: Aiiiizat! Simon: Like a rat trap with your Burger Kings and your Subways and your shopping centres and half price record.. Jamie: (mumbles) Pyjamas! Do you prefer the foreign tours? James: I think so. Jamie: I love my hotels. I love the English crowds though. Simon: I prefer the English crowds. Jamie: I love Eng-e-r-laa-nd, who-ose up for the biggest crowds in England?! James: It’s good when you go and its starting again. I get more excited when I’m going abroad. Free holiday, different surroundings. Simon: I love it. Jamie: Love the fucking Brits pub! Anything you’d like to say to LeftLion readers? Jamie: Whaaazat? Simon: (looking wearily at Jamie) Lost his mind. James: Is he? (turns to Jamie) Did you enjoy your soup? Jamie: Fucking tasty. Why have you lost your mind? Jamie: I’ve just decided.. just to enjoy myself for the next couple of days. Having a few day sessions? Jamie: Yaahp. Klaxons play at Rock City on Tuesday 8 May. www.klaxons.net www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
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Fleetwood Mac, Rich may pluck for Whatever and Ever by Ben Folds Five, I’d go for Relationship of Command by At the Drive-In. Favourite Nottingham hangouts? Sam: The Social, Lee Rosy’s Tea Room, Alley Cafe and Gav’s house.
Refreshingly, You Slut! describe themselves as math rock and don’t have any vocals in their songs whatsoever. The members are Sam Lloyd, (bass), Darren Cook (drums), Richard Collins (Guitar) and Gavin Poole (guitar). We talked to Sam and Darren (but mostly Sam) about their new EP Critical Meat, influences and the Nottingham music scene. They are beard-strokingly good. Observe! words: Alex Kocan
Favourite Nottingham bands? Sam: All of my favourite Nottingham bands are splitting up. First it was Punish the Atom and then Legion of Doom went down. I’d get a kicking if I didn’t mention Amusement Parks on Fire. Late of the Pier are probably my favourite Nottingham band, they’ve improved shed loads over the last year.
Where’s the name You Slut! from? Sam: We used to be called You Slut Motherfucker! but a couple of motherfuckers complained and we bowed to the pressure and shortened it. What’s your sound? Sam: Well... there’s no singing. The drums are kind of the lead singer in that they change time signatures quite a lot and the guitars play rock around them. It’s poppy, melodic rock. It’s music to stroke your beard to while you’re jumping up and down. Musical influences? Sam: Fleetwood Mac, At the Drive-In and Abba. We get compared a lot to bands like Don Caballero and Oxes, but we’d never heard of them until people started writing about us in the same articles. We were raised as nice indie boys. Tell me about your eight-track mini-album Critical Meat. Is there a theme that runs
through the mini album? What is your favourite song from it, collectively or separately? Sam: Maths is the only theme really. I’m pretty sure we’re unanimous in thinking our favourite song is On the spot Tina Turner fine. It chops and changes more than some of the others and is a bastard to play, it always feels like we’ve achieved something when we get to the end! Best gig you’ve performed so far? Sam: The best gig was at Rotown in Rotterdam in September 2006. It was the last day of the German/Dutch tour we’d done with Amusement Parks on Fire (APOF). We were all pretty chuffed because the tour had gone well and we topped it off by being tighter than we’d ever managed before. We joined in with APOF’s encore as well, two drummers, two basses, four guitars. Everything was turned up to eleven. Best album ever? Sam: Just one? Gav might say Lexicon of Love by ABC. Darren could say Rumours by
What do you think to the Nottingham music scene at the moment? Sam: You kind of take the Daybrook House empire (Rock City, Rescue Rooms, the Social) for granted. These are the people who are putting on the bands that aren’t going to get in the NME or Kerrang and giving them a chance to play when they’d otherwise never get a gig. Finally, what does the future hold for You Slut? Sam: To play a free-entry LeftLion gig at the Orange Tree on 7 April of course! Maybe get Critical Meat released here before we finish the follow up. If you’re dead eager to get it, it was released in Japan in February; you can order it on import from Amazon. As an afterthought, if you were stranded on a desert island and you could take only things with you, what would it be and why? Sam: That Leanne off Shipwrecked, and probably something trite like Shakespeare or summat. www.myspace.com/youslut1
words: Alex Kocan
The Dead City Presidents formed in 2005 out of the ashes of former band Mia, taking on the bass player from The Hellset Orchestra. Since that time they have played live regularly, built up a following and released their EP, Have Gun Will Travel last year to good reviews. The band members are Tom Walsh (guitar/ vocals), Mark Bagguley (drums), Jamie Floodgate (guitars) and Dan Frazer (bass guitar). I spoke to Mark and Tom from the band about their recent EP, musical influences and their claims to fame. Read on! How did The Dead City Presidents come about? Mark: Jamie, Tom and I used to be in band called Mia. It was, creatively, an amazing time for us. But eventually we kind of went a bit stale and wanted to start afresh; new name, new sound, new hair. So we got together with Dan from The Hellset Orchestra to write some new material. Where did the name come from? Mark: It’s an amalgamation of words we liked. It’s the hardest thing in the world to find a good name. It took many hours of joke
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names flying around before we came up with something half decent. Describe your sound? Tom: It sounds like a commercial version of post-rock crossed with film soundtracks. Mark: Someone once categorised us as postvox. You can hear traces of grunge in there, but also I think we genuinely bring something new to the table. Who are your musical influences? Mark: Nirvana, Radiohead, Minus The Bear, Bjork. Tom: Faith No More, film soundtracks and classical stuff. The Ninth Gate soundtrack is amazing! Sigur Ros, Tom Waits and especially The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Tell us about your EP Have Gun Will Travel. What’s your favourite track? Mark: When me and Tom were fifteen or sixteen I lent him my Murder In Mind subscription magazines. That whole era of Middle American Serial Killers has been something that has inspired us in some of our songs. We’re not mental, but there is that kind of theme going on.
My favourite track is The Great British Suburbia, because it’s my favourite to play live. Tom: Inspired By A Killer is the one I’m most proud of. It has soprano vocalist Justine Atkins on it. She did an amazing job bringing the track to life. We tried to use as many real instruments as possible. Amy Nicholson (Hellset Orchestra) played cello and bass recorder for us too so it has a very organic sound.
Do you have a claim to fame? Mark: I once appeared on BBC 1 for The Clothes Show in 1985 as a child model. Tom: One of my mum’s cousins used to be married to Lars Ulrich’s brother, true story.
What are the best and worst gigs you’ve played? Mark: I really enjoyed Rock City, it’s always a good sound on stage. I didn’t enjoy The Shed in Leicester, but then no one was there!
Who are your favourite Nottingham bands? Mark: Lo-Ego, Love Ends Disaster, Her Name Is Calla, O Lovely Lie. Tom: There are lots of really good bands in Nottingham actually but no one seems to really get anywhere, except perhaps Amusement Parks on Fire.
Do you have any pre-gig rituals before you go on stage? Tom: Getting a little bit too drunk for my own good. Mark: A pre-gig shit! Best album ever? Mark: OK Computer Radiohead. Tom: Angel Dust Faith No More.
Favourite hangouts? Mark: The Orange Tree and The Moot. Tom: The Thurland Hall and Oceana.
What annoys you about the local scene? Mark: That local band mentality, with some bands thinking the be all and end all is to get signed! Tom: Anyone who thinks that having lots of friends on myspace means anything! www.thedeadcitypresidents.com
words: Jared Wilson The Magic Numbers are a four piece from Ealing with two studio albums under their belts - their critically acclaimed eponymous debut and last year’s follow-up Those the Brokes. Interestingly the group consists of two sets of brothers and sisters - Romeo (guitar and vocals) and Michele Stodart (bass and vocals) and Sean (drums) and Angela Gannon (melodica, percussion, glockenspiel and vocals). They’ve been booked as one of the main acts to open the brand new Market Square at the end of March. We caught up with Angela for a chat on the phone as they toured in Europe… How was your day today..? It’s been good. We’ve been walking around Munich, which has been cool. You might be able to hear Damien Rice soundchecking his distortion vocal mic in the background. We’re playing with him tonight at a venue called Herkulessaal, it’s a really nice old building that often hosts classical concerts. So what’s it like being in a band of two brothers and sisters? Anything like Abba..? I dunno. Obviously I’ve never been in Abba so I can’t really compare. But it’s quite easy for us in a way because when you know someone so well that you can automatically be yourself all the time, which is pretty cool. So do you ever have Noel and Liam Gallagher style fall-outs with your brother? Oh yeah, totally. Sean and I have huge fights day in day out. It’s pretty funny most of the time and when we become friends again we can always laugh about it. I hear that the band got together at a Catholic high school? Well… Romeo went to school with mine and Sean’s older brother and he went to see Sean’s band play and thought he was a good drummer. They started a band and worked at it together for about ten years. Then they decided to get me and Michele in the band and since then it’s been the four of us. It’s pretty cool. I read on the internet that Romeo and Michelle’s mother is an opera singer with her own TV show in Trinidad? I think that whole thing has got a bit out of scale. She was an opera singer who appeared on a TV talent show and was asked back three weeks in a row. She’s never fully delved into the
whole thing with us, but when anyone asks her about it she always plays the whole thing down. So have you guys ever thought of getting her in for a track? I dunno. I guess that’s down to Romeo and Michelle if they want to. It could be a fun idea… You got a lot of press by walking out of a Top of the Pops gig just before you were due to go on after host Richard Bacon said insulting things about you (he introduced the band as “a fat melting pot of talent”)… It was a decision that we made at the time. He said what he said, so we decided that we couldn’t be bothered to do it and wanted to have a day off instead. The whole thing did get blown out of proportion. There was nothing going on in the news that week – all the politicians must have been on holiday – and it seemed like that was the only thing that happened at all. So what’s your personal favourite of your own tracks? From the first album it was This Love, I’m just really proud to be part of that song. On this album it’s between Goodnight and All I See. When I first heard Goodnight I told Romeo it’s the best song he’d ever written. You’ve played across the whole world. What are your favourite cities and venues to play..? The Barrowlands in Glasgow is definitely one we love. As soon as you walk into that building it has the most amazing feeling about it. Every gig we have done there has been amazing and the crowd always go mental. Along the way you’ve supported quite a few big names like U2, The Flaming Lips, The Chemical Brothers and Brian Wilson. Any tales of rock and roll excess to share with us? Not really. We’re usually quite well behaved I guess. The one thing about U2 was that we didn’t get to see or meet them much. The whole scale of the production was huge - I couldn’t quite believe how big the stage was. The Flaming Lips are possibly the nicest bunch of people you’ll ever meet and totally amazing to see live. We did that song (Close Your Eyes) with the Chemical Brothers and I remember walking up to the studio to record it. Michele and I were quite relaxed, but Romeo was getting really freaked out and couldn’t believe he was about to sing on one of their tracks.
Do you feel honoured to be opening Nottingham’s lovely new Market Square? Oh yeah, definitely. Every gig we’ve ever played in Nottingham has been great, so we’re really honoured to be offered this chance. It’s a real pleasure to be asked back to open it up and it’s all outside and free isn’t it? We always love playing free gigs… it means everyone can get to come along and have a listen. So what message would you send out to people coming to the gig? Well, we want everyone to join in. They must sing along and clap when we clap. We just want people to go mad when we’re playing a loud one and to go with it when we’re playing a quiet one. Just let your hair down and go with it. If you could get anyone in to play on the day with you who would you choose? I’m a big Janis Joplin fan, so I’d try and get her and Johnny Cash in. What was the last album that you bought? I bought the new Shins album Wincing the Night Away. I haven’t listened to it yet, but I need to. What was the last book you read? I’m currently reading Cash, Johnny Cash’s biography. What was the last thing that made you laugh? Usually one of the crew members acting silly. It’s a regular occurrence... What was the last thing that made you cry? I can’t actually remember. Sorry… Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Get yourself prepared for a right good night in Nottingham. Get drunk, let your hair down and enjoy yourself… The Magic Numbers play a free gig in the Market Square on Saturday 31 March 2007. www.themagicnumbers.net
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words: Tommy Goodall Black Vinyl Heart describe their songs as music for ‘hearts and souls that harbour fragile hope’. Classically trained singer Lisa de’Ville fronts the band alongside Johnny Coolin (bass), Tommy Guns (guitar), Melanie Lawrence (viola) and Andy McAlister (drums). When performing an all out set they sound like a rich man’s Evanescence. However, we’ve asked them to strip it down for their LeftLion Unplugged gig at The Malt Cross on Tuesday 7 April. We put some questions to Lisa…
What are your favourite hangouts in Nottingham? The Malt Cross, The Orange Tree and The Rescue Rooms because of the twirly fries. Yum!
What have you been up to recently? The past couple of months have seen us working on our songs and overall sound to achieve a lean mean fighting Black Vinyl Heart machine!
What’s going to be big in music-wise in 2007? Hopefully 2007 will see the emergence of more female musicians and more music with something exciting and passionate going on. I am utterly sick to death of this bland NME watered down middle class white boy crap like Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, The Kooks etc. There’s some incredible, creative music being made out there and I think we all have to look a bit harder to find it, otherwise it may be lost forever and we will be stuck with this James Blunt shit.
How are you planning to take your music and career forward in 2007? We’ve been offered two management deals, so we plan on discussing that further. I’ve been writing a lot recently and we plan on spending the next few months working on new songs and ideas before playing live again. Any tricks up your sleeve to get signed? Mel our Viola player is going to strip naked at our gigs. What are the best and worst things about stripping down your sound for this gig? There’s always been something quite beautiful about the simplicity of a voice and an acoustic guitar, with nothing else to hide behind. I love the intimacy of acoustic gigs. I get to sing my little heart out and try out new ideas. If there is to be a minus it would be that I can’t jump around and be as physical as I can with a full band. It also means I can’t blame the drummer if I make a mistake… What’s your favourite song? I’ve got so many. The Aeroplane Flies High by the Smashing Pumpkins. Perfect Day Elise by PJ Harvey. Lucky One by Gemma Hayes, Samson by Regina Spektor and Only Shallow by My Bloody Valentine would all rank pretty high.
Who are the best upcoming musical talents in Nottingham? I like what Felix are doing… it’s very beautiful and different. There’s some fantastic stuff going on in Notts right now, like First Blood and The Kull.
What was the last thing that made you laugh? I went to see Nine Inch Nails in March and their guitarist threw his mike stand in the air. It flew about six foot high and then landed on one of the roadies. I burst out laughing. What was the last thing that made you cry? I had my car broke into a couple of weeks ago and had a generally bad week. I got home and heard Samson by Regina Spektor and just started bawling. Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Go with your heart. The heart is always right, the mind is just a creation of society. The heart is unpolluted. On a lighter note. Keep supporting local musicians, try and get out to as many gigs a week as you can afford and of course keep reading LeftLion because its ace! www.myspace.com/blackvinylheartmusic
Soul Man words: Tommy Goodall
You’ll be playing with Tim McDonald in May. How is he getting on down there? Alcohol, fags and women. He’s settling in well.
How is life down in London treating you? Any noticeable differences to Notts? London differs in the amount of people from all over the world that live here. It’s a very live-hard party-hard type of place.
How have you changed as a musician since you were in Bosco? I am no longer on the indie band thing really its all a bit boring now and I think I’ve grown out of it. I’ve matured… now I like listening to bells and things.
What venues have you been playing down there? Any interest from labels etc? Its just loads of scenes really. The Indie scene in London is shit as it is in all areas of the country. Very dry and uninspiring. The folk scene is very laid back and quite interesting… a very reflective kind of vibe and quite thoughtful I reckon. I’ve been playing a few good venues with great reputations, and getting positive receptions and applause.
If you could get anyone in to play with you, who would you choose? Wyclef from The Fugees.
Is London the best place to get signed? Would you recommend it to other Nottingham bands? London is a great place to meet new people and it has a wealth of musicians from all corners of everything that exists. However you don’t need to move to London to get a record deal. You need talent and a vision. Are you still involved with First Blood? Yep. The Blood drop agenda is being prepared and finalised with a chilled and easy vibe. I want the youth of Nottingham to listen to 1st blood and embrace it for its positive vibe and charm. It’s melodies and lyrics are pure and true. Pete makes music
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that inspires you to live the dream. To be who you are and live and pursue your true purpose in life… it gives me these things anyway.
Liam Bailey has been on the Notts scene for a while now, so you may have seen him live singing with 1st Blood, Bosco, The Soul Parade or acoustically by himself. He recently moved down to London to further his career and life experience, but we’re dragging him back up this way for LeftLion Unplugged at the Malt Cross on Tuesday 20 May. We caught up with him to see what he’s learned in his time in the smoke…
What do you listen to on the stereo at home? Concrete Jungle by The Wailers Describe your average day... Playing music, serving pints and trying be positive. What are your favourite hangouts in Notts? It’s getting too trendy in Notts for me but I do like going to The Old Moot in Sneinton. Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Please let’s try to open our eyes more and more to the future of this world we live in. Am I alone in thinking we are creating generations of junkies and robots? Am I alone when I witness our quality of life rotting. Are we being lied to? www.myspace.com/bahinyon
Considering I only turned eighteen in January this year it’s probably quite worrying how well I know my real ales. Chris Holmes, former chairman of CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) began his Tynemill adventure in 1977 and has since seen his creation become something of an empire in the Midlands boasting twenty pubs and also the award-winning Castle Rock Brewery. Having whiled away many an hour in these fine establishments it was with great pleasure that I met the man behind the beers, Chris Holmes… words: Samuel Rogers photo: Dom Henry
When you first opened the Old Kings Arms in Newark thirty years ago did you ever imagine you’d achieve success on the scale you have? No, because it was never the intention. The intention then was to prove a point and to break monopolies in Newark as there was no real ale available. I had the opportunity to open a pub and having a simple free-house in the middle of a town with a row of hand pumps serving real ales was a revolutionary concept then. Well, we’re sat in the Canalhouse which is Tynemill’s latest acquisition. Another nice building and location but what can we expect from it as a venue? As a venue? I don’t think it’s ever really been exploited properly to be honest. The room upstairs is perfect for small gigs really with a capacity of 120. It was only in July last year that we got control of it - we’d always had a minority share before then. I’d like to see some music here, it’s definitely big enough to put live music on. We’ll wait ‘til Easter but that’s the plan. Tynemill pubs tend to be quite different to each other inside. What makes them all individually so successful? Well…some of this stuff sounds pretentious, but the core philosophy was always about providing choice. There’s now a big choice of genuine continental beers, a good wine list and our own chefs make all the food from fresh. We also let the managers have a lot of say in what goes on, so their personality, taste and preferences are reflected in what we do. In our pubs we don’t have any toys or machines and we’re very strict on bad behaviour. I don’t care how much money someone has to spend, if they are going to upset other customers we don’t want them. Nottingham isn’t exactly always renowned for its sophistication but real pubs and real ale attract large numbers… Well they do but we’re almost a niche market now. When I started it was just about running pubs but now pubs are almost unusual as a lot of places in town now are more trendy bars or theme bars particularly aimed at the young. What’s your opinion of more corporate and soulless places like Wetherspoons?
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I’ve got a lot of respect for what Wetherspoons did in the early days when they started and I will never publicly criticise anyone else in industry. But I do think the local pub industry becoming corporate is not in the public interest. One of the problems has been that city centres have become no go areas for people over 35… it’s either too noisy or they just feel a bit out of place. What do you think it is that stops Tynemill becoming more commercial or corporate? Well I suppose our own approach because… I don’t want it to be seen as popular. As someone once said, “not many people want to drink in a brand.” That’s why I like going to places like Amsterdam, Brussels or Prague where if you go out for a drink virtually all the bars and restaurants are all individually operated and owned. (A barmaid drops a glass in the background)… That’s another 50 pence down the drain. (laughs) If you could pick one beer to represent Nottingham and the taste of it’s ale drinkers what would it be? Well, what do you think I’m going to say? Harvest Pale. It’s our most successful beer by a long way now. More so than the Gold? Oh yes. Harvest Pale is hugely successful and not just in Nottingham. It gets all round the country. If you say ‘beers of Nottingham’ though, I think it’s a bit of a joke. Since Hardy and Hanson’s closed we’re now the largest brewery in Nottingham... which seems just daft really. Do you swap beers with other local breweries like Magpie? We’re using Magpie and we use Mallards. We’re very happy to support all the microbreweries in our area and we make a point of selling micro beers. We don’t feature any of them as permanent installations but they’re regularly coming round on the guests. Our customers expect there to be a variety of different beers on. What’s your opinion of lager? Seems a bit weird to me when someone comes into the Stratford and goes for the Carling Extra Cold. We now sell lots of lager in our pubs. Carling and Grolsch
are the only UK ones, but some of our places will have Staropramen on or Nastro Azzuro or Bitburger. I think Grolsch is a good, well made beer that to me tastes very similar to if you buy it in Holland. I think Carling is the best of the UK mainstream lagers. There’s a big market for that and it would be very arrogant of us not to sell that sort of product. But what we do find is that a lot of our customers drink lager in their early twenties and then move onto drinking ales because palates do mature. Drinking real beer is a bit more demanding than drinking relatively flavourless lager. What would you say to anyone having a go at brewing their own? I think it’s great because if people start to get an interest in making beer than it makes them more interested and they’re more likely to go out and try different drinks when they go to the pub. The essence of professional brewing is consistency. Alright, some final few questions; what is your favourite beer of all time? My favourite beer of all time is Boddingtons circa 1965. I’m from Manchester and that was when Boddingtons was an independent brewer. The old bitter that was produced in the 60’s and 70’s was fantastic. Unfortunately, the beer that is now branded as Boddingtons bears no resemblance. Is there anything else you’d like to say to LeftLion readers? Only to keep doing what you are doing. Go out and experience live entertainment in Nottingham and go to watch movies at the Broadway as opposed to the big chains. It’s essential for us that people go out. We’re not really competing with the pub and bar down the road, we’re competing for the disposable income people have and if they’re spending it all on DVD’s and takeaway food and sitting at home then that’s not good for any of us. What we need is a vibrant industry where people go out to eat and drink and be entertained…
www.tynemill.co.uk
Lucy Porter doesn’t so much do stand up as have a nice chat using a microphone, and with sell out tours and glowing reviews from the Edinburgh fringe, she doesn’t do it half badly. She’s even made it to the West End, performing alongside Christian Slater in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. We spoke to her about heckling, cock-crazed audiences and whether to perform in front of your mum. words: Michael Simon How do you sum up your act? Fluffy nonsense! Fluffy nonsense, but fun. People say you have a conversational tone, is there a big difference between your routine and having a chat with someone? No, it’s pretty much ‘what you see is what you get’. I wish I was brainy enough to have come up with a stage persona which is different to my real life ways. I talk a bit faster. Do you change your routine for different audiences? Yeah, it’s different every night, it’s so affected by what the audience is like. That’s what makes live stand-up such a beautiful thing. The people in the room really dictate what the show’s going to be like, and I just like having a bit of variety. It keeps it interesting for me as much as for anybody else. How was supporting Puppetry of the Penis? Fun, but very peculiar. The audiences were ninety nine percent female and initially they weren’t happy about seeing another woman on stage. What they were really after, if I can say, was cock. They’d boo me on stage; every night I’d walk out to this chorus of ‘Get off!’ That toughened me up, every night I had to turn that around from hatred to love. It was very handy to do that. Do you think people still have stereotypical attitudes to female comedians? It’s getting better all the time. I think it’s not a natural job for a woman, but it’s not a natural job for anyone really. I think women don’t like to be laughed at as much as men do, and I think people are a bit nervous laughing at a woman, because we can be a bit psycho. I think blokes are a bit scared to laugh at women in case they turn around and say ‘Are you laughing at my arse? Are you saying I’m fat or something?’ I’ve been doing the circuit for eleven years, and in that time so many brilliant women have come through. When I first started I got the idea that sometimes audiences would sigh in disappointment if a woman walked onto the stage, whereas now I don’t think they do.
Were those some of your most hostile crowds? When I first started doing comedy in Manchester I did some of the working men’s clubs, which when you’re a twenty two year old girl and you’re not a stripper is no place to be. They couldn’t work out at all what I was doing, and it was totally the wrong kind of comedy for the audience. They just hated me so much it was unbelievable. Have you ever heckled? I did once at a gig. I was a bit drunk, to be honest and I was talking very loudly. It was this American act who hadn’t been over long, and he was talking about air plane food and I ended up correcting him, loudly, when he got a few things wrong. That was quite embarrassing, and I realized how scary it is being on the other side. I try not to be intimidating because I’ve had it happen to me, and I didn’t like it. I read that you have an audience member be your bitch as part of your act... I only pick on people who seem willing to join in. I did once ride someone around the stage like a pony, but he quite enjoyed it I think. Would you change your material if you knew your mum was in the audience? Well yes, to be honest, which is a terrible admission. My mum’s never seen me do stand-up and she was going to come to my show in Edinburgh, but at the last minute we both decided it might be a bit embarrassing, because there are some things you don’t want to say in front of your own mother. Do you get recognised from having been on the telly? No, I always think I’m getting recognised but it turns out that I look like a lot of Irish girls. People always say ‘I think I know you,’ and I think, ‘finally, recognition off the telly’, and they go ‘are you Bernadette Devlin, did you go to school with my sister?’ But I wouldn’t really want to be recognised so it’s quite good. I don’t do that much telly, so it would be a very nerdy comedy fan who recognised me.
Comedians seem to polarise themselves by class, so which side of the fence do you think you sit on? It’s fascinating what’s happened to class in this country in the last ten years or so, and comics are now in the minority who still identify themselves as working class. It’s hilarious when you get posh comics who affect a working class accent. I’m lower middle I would say. I went to a nice girl’s convent school, not paid for, but nice. Though for a time we did get free school dinners, which was the sign that you were a bit poor. So make it up for yourself. How did you choose to do One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest? That wasn’t really much of a choice; someone said ‘do you want to do it?’ and I tend to say yes to everything. I just don’t see the point in saying no, really. You should take everything that’s offered to you and see if you like it. I only had three lines, and it was fab. It was the most glamorous thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, it was everything that you imagine being a West End luvvie is like, out every night drinking champagne cocktails with Burt Reynolds. Things you think are going to be amazing are normally quite underwhelming but that absolutely lived up to it. Could you tell us a joke? A woman’s looking in the mirror and she says to her husband, ‘I’m looking old, fat and ugly, give me a compliment,’ and he says to her ‘Well, your eyesight is spot on.’ You can’t get better than that, can you?
Lucy Porter’s show The Good Life is at the Lakeside on Thursday 12 April. www.lakesidearts.org.uk www.lucyporter.info
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Safety in numbers Community Protection Officer
£16,137-£20,235 Part time/weekend work available Nottingham is a great city and it needs great people like you to make it an even safer place to live. Have you got what it takes to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in Nottingham to reassure local people and to help make our streets and communities safer? Community Protection Officers work for Nottingham City Council, in partnership with the police and other agencies. Every day will be different. It’s a life of variety and challenge - and your professionalism is essential. It is a high profile career and is one of the most exciting jobs in the city. We need people who can make a real difference. We need unique people for a unique role.
Interested? Contact us on 0115 915 6509 or email Jobs@nottinghamcity.gov.uk We encourage applicants from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, in particular we are currently under represented by female members of the Asian community.
England’s Meadows words: Nathan Miller
Shane Meadows’ This Is England is riding towards a screen near you on a tide of festival success and critical buzz. We look at the Uttoxeter-born guerrilla’s back catalogue and find out what makes the Midlands’ greatest living auteur (and LeftLion’s first ever cover star) tick. For over forty years, Shane Meadows was pretty much the only film industry Nottingham had. Before he fulfilled the promise of his hour-long calling card Smalltime with Twenty Four Seven in 1997, no-one had made a proper film which was set and filmed in Notts since Saturday Night and Sunday Morning gave Albert Finney his big break in 1960. Indeed, until Chris Cooke’s One for the Road in 2003, Meadows was the only person to make any more. During this time he completed his ‘Nottingham Trilogy’ with TwentyFourSeven, A Room for Romeo Brass (regarded as one of the best British films of the 90s by the tiny handful of people who actually saw it) and Once Upon a Time in the Midlands (certainly has its highlights but generally regarded as a bit of a dog’s dinner). Since then, Meadows’ locations have moved out of the suburbs and estates of Hood Town, but only as far as Matlock, for the back-to-form revenge drama Dead Man’s Shoes and Grimsby, the backdrop for parts of the small coastal town in This Is England. There’s a particularly East Midlands suburban sensibility in all these films, rooted by more than just accent. Although they look amazing, being shot with real care and vision – Danny Cohen’s excellent photography on This Is England is no exception – all Meadows’ films are grounded by the lack of glamour in their surroundings and shot through with the essential crapness of growing up in an unimportant area with nothing much to do, livened only by the silly jokes you have with your mates and the occasional flash of ridiculous colour that passes through. One of the first fundamentals of scriptwriting is ‘write what you know,’ advice Meadows has been keen to take and This Is England has been described as his most autobiographical film yet. The director has, in interviews and commentaries, described his shock and disgust at witnessing a beating during his skinhead youth which he felt responsible for encouraging to happen. Whilst the film is not a literal dramatisation of that incident, it does tell that story, a rite of passage fable which also forms the basis of Romeo Brass, Twenty Four Seven and (chopped and remixed to fit the revenge genre template) Dead Man’s Shoes. All these films focus on a friendship between a teenage boy (or boys) and an older mentor figure. As the boy is
drawn out of whatever imperfect domestic state he starts the film in, tensions build toward a distressing, innocence-rupturing moment of violence, perpetrated by the mentor and observed by the boy. What makes these stories more than moralistic TV specials is partly the ambiguity of the mentors’ natures. At first sight, some appear good (Bob Hoskins’s Darcy), some appear bad (Stephen Graham’s Combo) and some seem just weird (Paddy Considine’s Morrell), but whilst Meadows never totally absolves them, they’re all presented in a spirit of understanding, with recognition of the weakness and loneliness that these men carry with them. But not all the lessons being given are negative ones; by the time of the violent catharsis each child has learned enough to reject his teacher and become his own man. The one film in Meadows’ catalogue which does not seem influenced by that formative moment is Once Upon a Time in the Midlands. But even here the story (a mother and daughter having to choose between a loyal-but-foolish stepfather and a roguishbut-unpleasant ‘real’ dad) is still concerned with the nature and failure of masculinity, an over-arching theme in all of Meadows’ work. In Shane’s world, men are proud but pathetic; too happygo-lucky, busy settling scores or just too damaged to take any meaningful responsibility for their lives. Women, on the other hand, are usually sensible, protective and able to see past any bullshit and cut right to the heart of a situation. It’s clear that the boys in Meadows’ films don’t have to grow up to be bad men, but it’s less certain that any of them ever grow up at all. Ultimately though, what really marks out Meadows’ talent is his ability to consistently coax astonishing performances out of newcomers, non-actors, soap stars and children. Meadows started out making short films starring friends and neighbours in Sneinton. The big lesson this taught him was that getting your friends and neighbours to improvise is easier than getting them to learn lines. It’s quicker than sitting around for six months trying to write a script which won’t sound as natural, warm or funny as the things people come up with when they don’t what they’re going to say next. Meadows still uses this
approach, starting each film with forty pages of plot details, the story is then fleshed out and developed by the actors through improvisation. Creating a strong communal gang spirit amongst the cast is an important part of making this approach work; Meadows’ best results have usually come when the cast have been living with each other during filming. It’s not surprising that a repertory company of sorts has formed around his productions. This Is England marks the third appearance in a Meadows film by both Frank Harper and Andrew Shim (interviewed overleaf) and a second for Jo Hartley and Vicky McClure (also interviewed overleaf). Paddy Considine, an old college friend of Meadows, has given two of the best performances of his career in Dead Man’s Shoes and Romeo Brass. That sort of supportive, creative atmosphere is also the perfect environment to get great performances out of kids. To make a coming of age story work, you need to be able to build your films around actors still in their teens and Meadows’ has had a particularly successful collaboration with Ian Smith’s Carlton Television Junior Workshop, graduates of which include Shim, McClure, former LeftLion interviewee Toby Kebbell and pretty much everybody in TwentyFourSeven who wasn’t called Hoskins. Smith himself has a cameo in This Is England as one of Shaun Fields’ teachers, whereas Thomas Turgoose, who plays Shaun himself, was found in an arcade in Grimsby rather than an improvisation class in Nottingham and had never acted before. But his brilliant performance fills nearly every frame of the film - a testament to the close relationship developed on set. “I could see myself in him,” Meadows has said of Turgoose. “There were teachers at school who said I’d end up in prison, there were only bad things out there for me, yet somehow some people believed in me and I actually made something of myself.” This Is England is the quintessential Shane Meadows picture and also his most mature film yet. After mastering growing up on film, he’s finally come of age.
This is England is released on Friday 27 April. www.shanemeadows.co.uk www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
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This Is Acting…
“well, you know where it starts and you know where it needs to end up”. It’s a really good way of working.
Nottingham’s own Andrew Shim and Vicky McClure both play major parts in the new Shane Meadows film This Is England. The movie has been described by critics as the directors most autobiographical film, with Meadows admitting that much of the plot (which revolves around a gang of young skinheads) is taken from his own experiences. Even the name of the main character, Shaun Fields, offers a major clue to this identity. Andrew and Vicky are both products of the Central Drama school on Stoney Street and, despite their tender ages, are quickly becoming regular faces in Meadows films. We caught up with them for a natter about the film in Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem… words: Ian Kingsbury photos: Jon Rouston So, you’re back working with Shane Meadows. Can you tell us about your new film This is England? Andrew: A lot of it was filmed in Nottingham. It’s based around a young lad called Shaun and a skinhead gang that me and Vicky are part of. It’s set it in the six week school holidays. Life’s not too great for Shaun, he lost his dad in the Falklands war, he’s getting bullied at school and he falls out with his mum. Then he stumbles across our skinhead gang and we take a shine to him. He’s about thirteen and we take him under our wing and Vicky and her gang of girls kit him out. It basically goes from happy, pissing-about type adventures, until an older member of the gang (Combo) comes out of prison after a couple of years inside. He’s been introduced to the National Front whilst in prison. So it all goes a bit sinister? Andrew: Yeah, it’s all about that transitional period. At first being a skinhead was basically a fashion statement, but then the National Front moved in, and the BNP, and a lot of skinheads turned to racism. Vicky: Shaun’s a vulnerable character and when Combo comes along, Shaun sees him as a father figure and puts his trust in him. There’s quite a nice scene in the film where he spits on his hand and rubs it as if to say, ‘we’re together now’.
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Like blood brothers, but more spit brothers, obviously. Andrew: Yeah, Combo basically fills his head with a load of shit. He splits the gang in two, one side goes down the National Front path and the other, including mine and Vicky’s characters, go the other way. Unfortunately Shaun tags onto Combo’s side of things, until he gets out of his depth and realises that things aren’t right. Shaun Fields isn’t that much of a leap from Shane Meadows. Do you know how far the film is based on Shane’s childhood? Vicky: I’m not sure if all the scenes were drawn directly from his experiences, but when Shane created the film and characters he told me that the girls that were in gangs when he was growing up were as hard as the blokes. In the film my character Lol is certainly not effeminate at all. The gang is quite similar to the one Shane was in when he was young, and each character in the film has very strong characteristics that I’m sure were drawn from real people. Andrew: It’s not a mirror image of his own life, but it is based around a period in his life when he had to make certain decisions and was faced with uncomfortable situations. All the characters have tough decisions to face. I suppose it’s a coming of age film at heart.
Vicky, you had to shave your hair off for the part… Vicky: We were in this pub when Shane said to me ‘this character I’m thinking of for you is a real rough, skinhead type of girl’, and I just thought ‘yeah, whatever’. I didn’t think anything of it and then it kind of clicked that I’d have to do it. The night before I woke up in a cold sweat, panicking. Andrew: She did! She woke up crying. Vicky: When it came to the day, all the girls in the room were in tears and it was quite dramatic. When I look back on it now, it was actually really liberating and I’m glad I did it. Watching the film back, if I hadn’t shaved my hair off, it would have drastically changed my character. Andrew: We were down in London doing some interviews and someone actually asked her if she’d shave her hair off for a photo shoot! Andrew, most people will know you as Romeo Brass from A Room for Romeo Brass. That film has a very improvised feel to it. Is that how Shane likes to work? Andrew: To be honest, Shane always works like that. He basically uses the script as a guide. You read through your scene in rehearsal, but we put the script aside and he’ll basically say
Is it quite scary as an actor? Andrew: Yeah, man, I don’t know how many other directors would work like that… Vicky: For me and Andrew, a lot of our training at Central TV workshop was based around improvisation. Obviously Shimmy’s worked on the majority of Shane’s films, so doing it at a young age (he was 13 when he played Romeo Brass) and then again in This is England, for us it’d probably be scarier using a script, knowing you’ve got to hit your marks. I’ve worked like that, where you’ve got to be technically spot-on. So when you’re given freedom and choice, it’s probably easier for us. Andrew: The only thing we found really hard in terms of improvising for this film was that there’d be seven or eight people in the same scene and everyone wants to be noticed and tries to fit their line in. You get a lot of overlapping and it doesn’t always work. Vicky: God, it must be a nightmare to edit. Andrew, you were in an animated version of the Raymond Briggs classic, Fungus The Bogeyman? Andrew: Yeah, wow, no-one’s ever asked me about that. Basically, it was a cartoon I did about four years ago. The BBC and a Canadian company got together to adapt the book into an animation and I played a character called Grot. I had to go out to Canada for the filming. It was great! I was 19 and living in Canada for a couple of months, in a hotel. I provided the character’s movements and voice. Actually, I can tell you this, it was one of the first productions ever to use motion capture. I had to wear a skin-tight suit with balls all over it, like motion sensors. You could actually watch yourself on a monitor with the CGI character put over the top. I notice that you both starred as ‘man’ and ‘woman’ in something called The Stairwell. Can you tell us a bit about that? Andrew: Man and woman! (laughs). Vicky: Shane (Meadows) was asked to make a 15 minute short film on a Nokia mobile phone. Andrew: Were we in here again? Vicky: Yeah, we were in this very pub trying to come up with some ideas. I think we went through so many stupid ones until we came up with the set-up of a French girl and a man who bump into each other on some stairs, job done. So was that actually filmed on a mobile phone?
Vicky: I think so, maybe it wasn’t, but I think it was meant to be. God, we’re giving away too much information here. Andrew: It was good that was. It was about £200 for half an hours work. What else have we done? Vicky: Well, the majority of my work has been in the theatre, through Central TV Workshop. I did do a two part drama with Ray Winstone and Adrian Dunbar, called Tough Love and also a short film called Birthday with a guy called Johan Myers. Andrew: He was in Romeo Brass as well. Vicky: Yeah, he was the gay guy who worked with Ladine in the laundrette. Have you dabbled in the theatre Andrew? Andrew: Yeah. Funnily enough, me and Vicky played a brother and sister in the last play we did together. It’s really strange, we always seem to end up playing siblings, we did in Romeo Brass as well. Vicky: And now we’re together as a couple. Sounds like a bit of a Freudian soup… Andrew: (laughs). No, I like theatre, but I find it much harder than film. There’s no room for mistakes and if you do go wrong, you have to think on your feet. Vicky: I think theatre gives you a good grounding. It gives you the technical skills, I suppose in the same way that a trained ballet dancer has the basic technique to dance in any style. If you can master the theatre, when you go onto film and TV you’ve got the basics under your belt. I think the transition from TV and film to theatre is much harder than from theatre to TV and film. You guys, Shane Meadows and others like Paddy Considine seem to have hit on a winning formula. You work so well together. Tell us about how it all came about… Andrew: I went to the Carlton Junior workshop, when Vicky was there, but I’d only been there for about six months. I was kind of pushed into it by my grandma, because my sister (Shauna) went there and really loved it. I went there but didn’t really take to it. I was just about to leave, and I’m sure I said to my grandma on the Monday that I was going to leave, but on the Wednesday I heard about an audition that was coming up for a film by a guy called Shane Meadows. So I thought “oh, I may as well stay for this.” So I went to the audition and got the part of Romeo Brass. After that I just became really good friends with Shane. What else have you been up to? Andrew: I’ve done bits and bobs. A while ago I actually did a reconstruction for Crimewatch UK (laughs). I was in a barbers shop not long after it went out, and a guy who I knew, who’d
recently been released from prison, said ‘I saw you on that Crimewatch, driving that Mitsubishi. You know the geezer you were playing, I was actually in prison with him.’ It was quite a famous case, a group of guys were doing a job at a Carphone warehouse store when someone asked them what they were doing so they beat him up with a wheel brace, stuck a circular saw into his stomach and tried to run him over with their car afterwards. I met the victim actually, he was a big geezer, with a big old stomach and that was the reason he survived, because the saw couldn’t get past the fat through to his vital organs. But I played the geezer who drove the car. It was brilliant, I got to drive a Mitsubishi Evo 6 to drive. It was the fastest thing I’d ever driven. What are you pair doing at the moment? Promoting This Is England I guess? Vicky: That’s right. I think it’s being shown at a film festival in Bradford soon. Andrew: Yeah, that’s gonna be a tough one, because of the subject matter of the film, the racist theme. We’re going to the festival, so it’ll be interesting to see the reactions. Like I say, there’s a particular scene in an Asian corner shop with Combo and his gang. It’s a fantastic scene, but it’s a bit tough to watch, so we’ll see how it goes down. Vicky: It’s a real shame that the film’s been given an 18 certificate, because it’s a film that’s been made with kids under 15 and it’s about growing up and coming of age and all that sort of thing. I think it needs to be seen by that young audience. Andrew: I can’t believe they’ve given it an 18 certificate. Like Vicky said, it needs to be seen by 15, 16 year olds because they can learn from it. It’s better to see these themes on the screen than learn the hard way by making mistakes in your own life. Vicky: Kids are taught about World War Two, the Middle Ages, all these important points in history, but they don’t know about more recent history that their parents lived through and has shaped what they are. A documentary on MoreFour the other night took the film to a school and got some fifteen year olds to watch it and they said that the language and issues are basically what they experience all the time. You just want to say to them, ‘listen to your audience’.
This is England is released in cinemas on Friday 27 April
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Here at LeftLion we’ll use any excuse to showcase the musical talent in Hood Town. So when we chatted to the Rescue Rooms about doing another gig at their place and they offered us Friday 13th April we got very excited indeed. It’s going to be a late one and hopefully a little bit spooky too. Break out your Frankenstein masks and pointy hats for a party LeftLion-style. words: Rebecca Kielty Old Basford
Dan: Thingland Studio! Home of Old Basford. Ceri: We like The Golden Fleece. It’s just over the road from Thingland, which is probably the place we spend the most time. We go where the music is good.
What can people expect from the Rescue Rooms show? Chris: Real music played by great artists from different musical genres of the Notts scene. Ceri: From us in particular, kick-ass boogie blues. Old Basford on top form with lots of new tunes and the addition of slide guitar into the band.
Music/games/dvds: Rental place or library? Chris: The library is where me gran goes to find her Mills and Boons books. Dan: I still owe £5 on me library card, so it’s the corner shop for me. Ceri: Is this a real question?
How will you be getting to the show? Chris: The Number 13 bus down Castle Boulevard. Dan: Riding a heavily armed bipedal red horse. Ceri: In a borrowed hearse. Wikipedia says most of New Basford is in fact Victorian. So what’s old Basford? Dan: Contemporary! Heavy, blues boogie with soul. We are in the now. Chris: When I was a kid I would go fishing a lot with me dad. People always used to talk about this carp in the Trent that once was caught by Issac Walton and weighed 61lb 7oz. Walton caught the beast and bragged to all about the struggle he had with her. Me dad always used to tell me this story and the carp was called Old Basford. As we are all keen fisherman, Dan and Ceri mostly fly-fishing, it seemed only right to carry bring the legendary tale to the public eye. Anything you’re scared of at a Friday the 13th show? Dan: What ya got? Chris: Will Jason be there? Ceri: The audience being zombies. Unless they
What is coming up for you over the next year? Chris: More releases, more gigs and more songs. Dan: Develop the studio and record an album of international significance. Ceri: We have three creations, two of which are brand new, available right now. Which we’ll push on you relentlessly at the gig.
are zombies who can dance. What was the last thing you heard that made you squirm? Chris: Oasis on the Brits. Dan: The majority of the Brits especially Amy Winehouse. She’s like a desperate, slutty Streisand… Any precautions you’ll be taking on the day to ward off evil? Chris: I plan on bringing the evil towards me,
The Smears
If you could get anyone in to play with you, who would you choose? C Doll: Lenny Kravitz to play guitar and Take That to breakdance. Miss C: What do you mean by play with me? Either way Mike Patton from Faith No More! Emma: Randy Newman or PJ Harvey. Anything you’re scared of at a Friday the 13th show? C Doll: Running out of beer… Miss C: Ditto. Although there is always the off licence to get a couple of tinnies!
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What are your favourite hangouts in Nottingham? Basford perhaps? Chris: I like to hang outside the shops on Northgate with me mates, get a bottle of MD20/20 and listen to the new Akon album on me new w950i. Safe yeah!
Emma: Nothing! He’s in the closet. Horror movies: old school or new school? C Doll: I prefer old school ones as if they’re not scary, at least they’re funny. Miss C: You can’t beat old school, although I have to say it’s a little sick. Take Freddy Krueger for instance… he’s a paedophile who haunts children’s dreams! Emma: I am a total wuss. I can barely watch either!
What can people expect from the show at the Rescue Rooms? C Doll: Some new material. Miss C: Fun as per usual! Emma: Whatever we can expect from them! Give it to us and we’ll give it right back. If not, we’ll be playing our asses off anyway. How will you be getting to the show? Miss C: I’ll get Jeeves my Limo driver to drop me off around the corner; I don’t want to be embarrassed. C Doll: Hopefully I can grab a lift so I don’t have to drive.
why the hell would I get rid of it? Dan: Play with passion. Ceri: I smell like a garlic farm continuously so no problem with vampires. A little communion wine should also help.
Emma: Bats biting me and not getting paid enough… Any precautions you’ll be taking to ward off evil? C Doll: I’ll no doubt have a few drinks… Miss C: No, I am sure my ex-boyfriends will stay away on their own accord. Emma: No, I embrace evil in all its forms. What would you do if there was a monster in your closet? C Doll: I’d lock it in and go back to sleep. Miss C: Kick its head in nun-chuck style. I have been getting lessons and I am getting far too good at it. In fact I am a ninja!
What’s coming up for you over the next year? C Doll: Hopefully another release and a tour at some point. Miss C: An album launch. We have a brilliant idea that has been in the pipeline for some time. Emma: Lots of work. Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? C Doll: Come to the gig and dance off all those Easter Eggs you’ve been eating. Miss C: What more could you want than The Smears and Old Basford? www.thesmears.com
Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Chris: Burn your Oasis albums and check out the Sleaford Mods! Dan: Check out our Red Mist EP. Buy it if you can. Ceri: This magazine does a great thing for Nottingham and it’s music scene. Support it. Come to the gig, and bring your dancing pants. www.oldbasford.com
Spotlight Kid
What are your favourite hangouts in Nottingham? Katty: The Orange Tree, The Golden Fleece, Moog and Nottinghamshire High School for boys. Chris: The Rescue Rooms.
What can people expect from your Rescue Rooms show? Katty: General noise created by guitarists with too many pedals with a faint murmuring of vocals and some trippy lights. Chris: A wave of beautiful noise to put a smile on your face. How will you be getting to the show? Katty: On horseback. Chris: Virgin trains. Hope I make it in time... What’s your favourite of your own tracks? Chris: Hungover - It’s a drummers showcase! Katty: Machines - It requires minimal effort. Your Myspace says your work alludes “to the great moments of shoegaze.” Do you have a current favourite pair of shoes? Chris: I’ve just bought a great pair of Chelsea boots from Brighton. Katty: Shoes, shoes… oh wonderful shoes. I love my pink suede knee-high boots. I often
How will you be getting to the show? I’m getting a lift from the headless horseman. Any precautions you’ll be taking to ward off evil? I’m bringing my battle weapons and itchy trigger fingers. What was the last thing you tasted that made you squirm? Airline food of some description.
gaze at them lovingly. But they’re not actually proper shoes are they? So I guess I’ll have to say my Dunlop green flash for reasons of comfort. Or do flip flops count? Looking at your listed influences; draw me a parallel between My Bloody Valentine and T. Rex Chris: The Grooves of Electric Warrior swamped in the beautiful noise of Loveless. Who was the last artist to really impress you? Chris: Broken Social Scene, Scott Mathews, Hearts Of Black Science and The Early Years. Katty: Jamie Lidell.
Which elements are you, respectively? Liati: My name stands for is Love Is All There Is, so I’ll let the people interpret. Zoutr: 99% of the mass of the human body is made up of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. All these
Anything you’re scared of at a Friday the 13th show? Katty: The backing track not working. Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Chris: We have a tour coming up in mid-April around the UK. Just finished a track for the new Club AC30 compilation, a cover of the Telescopes’ You Set My Soul should be out this side of this year. Katty: There’s more to me than shoes… www.myspace.com/spotlightkidsound
all that’s left is tumbleweed rolling across the ground! It’s like a seaside town but in reverse. Surely there must be life without students?
Where do you find inspiration in Nottingham? Everywhere. You can find inspiration in the strangest places. Like with music you can hear the smallest loop, develop it, change it, add bits and before you know it it’s grown into a whole track. What do you want to change about Nottingham? I’d stop it from being so seasonal. As soon as the students go all the club nights stop and
The Elementz Any precautions you’ll be taking on the 13th to ward off evil? Liati: “I’m gonna put on an ironed shirt. Ain’t gonna do the devils work. Am gone send him to outta space. To find another race”… Max Romeo knew about these issues. Zoutr: Earmuffs. How will you be getting to the show? Liati: The Elementz studio is just up the road so we’ll probably just footsoldier it.
(Andy Wright)
What was the last thing you read? Chris: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Katty: On Beauty by Zadie Smith.
DJ Squigley What can people expect from the show at the Rescue Rooms? A set which sends tingles down your spine and makes your hair stand on end. I’m going for a horror movie set with some turntable wizardry thrown in. Expect to be scared shitless with some sick hiphop beats.
We Show Up On Radar
How and through whom/what did music enter your life? I used to be a roadie for a huge soundsystem and I learned to DJ. My first record was Musical Youth’s Pass the Dutchie. I can remember asking my mum what a dutchie was and she told me that it was a plate that they pass around. What is coming up for you over the next year? We’ve got a new release on the way. We’re playing abroad a lot again which is good. We’re working on the Garden Festival and the Brighton Hiphop festival. Launching our artist management company and we’ve collaborating with Sureshot to bring Styles P to Stealth on Sunday 22nd April plus loads more. www.ohmygosh.co.uk Liati: We’re doing our first full length record this year and we intend to do it big. We’re meditating on a name right now and setting up the planning stages. We’re recording with a lot of good people right now like Roll Deep, Young Kof and Taskforce.
elements are made of particles which are basically vibrating loops of energy. So I’m a walking collection of vibrating loops of energy. What are your plans for the rest of 2007? Zoutr: We’re just adding the finishing touches to the studio and working on the next independent release for later this year. Lots of other things like chart shows and external shenanigans.
Karizma
Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Zoutr: Thanks for reading this. Keep supporting us and check our myspace for news. Liati: Thank you for your support, stick with us and we’ll make something very special happen. The universe can conspire to help us all achieve something beautiful and positive. Blessed love. www.myspace.com/elementsuniverse
What was the last thing you read? The last thing I read was an article about illegal overdraft charges. Get your overdraft charges back from the robbing bankers (and feel free to swop the ‘b’ for a ‘w’).
How will you be getting to the show? By foot, in my Pumas down Talbot Street. What’s your favourite of your own tracks? My favourite of my own tracks at the moment is Karma produced by Chemo, story rap with a message.
What have you got planned for the rest of 2007? I’m working on my solo release and getting a mixtape together to see who’s feeling what. Then hopefully get an EP out by the end of the year. It’s been a long time coming and I’m hungry.
Who was the last artist to really impress you? The last artist that really impressed me was Young Kof. I recorded a track with him, which he wrote and laid in record time. Made me want to step up my game!
lads anywhere around Lace Market or Hockley.
What are your favourite hangouts in Nottingham? My crib with my boy! When I’m out with the
What was the last album that you bought? Illmatic by Nas because my copy scratched. I was extremely wounded.
What noise will you make the night of the show? We’ll sound just like a band that has been booked by a group of very young children or animals to provide the after dinner entertainment. The guests at the dinner party would mainly comprise of woodland creatures and it would almost certainly be a black tie affair.... What noise do you make on radar? When we appear on radar we make the sound of a bird tweeting and then being hit gently on the head with a pan. Who, on Friday the 13th, will be checking Nottingham by radar? The only people who have access locally to any quality of radar devices are traffic police for speed traps. I hope they don’t come to my gig. Everyone else is more than welcome! Anything you’re scared of at a Friday the 13th show? I’m normally petrified before I go on stage anyway so I suppose I’ll be scared of the usual stuff plus the monsters. Any precautions you’ll be taking on the day to ward off evil? I will be sticking cloves of garlic to my face with gaffer tape and Peter as always will have a bag full of smoke grenades, mustard gas and a rape alarm. What was the last thing you read? The last thing I read was The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame. At the moment I’m reading Long Way Round by Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor. They went on a trip very similar to one we undertook recently. We drove from London to Mongolia in a Fiat Panda, so I wanted to read their account of it and fill in the gaps of my journey where I was either asleep or drunk! What is coming up for you over the next year? We’ve got loads of great stuff coming up. We’re releasing an EP on 2 April through Imoto Records called Growing A Girl (Instructions On How To Grow A Girl Without Your Wife Finding Out) closely followed by another EP then the album and a tour in Summer. www.weshowuponradar.com
Anything else you want to say to LeftLion readers? Big up to all of ya! Keep ya heads high, ya hearts strong and achieve every dream you can. Hopefully see you on the 13th April… spoo-hooky! www.myspace.com/i_am_karizma
To buy tickets online for this gig visit www.leftlion.co.uk/tickets www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
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Bonsai projects/Ali Hazeldene Musician Finish this: A man walks into a bar with an etch-a-sketch and says to the bar man… I just peeled your Nan’s face off! I hope this will make up for it! What’s your creative niche? I’m a dyslexic musician and artist with a hankering for the reverently obscene. What is it that makes you an artist? The fruition of creative thought, the space between god and concrete. Who is your most influential artist? Nick Cave. What are you up to at the moment? I have just finished my new album Broken Orchestra, a lo-fi clutter of semi-distressed memorabilia! Where can we hear your music? Through myspace and coming to see me play. What’s your favorite hangout in Nottingham? The Malt Cross and anything Supernight do. Who in Nottingham would you like to collaborate with and what would this be? The Pilgrim Fathers. A bit of wee comes out every time I see them. What’s your top tip for upcoming artists? Record everything you do. What do you see in the future? Dinosaurs weeping by my grave. What would you demonstrate against? Bad music. I hate songs disguised as love songs and those soulless talentless twerps with their tainted little bilious egos spewing turgid gooey wank into the ether so they can have a new hairdo every other day. You are standing in as the Mayor of Nottingham. What is top of your agenda? String em’ up! String em’ all up! And clear up after yourself while you’re at it! What city would you twin Nottingham with and why? Edinburgh, because then we’d have our work cut out!
Sinking Ships Comic Creator Finish this: A man walks into a bar with an etch-a-sketch and says to the bar man… Please take this etch-a-sketch away from me. I can’t draw a straight diagonal line. I feel like this exemplifies all of my failures and inadequacies as a human being. What’s your creative niche? Niche comes from the Latin word nidus, meaning nest. My nest is built mostly out of books, comics and old records, oh and wood... trees are very important. Who is your most influential artist or writer? I really love Adrian Tomine, Kurt Vonnegut and Hugleikur Dagsson. What are you up to at the moment? Finishing a new comic and an EP. They go together to tell a story. How can we access your art? In mini comic form at Page 45 or direct from me through MySpace. What’s your favorite art space in Nottingham? I don’t really think we have enough... it would be great to see more art in public spaces like libraries and on bus stops. Who would you like to collaborate with? My best friend Chris Killen who’s an amazing fiction writer based in Manchester. What is your top tip for upcoming artists? Just enjoy creating stuff. What’s your philosophy for life? Try not to break anything, unless it works better broken. What would you demonstrate against? Against anything that hurts people, animals or plants, although it’s hard to know with plants because they’re so quiet. You are standing in as the Mayor of Nottingham. What is top of your agenda? He has a Bentley doesn’t he? I’d probably sell that along with the gold bling and put the money into public transport. What city would you twin Nottingham with and why? Tokyo because I’ve always wanted to go there and maybe there could be an exchange program or something. www.myspace.com/thingsweshouldhavesaid
www.myspace.com/bonsaiprojects
Simon Withers Artist Natasha Stott Performance Artist Finish this: A man walks into a bar with an etcha-sketch and says to the bar man… Nothing lasts forever, everything’s in transit. What’s your creative niche? Creative Communication: multi-tasking multi-disciplinary projects. What is it that makes you an artist? I am a social being, I belong to a community and I create a community. The way in which I act, think, research, process and produce, is art. Most influential performance artist? John Berkavitch. What are you up to at the moment? I’m in talks for a permanent residence to host my community and company dance. On 6th May at The Maze I am putting on a fundraiser consisting of bands, spoken word poets, break dancers, drummers, DJs and VJs. How can we access your art? Check my website for up to date details of events, performances, fundraisers and education and community work. Who would you like to collaborate with? Dance4. What is your top tip for upcoming artists? Confidence is essential for success. What happened to you today? After an interview in Derby I got the train to Nottingham and saw a girl looking at one of those sign-posted maps. I asked her what she was looking for. It turned out she had an interview at Trent, it reminded me of where I was and how far I’ve come… I carried on walking and wondered if I might catch a glimpse of what may be. What do you see in the future? Amazing growth and regeneration in Nottingham, projects that make a difference, to all the community. I see people taking pride in the city, celebrations, festivals and carnivals. What would you demonstrate against? War. You are standing in as The Mayor of Nottingham. What is top of your agenda? Talking to the community and finding out what people think, want and need, then making it happen. Generating opportunities and spaces for young people to learn, create and interact. www.danako.co.uk www.myspace.com/tashyboo2u
Finish this: A man walks into a bar with an etch-a-sketch and says to the bar man… How many lemons would it take to fill a helicopter? What’s your creative niche? About 6ft x 5ft What is it that makes you an artist? Blood and Guts Who is your most influential artist? Dave Mattacks What are you up to at the moment? I’m currently exhibiting in Parade exhibitions at the Angel Row Gallery called Terra Incognita and Out of Place. I am also a member of the Nottingham Studios Consortium, set up to develop a new artists’ studio complex for the city. How can we access your art? See axisartists.org, the Saatchi Gallery ’Your Gallery’ website or oldknows.co.uk. What is your favorite art space in Nottingham? My studio. Who in Nottingham would you like to collaborate with and what would this be? Every artist in Nottingham and to create a mass art work in the new Market Square. What is your top tip for upcoming artists? Start the day with some freshly squeezed orange juice. What happened to you today? I observed wonderful things. What do you see in the future? Only a reflection of the past. What would you demonstrate against? Every Nottingham artist coming together in the new Market Square to create a mass artwork. You are standing in as the Mayor of Nottingham. What is top of your agenda? To make Nottingham a major international cultural centre for the arts. What city would you twin Nottingham with and why? Rome. As the Mayor of Nottingham I could make regular visits as our cultural ambassador. www.oldknows.co.uk
If you would like to feature on these pages email details about your work (with examples if possible) to amanda@leftlion.co.uk www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
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OUT&ABOUT
LeftLion whips out the credit card and wallows in the retail wonderland that is Nottingham. Our people on the street this time are Camillo, Nathan Miller, Jon McGregor and Jessica Troughton...
Bluu
The Loft
Taking its name from the legendary Blue Note jazz club in Hoxton Square, the first Bluu took over the original site following the clubs demise. This small chain has now spread its wings to four cities including its Nottingham bar which opened six years ago. Reputed for its quality cocktails and now a firm fixture on the local scene, Bluu is an impressive and stylish space comprising a restaurant, main bar and basement. The bar has picked up a number of awards along the way, including Best Service at last years Nottingham restaurant awards. Regularly competing with the likes of World Service come awards time, the food is particularly worth checking out, offering modern European cuisine with worldwide influences. The highlight of the premises has to be the newly refurbished basement with cheeky graphics from reputed design house Studio Output throughout. A luxurious space which is big enough to get your dancing shoes on whilst equally suited to some serious relaxation. The music leans towards funk, with this issue’s interviewees Neon Heights (see page 12) regularly spinning in the basement and on the right night you can catch trumpets and bongos adding to the atmosphere. There is an overall quality music policy which helps set the bar apart from some of the more cheesy bars that surround it. Check out their 5-8pm affair in the evenings for cheap drinks and nibbles or join them for their sixth Birthday blowout on 12 April and get funky in the basement.
It’s nice to see The Loft back and on form, after a few months out. The venue had become an essential stop for the Mansfield Road massive before its sudden closure last year. Thankfully the doors of this nicely turned-out late bar didn’t stay shut long and after a refurbishment with the addition of some nice new features, it’s back in business.
Bluu, 5 Broadway, The Lace Market, NG1 1PR 0115 950 5359 www.bluu.co.uk
The Loft, 217 Mansfield Road, NG1 5FS 0115 950 3455
Nottingham Bar Awards
Ripple
As this issue of LeftLion went to press the votes were feverishly being counted to decide the winners of the inaugural Nottingham Bar and Club Awards. The event is a concerted effort to improve the reputation of the city’s nightlife after years of bad press and give Hood Town’s night owls and lounge lizards a chance to big up their favourite watering holes. The lucky victors will be informed of their triumph at a special ceremony at Dogma on 2 April, featuring music from Secret Stealth and hosted by a compere from Just The Tonic. With categories ranging from Best Music Venue to Best Cocktail Bar, there’ll be plenty of ammunition for a good old-fashioned pub debate about how well your favourite watering holes fared.
Given the amazing amount of restaurants in the Sherwood area of the city it’s surprising that a bar has never arrived on the scene and made a real impact. Having been open for four months Ripple looks set to change this trend and is the first contemporary styled venue that the area has seen.
All the awards have been voted for by the public through ballot boxes in city bars and via the event’s website. “Nottingham is renowned for having some of the best nightlife in the country but too often, it’s the negative publicity that creeps out,” claims the Awards organiser Chris Legh. “The idea of the awards is to celebrate the city’s pubs, bars and nightclubs and let the people of Nottingham decide which ones are best. We’ve had such an amazing response already that I’m sure these are set to become a major annual event.” We’ll drink to that. www.nottinghambarawards.co.uk
The new owners are Jamie Spooner and Jade Lambert who bought it last September and have spent the time since with manager Hugh perfecting the place. It officially reopened last New Year’s Eve with a night of DJs, dancing and general New Year’s revelry. Nicely positioned between The Maze and Fade, the bar has always had a strong reputation for down to earth drinking and quality DJ bookings. Friday and Saturdays will be DJs from the funkier side of the spectrum and Sunday is Melody Market, a night run by old growler himself Will Jeffery featuring acoustic music from across the city. Live music is a new direction for the intimate venue and it promises to be an individual space for bands to play. With a Wireless connection, Xbox competitions, speed dating, fancy dress and themed nights there is something for everyone in the new Loft. The soon to be unveiled tapas menu can only add to the attraction of partying penthouse style. Check out Crazy P behind the decks on Saturday 31 March.
Taking a modern chic design direction can be a hit and miss choice, as often this type of establishment skates a fine line between a warm and cold atmosphere. Ripple, however, achieves this necessary warmth with ease and creates a stylish and down to earth environment for both wining and dining. There is an impressive food menu throughout the day and evening, for a late breakfast check out their Cantaloupe melon with mixed berries or sample swordfish kebabs from their evening selection. Get yourself a loyalty card and you can have your fifth meal for free! If your stomach isn’t rumbling, the friendly service and corner sofas make the place a great choice for meeting over a coffee or beer. The majority of the food is organically sourced, with the owners ensuring as much support is given to the local community as possible by sourcing from nearby outlets. The ambience is aided by the quality music selection - any trained ear will notice the chillbeat sounds are well selected to match the space. LeftLion is always happy to accompany a glass of red with the likes of Massive Attack and the Good Looking records stable. Ripple, 577 Mansfield Road, NG5 2JN 0115 969 3335 www.ripplecafebar.co.uk
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OUT&ABOUT Nottingham Writers’ Studio
Community Protection?
When it comes to facilities for the arts, writers often get left out. Visual artists get their studio spaces, film-makers get their cameras and edit suites, dancers get their shiny sprung wooden floors, but writers are somehow expected to make do with a notebook and a kitchen table.
So, we’ve all seen the Community Protection Officers in the city centre. You might also, (like us) have thought , What exactly do they do? And more importantly, should I care? Well, in a word..yes. Its our city after all. The Community and Neighbourhood Protection Service has been in existence for around three years and in that time, seen many changes. A reputation (in many cases undeserved) for City Centre violence and anti-social behaviour has left Nottingham folk with a bad taste in their mouths. But does this kind of policing make a difference. ‘It makes a massive difference’ says student Roya Pearce ‘I like the idea of people being fined for dropping litter, why should I have to wade through cr*p every time I walk down Clumber st?!’ As the service launches Neighbourhood Policing next month, the CPO’s will be working alongside the Police in designated ‘Beat Teams’. ‘There will be 56 Beat Teams in Nottingham’ says Service Director Andrew Errington’ Each team will be based in the same area and will get to know their own community well, building familiarity and trust’ As the service becomes more professionalized, the role of CPO is apparently becoming more and more attractive to graduates. ‘As the role evolves, greater levels of responsibility are required’ says Executive Officer Pete Mitchell ‘In this influx of new recruits, at least half were educated to degree level, the competitive salary as well as a fast track career progression also helps of course’ Area Team Leader Tom Rawlins has been with the service for 10 months and has already been promoted from CPO to ATL ‘The job is different everyday’ he says, ‘Because we are present at weekly tasking meetings with the Police, we know what is going on in the city and where the ‘hotspots’ are. It gives us better idea of how to best divide up our resources’. The service is currently trialling ‘headcams’ and Nottingham is in fact the first community protection service in the whole of the UK to use this technology. ‘People tend to be a lot less likely to engage in Anti social Behaviour if they are being filmed’ laughs ATL Rawlins. ASB has in fact dropped by a massive 25% in areas of Notts where the headcams are being used and there are plans are to roll out the system city wide by the end of June this year.
Which is where the newly opened Nottingham Writers’ Studio, down on Heathcoat Street in Hockley, comes in. The building offers affordable workspace for writers along with a meeting and resource room for members who don’t require a full-time workspace. It’s a suitably unglamorous building, more Kerouac than Capote, but it’s crammed with everything the established and emerging writer needs such as wireless internet access, printing and copying facilities, a small library, comfortable chairs, tea and coffee and a space which can be used for meetings and events. The members come from a variety of writing backgrounds. There are novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwrights, journalists and copywriters - all at different stages in their careers, from those still pursuing their first publication through to award-winning old hands. It’s this mix of backgrounds which is one of the strengths of the Writers’ Studio, providing as it does the opportunity for unexpected collaborations and interactions as well as an informal support network. The workspaces are available for as little as £15 a week (with the option of sharing a space to make it even more affordable). Membership provides access to all the facilities and to a developing programme of events and activities and costs £50 a year. Nottingham Writers’ Studio, 1st and 2nd Floor, 37 Heathcoat street, Hockley NG1 3AG www.nottinghamwriters.wordpress.com
Out and About Directory
To get your business listed in these pages (and on our website) contact ben@leftlion.co.uk or phone 0115 9123782
Dave Mann Music
Nottingham Creative Business Awards
Dave Mann Music is a family run independent musical instrument retailer, specialising in acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles and orchestral stringed instruments. The shop was established 1970, starting out with musical instrument repairs and soon branching into retail sales. The business expanded healthily and has resulted in Dave Mann Music now being regarded as one of the best acoustic instrument shops in the UK. The business incorporates a repair workshop, servicing and repairing stringed instruments. The workshop is an essential part of the business, setting up and testing all instruments before they are offered for sale. If you’re looking at buying an instrument pop in and see them for a chat. In terms of personal service you won’t find anywhere better in Nottingham.
The Nottingham Creative Business Awards promises to be this year’s hottest celebration of homegrown talent, creativity and innovation. Stepping away from Nottingham’s old stance of making lace hankies and the rusting tradition of Robin Hood, our reputation as the art hole of the East Midlands owes it’s roots to Nottingham Trent University. The institution provides such a roomy spread of career opportunities that we have more professional artists nesting here than any other city outside London.
Dave Mann Music, 123-125 Mansfield Road, NG1 3FQ. 0115 9417955 www.davemann.co.uk
View From The Top View From The Top is an events room, gallery and exhibition space tucked away on the fourth floor of Waterstones book store in the heart of Nottingham city centre. The 1500 square foot events room has an astonishing view of the city skyline and provides a uniquely different and inspirational environment for training, workshops, conferences and launches. The large, beautiful gallery is open to the public every day and offers a superb central space for important community and commercial shows. An adjacent smaller gallery is also available for solo or small exhibitions. The venue is run by an independent company working closely with Waterstones, who host many of their famous author signings in the events room. They offer reduced hire rates to public sector, charities and not for profit organisations. View from The Top, Fourth Floor above Waterstones, Bridlesmith Gate, NG1 2GR 07951 997528 www.viewfromthetop.co.uk
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HBJ Gateley Wareing is a dynamic law firm with offices in Nottingham, Birmingham and Leicester. This year they have chosen to team up with Nottingham Creative Network to promote the Creative Business Awards and are also looking to bring thirteen individual award sponsors on board. The thirteen categories jump through every creative niche; they’re looking for the kookiest photographic project, the wildest fashion designer and the foxiest music company to display and demonstrate their contribution. There is something for everyone. Nomination applications are due to be launched later this month and closing in July ready for an autumnal ponder between August and July before all will unite in a spectacular shirt and tie do at Broadway on 8 October. The event is set to be a fairground delight of film showings, art exhibition and catwalk extravaganza- far from a 2-hour mic drone. If you’re doing creative work in the city then check them out and you may finally get some of the recognition you deserve. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Paul Hough on 0115 848 8173 www.nottinghamcreativebusinessawards.org.uk
The Magic Numbers to open Market Square Coolies, I really like them! I think it’s the fact that they look like hippy versions of Brian Blessed that does it for me. TheAllSeeingPie Not really fussed about The Magic Numbers either way. Non-offensive average indie pop. I think they should have focused the whole thing on Notts talent. Imagine Grain playing the market Square, the place would be jumping! Mr BRJ I quite like The Magic Numbers. Rather them than some Pop Idol/ X Factor crap chart band. Also been told that the new square will have lots of opportunity to showcase musical talent, so it should be a good thing for Nottingham bands in the long term. Jared If the council just put on local bands it would just be the same old scene queens that turn up to the same old functions in the same old stagnating minority venues all the time. This is about bringing new people into town. People who have been scared off by the bad press and the stench of negativity about the place. ryanoft It’s worth pointing out The Magic Numbers are on Heavenly Recordings: a label that has strong roots in Nottingham. Our local acts are great but if Nottingham is to shake its poor national image, it needs to appeal to people outside the NG postcode. The Magic Numbers aren’t everybody’s cup of tea but in my eyes they fit the bill really well! Pete Spectrum I almost don’t care what happens in the Market Square. At least it will be finished and we can have big outdoor events in the city and a free concert. Brilliant! pollypocket
Politicians On Myspace What do you think of politicians putting their pages on myspace and facebook? Dead trendy? A cheap, effective method of mass communication? or just a total invasion of the wrong turf? pandapad On one hand it’s an invasion into a realm where they probably aren’t that welcome. On another hand it’s good that political groups are making the effort to go out and interact with their minions, rather than sitting back and waiting for them. On a completely different hand, I reckon it’ll be good to see whose Myspace is hacked first and all their pictures replaced by big hairy fannies. MrGeesBigCircus I can really imagine David Cameron getting the Tories on this. When he picks his shadow cabinet members, they’ll send him ‘thanks for the add’ messages. Chief Kegwin I don’t mind politicians having a Myspace etc, but there’s no way it could be taken as a serious format for MPs to have a proper debate with the general public. It’s just another one of those pleas to the younger generation, like getting somebody to leak that you smoked marijuana at university. Stodge Anyone who puts anything on Myspace or Facebook or any of those sites is not to be trusted. There is something very very wrong with them. Yes that includes all of you people. theonelikethe
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from l-r: Gza, Ben and Ryan
The Maze is an important venue for live music in Nottingham, a haven for local musicians and a top place to see touring acts. The site is steeped in history going back to it’s origins in the 1800’s as a fight-club-style practice ground for legendary local boxer Bendigo. This time two years ago it was under threat of closure, but happily it’s been taken over by a new team and pushed harder than ever before. As they prepare to celebrate The Maze’s tenth birthday we caught up for a chat… words: Jared Wilson photo: Bobby G It seems a long time since the ‘Save The Maze campaign’ of 2005. What’s happened since you guys took over… Ben: Well, I bought the place back in October 2005. I didn’t really know much about it, I just bought it on instinct. Then I found out what Nottingham and its culture is all about and slowly got into it. Ryan: The first year of opening was a steep learning curve. We had to find out what our customers wanted, our role in the community and what direction we wanted to take the venue. What have been the highlights in that time? Ben: A major highlight was Pama International. The crowd was bouncing up and down like in 8mile and it was just unreal. But then earlier this year the Funk Collective were ace and last week Bison were mental again! A lot of our nights are highlights. What are the plans to celebrate the Maze’s birthday? Ben: There are quite a few. We’re doing ten days to celebrate the ten years since it was invented on 9 May 1997. On the actual birthday we’re having a jam night with loads of local bands coming down for a big free party. Gaz: Pama International are coming back on the Saturday and Nick Harper is here on the Sunday. Last time he played Ben and I had our mouths to the floor in awe at his playing! What are your favourite beverages you serve? Ben: The ethanol, under the bar! Haha. No it’s the real ales for me. Gaz: I’m always on the Veltins. Ryan: I like my real ales but mainly I’m a wine man. I like a red wine after work, to sit and contemplate. Ben: We’ve got some real ales from Castle Rock. Your classic Harvester Pale and the wildlife range which changes every month which supports the Wildlife Trust. We’ve got Summer Lightning on at the moment which is a nice 5% - have that! Gaz: We also do a pretty good bottled range as well, Chimay, Duval, other Belgian beers... The ‘Three Lions’ Beer that we brought down during the World Cup went down pretty well here… Ben: It smashed it! There was none of it left. We went through twelve firkins and had to order more in every time. It had a nice high ABV and went down a storm! Ryan: You buggers. Did you realise how many times people asked for ‘three LeftLions’ at the bar, if you ever name a beer again don’t put a number in the name!
If you could get any act in to play The Maze, who would you choose? Ben: I’d have loved to have Buddy Holly on my stage… even Elvis was a fan of his. Ryan: Being a big Joy Division fan, I’d love to bring Ian Curtis back from the dead. I’d also like to have Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan playing together, maybe with Shaun Ryder and Bez dancing in the background. Ben: Bez is actually going to be playing here for Saggy Pants on 25 May with Domino Bones. There’ll be a load of Black Grape, Happy Mondays and Stone Roses former players appearing too. Gaz: For me my favourite gigs are local bands playing with local people. Just everyday people trying to make something of themselves. Ben: Oh great, you make us look like glory supporters going for the big names. You Nottingham arse-licker! Ryan: Yeah sorry I meant to say that my ideal gig would be Shrimp Tractor, from Mansfield. I love those guys, they’re great! So who are the best up-and-coming Notts bands that we should check out? Ben: Model Morning. I’m looking after those boys. They’ve got a load of talent and done their time in other big bands like Echoboy. Ryan: They’re a very special band. Most shoegaze bands are laid back, but they put the real rock n roll balls into it. I like Idiot Joy too. Ben: You’ve got great stalwarts of the scene like Grain and Old Basford. Good old blues and rock’n’roll, from big tall men. The Hellset Orchestra too, they’ve just got that something extra. Gaz: I like Lyra, who are playing here next month and Black Vinyl Heart. I love Yes My Ninjas! just because they’re weird and crazy and you’ll never see anything like them. What are the plans for the rest of 2007 and beyond? Ben: We want to make this place bigger. I’ve got a three year business plan so we’re nearly half way through. It’s going to plan. Ryan: We want this to be a melting pot. We want musicians to come here and for collaborations to evolve from that and to be the epicentre of promoting musical talent in Nottingham.
The Maze celebrates it’s birthday from 9-19 May. themazerocks.com
With:
The Elementz Karizma DJ Squigley Leftlion Ad 125mm x 80mm
17/3/07
15:34
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THE MAZE MANSFIELD RD NOTTINGHAM 11pm - 3.30am > £5 before midnight / £6 after
Saturday 7th April FRAN GREEN KEEP ON MAGAZINE / MIDNIGHT CANDYMEN
Saturday 5th May
RESIDENTS NIGHT
3rd birthday party with NICK SHAW & ED COTTON
SNUG HOUNDSGATE NOTTINGHAM
Bank Holiday Sunday 8th April BASEMENT BOOGALOO Vs. SOULBUGGIN’ with NICK SHAW, MARK A, WRIGHTY & BEANE
THE NAGS HEAD MANSFIELD RD NOTTINGHAM
Bank Holiday Sunday 27th May BACKYARD BOOGALOO with Greg Wilson Info: 0789 658 7013 / www.face-the-music.co.uk
listings... Sunday 01/04
music / weeklies / comedy /exhibitions / theatre Thursday 05/04
Deep Sound Channel Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 8.30pm
Recommended Daily Allowance Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 8.30pm - 12am
Trash-Stock UK Tour 2007 Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £4 Times: 7.30pm - 11.30pm Patchwork Grace, Disarm, Zen Motel and Snakeskin.
My Psychoanalyst Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £3 / £4 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm Doors Plus Lets Bitter Cinema and Nephu Huzzband.
Outlandish Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £14.50 adv Times: 7.30pm
The Beat Venue: Price: Times:
The Green Bus Presents... Venue: Social Price: £4 Times: 8pm Monkeys of The High Seas and Danny and The Deadbeatz.
Newton Faulkner Venue: Social Price: £9.55 adv Times: 8pm
Songwriters Sunday Venue: Maze Price: £4 Times: 8pm Andy Whittle, Becky Syson, Sally Murray and Lance Syson.
Monday 02/04 Snoop Dogg and P.Diddy Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £32.50 +bf Monday Madness! Venue: Maze Price: Free Times: 8pm The Walkaways and Made of Leaves.
Tuesday 03/04 Acoustic Open Mic Night Venue: Running Horse Price: Free Times: 8.30pm - 12.m Hosted by Steve Pinnock. Farmyard Acoustic Tuesdays Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am Kingsize Operator, Arias Ashes and Andy Whittle. Jenny Wilson Venue: Social Price: £6.25 adv Times: 8pm Riff Raff Venue: Price: Times:
Muse £1 9pm
Sweet Soul Music Venue: Royal Centre Price: £17 - £21 Times: 7.30pm Saggy Pants Presents Venue: Maze Price: £3 Times: 8pm Kazooee and The Bets.
Wednesday 04/04 Lionel Richie Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £35 / £50 +bf Blues Jam Session Venue: Running Horse Price: Free Times: 8.30pm - 12am With Colin Staples. Saggy Pants Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £4 Times: 8.30pm - 2am With Weeble, The Guilty Pleasures and Pax. Kate Nash Venue: Social Price: £6.25 adv Times: 7pm
Rescue Rooms £17.25 adv 7.30pm
Deathstars Venue: Rock City Price: £15.60 adv Times: 7pm The Moth Venue: Price: Times:
Lantern Loft Free 8pm
Friday 06/04 The Phonics Venue: Running Horse Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm - 12am Tranz Global Style: World Music Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 8pm – 12am Mooch and DJ I2I. Satnam’s Tash Venue: Maze Price: £3 / £4 Times: 9:30pm – late Plus The Dirty Cherubs and Firebrand. Spectrum Style: Breaks, Electronica Venue: Stealth Price: £8 adv (NUS) Times: 10pm – 4am DJ Hyper, Screwface, Pete Jordan, Freeman, B-Boy J and Dave Boultbee. The Butterflies of Love Venue: Social Price: £7 adv Times: 7pm Monkey Swallows The Universe Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £4 adv Times: 8pm
Saturday 07/04 Wigfleggs Style: Dubstep, Electronica, Venue: Muse Price: 99p Times: 10pm - 4am Tray Electric live, Fresh Out of Death sound system, Spam Chop vs The Izatron live, Kuiper Belt and Bashy Flash. The Al Brown Band Style: Blues, Rock, Jazz Venue: Running Horse Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm - 12am Basement Boogaloo Style: Soul, Disco, Funk Venue: Maze Price: £5 before 12 / £6 after Times: 10pm - 3.30am Hugh Herrera
Detonate Presents Style: DnB Venue: Social Price: £6 Times: 11pm - 3am Klute, SKC, Transit Mafia, DJ Connexion, Ruthless and P-Fine.
Saturday 07/04 Farmyard Loves Music Venue: Social Price: £5 Times: 7.30pm - 10.30pm Mint Ive, Rotating Leslie and Team Hughes. Bring Me The Horizon Venue: Rock City Price: £10 adv Times: 7pm Amusement Parks On Fire Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £7 adv Times: 7pm Liars Club Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm / £5 Times: 10.30pm - 5am Dead Disco. DJ’s Duke Dumont, Casper C, Ricky Haley and D’Lex. Neon Heights Venue: Loft Price: Free Simon White and Cal Gibson. Basement Venue: Price: Times:
Boogaloo Golden Fleece Free 8.30pm
LeftLion Presents Venue: Orange Tree Price: Free Times: 8.30pm - 12am You Slut! Dead City Presidents and Stiff Kittens DJ’s.
Sunday 08/04 Improvised World Music Collective Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 8pm Audio Montage Venue: Maze Price: £5 Times: 2pm - 12am Little Whores on The Prairie, Basso Loco, Ramonastone, Gods Chosen Dealers, Copter, Sidearm, Deny The Accident, Hellset Orchestra, YouNoGoDie, Spankathon, The Big Bang, Mexican Wrestling, Love Ends Disaster, Left of The Dealer and The Dirty Backbeats. The Blackout Venue: Rock City Price: £7.35 Times: 7pm Nottingham All Stars Easter Party Style: Hiphop, Funk, Deep House Venue: Moog Price: Free / £2 Times: 2pm - 2am Rick Donohue, Sophie Toes, Dave Boultbee, Ed Challenged, Alex Traska, Fran Green, Peej, Rick and Louie, James Small, Daddio, Beane, Mike Greenwell, Ally Reilly and Red Rack’em. Soulbuggin Vs. Basement Boogaloo Style: Disco, Soul, Funk Venue: Snug Price: £4 Times: 11pm - 3am Mark A, Nick Shaw, Wrighty and Beane. Back To The Future Venue: Stealth Price: £6 adv Times: 10pm Ben Annand, Subterfuge, Sam Phillips and Mark Pearson.
Monday 09/04 Drowning Pool / Ill Nino Venue: Rock City Price: £16 adv Times: 7pm With support from Panic Cell. Priestbird Venue: Social Price: £6 adv Times: 8pm
Tuesday 10/04 Acoustic Open Mic Venue: Running Horse Price: Free Times: 8.30pm - 12am Acoustic Tuesdays Open Mic Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free 36 Crazyfists Venue: Rock City Price: £14.50 Times: 7.30pm Born Ruffians Venue: Social Price: £5.15 Times: 8pm
Wednesday 11/04 Blues Jam Venue: Price: Times:
Session Running Horse Free 8.30pm - 12am
Fly on The Wall Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £3 / £4 Times: 8.30pm - 12am Blood Divided, Orakai, Ark Eye and Farewell Fall. Lagwagon Venue: Rock City Price: £13.95 Times: 7.30pm The Moths Venue: Social Price: £6 Times: 7pm
Thursday 12/04 Once in a Lifetime Rewind Tour Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £37.50 +bf David Essex, David Cassidy, The Osmonds and Showaddywaddy. Chris Hull Venue: Price: Times:
and The Instant Band Golden Fleece Free 8.30pm
DeltaSound Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: Starts 8.30pm With The Deltarays and more tbc. Word of Mouth Venue: Muse Price: £3 Times: 9pm iLL Citizen, Emcee Killa, Karizma, Lady Paradox, Jay Thomas and Saint Anthony. Stuck In Second Venue: Running Horse Acoustic singer songwriters from Nottingham. Radar Venue: Maze Price: £3.50 / £4.50 (NUS) Times: 8pm doors Plus We Show Up On Radar and Yonioshi. Tina Dico Venue: Social Price: £10 adv Times: 8pm Clutch Venue: Price: Times:
Rock City £14.50 adv 7pm
Friday 13/04 Dynamics Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 9pm Cantaloop Venue: Muse Price: £3 Times: 9pm
Friday 13/04 LeftLion Extravaganza Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £6 adv £7 door Times: 9pm - 3am Old Basford, The Smears, We Show Up On Radar, Spotlight Kid (members of Bent and Six by Seven), The Elementz, Karizma and DJ Squigley. Red Room by Audio Massage. Interviews on P26 / 27. Sharron Kraus Venue: Lee Rosy’s Tea Shop Price: £5 Times: 8:30pm doors Plus Mc Watt and Poppy Seed. Northern Quarter Venue: Running Horse Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm – 12am Lobotomy Style: Venue: Price: Times:
Friday 13th Special Electronica BluePrint £7 9pm - late
Yourcodenameis:Milo Venue: Rock City Price: £8 adv Times: 7pm
Saturday 14/04 The Cool Off Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 9pm Hidden Sessions Style: Tech / Prog House, Venue: Flo Price: £4 / £5 (NUS) Times: 10pm til 4am JJ Soundclash, John Gilbert, Stefan Flannery and Paul Weaversmith. GB Promotions Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £10 adv Times: 9pm - 2am The Business, Resistance77 and Riot Squad. CULT Style: House, Funk, Disco Venue: Maze Price: £5 Times: 10pm – 2am Andre Bonsor, Mike Greenwell, Lawrence Graham and Ligre. Puressence Venue: Social Price: £11.75 Times: 7pm Amon Amarth Venue: Rock City Price: £15 adv Times: 7pm Herman Dune Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £8 Times: 7pm Liars Club Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm / £5 Times: 10.30pm - 5am
Sunday 15/04 Shitdisco Venue: Social Price: £8 Times: 7pm All Day Punk Party Venue: Rock City Price: £8 Times: 1pm Certified, Hordes Of Satan, Badaxe, S_Punk_7, Sneinton Elvis and Sick Boy Federation. Horse Venue: Price: Times:
Maze £12 adv 7.30pm
listings... Monday 16/04 Farmyard Fresh Meat Venue: Social Price: £2 Times: 8pm - late The Crooks, Alice Rock and Noon.
Tuesday 17/04 Trivium Venue: Price: Times:
Rock City £17 adv 7.30pm
Danny and Dusty Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £17 adv Times: 7pm Fields Venue: Price: Times:
Social £9 adv 8pm
Leftlion Unplugged Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free Times: 8pm - 11am Black Vinyl Heart, John Hull and The Instant Band and Daisy B.
Wednesday 18/04 Blues Jam Venue: Price: Times:
Session Running Horse Free 8.30pm - 12am
Sonic Boom Six Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £5 / £6 Times: 8.30pm - 12pm Plus Pickled Dick, Fat Lady Singh and Red: The Resistance. Seasick Steve Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £11 adv Times: 7.30pm Opus Venue: Price: Times:
Muse Free 8pm - 1am
Nuru Kane and Bayefall Gnawa Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 8pm
Thursday 19/04 Flight Scene Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 8.30pm AWD Promotions Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £4 adv Times: 8pm - 12am Kharma 45, Stop Eject and Electric Mouth. Wishbone Venue: Price: Times:
Ash Rescue Rooms £17 adv 7.30pm
Bayside and Moneen Venue: Rock City Price: £10 adv Times: 7.30pm Pandit Kumar Shashwat Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 7.30pm
Friday 20/04 Cult Propaganda Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 8.30 - 12am Ambush Muse Venue: Muse Price: Free b4 11 / £2 after 16 DJs, 16 genres, four hours. Charlotte Venue: Price: Times:
Cottam Running Horse £3 8.30pm - 12am
music / weeklies / comedy /exhibitions / theatre Friday 20/04 Sonic Dirt Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £5 Times: 9pm - 2am The Sneinton Stooges, The Hip Priests, The Grease Monkeys and Ferriday Fireballs. TheCentrifuge @ KF Venue: BluePrint Price: £5 (NUS) Times: 10pm – 2am Missaw, Dazzle, NeuTek and friends. Audiophile Style: Reggae, Deep House, Venue: Moog Times: 8pm - 2am Max Cooper, King Furious, Matt Hinton and DJ Weiss. Product - 2nd Birthday Venue: Stealth Price: £11 adv Times: 10pm James Zabiela, Nic Fanciulli, Rez, Makai and MR 38. Cold War Kids Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £9 adv Times: 7.30pm Neils Children Venue: Social Price: £7 adv Times: 7pm Farmyard Records Venue: Maze Price: £5 Times: 9.30pm The Bacharak Fight Club, Crimson Roadmap, Lyra and Guerrilla Radio.
Saturday 21/04 Drowned in Sound Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £6 adv Times: 8pm - 2am Komakino, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, Fortyfives and Stuart Bruce. Hayseed Dixie Venue: Rock City Price: £17.25 adv Times: 7pm Highness Venue: Price: Times:
Sound System Social £5 11pm - 4am
Tuff Venue: Rock City Price: £15 adv Times: 6pm With support from Pretty Boy Floyd and Shameless. Liars Club Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm / £5 Times: 10.30pm - 5am Live: Thunderbirds Are Now and Best Fwends. DJ’s: Residents and guests. Inconcievables Functarries Venue: Loft Price: Free Plus Jonah Hermann Petzlinger’s Music Book Venue: Lakeside Price: £10 Times: 7.30pm
Sunday 22/04 Firewind Venue: Price: Times:
Rock City £7 adv 7.30pm
Theatre of Hate Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £17 adv Times: 7.30pm The Pipettes Venue: NTU Union Price: £13 adv Times: 8pm Pop Levi Venue: Price: Times:
Social £7 adv 8pm
Monday 23/04 Breed 77 Venue: Price: Times:
Rock City £10 adv 7.30pm
Bloodclot Terrorism Venue: Maze Price: £3 / £5 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm The Engines of Armageddon, Hordes of Satan, Hand of the Daedra, Hailing from Wales and Rust Inhaler.
Tuesday 24/04 Deep Purple Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £31.50 + bf. Acoustic Tuesdays Open Mic Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free Times: 8pm The Maccabees Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £9 adv Times: 7.30pm Riff Raff Venue: Price: Times:
Muse £1 9pm
Wednesday 25/04 Low Venue: Price: Times:
Rescue Rooms £17 adv 7.30pm
T-Model Ford Venue: Social Price: £11 adv Times: 7pm Steve Tilston Venue: Maze Price: £8 adv (NUS) Times: 7.30pm
Thursday 26/04 Einsturzende Neubauten Venue: Rock City Price: £17 adv Times: 7pm Mindless Self Indulgence Venue: Rock City Price: £7 adv Times: 7.30pm
Sunday 22/04 Styles P Venue: Stealth Price: £10 + bf Times: 8pm - 12am Cappo, Mista Jam, DJ Squigley and Furious P four deck set, Shifty Spirit and Dougie Houser. Porcupine Venue: Price: Times:
Tree Rock City £18.35 adv 7.30pm
Mumm-Ra Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £8 adv Times: 7.30pm
Friday 27/04 The Right Venue: Price: Times:
Friends Running Horse £3 8.30pm – 12am
Hot Renault Traffic Club Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £4 adv Times: 8pm - 2am Fonda500, The Priory, The Burt Bacharak Fight Club and The Auxiliaries. Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls Venue: Social Price: £11 adv Times: 7pm Rock and Venue: Price: Times:
Roll Fantasy Rock City £15 adv 7.30pm
Muse Live Venue: Muse Price: £2 Times: 9pm The Deltarays and Lois. Dollop Venue: Social Man Like Me live, Bigger Than Jesus and Dollop DJ. Supernight Venue: Bunkers Hill Inn Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm - 12am Derby vs Leicester vs Nottingham Royal Rumble! Saggy Pants Presents Venue: Maze Price: £4 (NUS) Times: 9pm Kingclaw, Fight Fire With Water, Basso Loco and Alright The Captain.
Saturday 28/04
The Hollies Venue: Royal Centre Price: £17 / £21 Times: 7.30pm Rautio Trio Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 7.30pm Nottingham Punk CLub Venue: Maze Price: £5 (NUS) Times: 9pm Alright The Captain, Goldblade, 3CR, Wonk Unit and The Skagz.
Sunday 29/04 Switches Venue: Price: Times:
Rescue Rooms £8 adv 7.30pm
Joe Ely Venue: Price: Times:
Rescue Rooms £17 adv 7.30pm
Tuesday 01/05 Bobby Conn Venue: Social Price: £9 adv Times: 8pm Maria McKee Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £16 adv Times: 7.30pm 32 Knotts Venue: Maze Price: £5 / £6 Times: 8.30pm Plus Metal Gear Solid Madonnas and Little Explorer.
Wednesday 02/05
Ronnie Londons Groove Lounge Style: Sixties, Mod Venue: Grosvenor Price: £3 Times: 8pm-1am
The Jai-Alai Savant Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £6 adv Times: 7.30pm
Wholesome Fish Venue: Running Horse Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm - 12am
Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 8pm
Firefly Style: Techno Venue: Marcus Garvey Ballroom Price: £13 adv Times: 10pm - 6am Ivan Smagghe, Paco Osuna, Jeet and More TBC.
Saggy Pants Presents Venue: Maze Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm John Coates and Ying.
Farmyard loves music Venue: Malt Cross Buen Chico (TBC), Kingsize Operator and Team Hughes.
Sam Isaac and Luke Leighfield Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm - 12am
Thea Gilmore Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £13 adv Times: 7pm
Muzyka Presents Venue: Rock City Price: £8 adv Times: 6.30pm I-Def-I, Forever Never, Spirytus and Speed Theory.
Faster Pussycat Venue: Rock City Price: £15 adv Times: 6pm Plus Bullet Boys, Enuff Z’Nuff and Gypsy Pistoleros. Cradle of Filth Venue: Rock City Price: £17 adv Times: 7pm Liars Club Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm / £5 Times: 10.30pm - 5am
Help She Can’t Swim Venue: Social Price: £7 adv Times: 8pm Allegri String Quartet Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 7.30pm
Saturday 28/04
Charlie with percussion Venue: Loft Price: Free
Thursday 03/05
Money Mark Venue: Social Price: £11 adv Times: 7pm Orlando Consort and Viva Voce Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 7.30pm
Friday 04/05 Anti Nowhere League Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £10 / £12 Times: 9pm - 2am Plus Paul Carter. Spectrum Style: Venue: Price: Times: Plump DJ’s
Breaks Stealth £8 adv (NUS) 10pm – 4am and more TBC.
listings... Friday 04/05 The Sunshine Underground Venue: NTU Union Price: £11.75 adv Times: 8pm With Datarock. 10 O’clock Horses Venue: Maze Price: £4 Times: 9pm With The Heels, Dividend Opinions, Fulibulbus and DJ Dub’ L’ Zero
Saturday 05/05 Basement Boogaloo Style: Soul, Disco, Funk Venue: Maze Price: £5 / £6 Times: 10pm - 3.30am With Richard Sen. Liars Club Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm / £5 Times: 10.30pm - 5am Live: Yuksek and The Teenagers. DJ’s: Data, Residents and guests. Ashley Wass, Piano Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 7.30pm LeftLion Presents Venue: Orange Tree Price: Free Times: 8.30pm - 12am Model Morning, Lois and Stiff Kittens DJ’s. Tightrope Venue: Maze Times: 2pm - 12am All day charity event including Martino Muncheo and Simmone, Nathan McGbhann, Capoera, Worriedaboutsatan, Oneeye, Old Basford, Deep Sound Channel and Pressure Drop.
Sunday 06/05 Super Sundays Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free! Times: 7pm Thomas Denver Jonsson, Spaceships Are Cool and Yunioshi. Audiophile Style: Reggae, Electro, Techno Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 2pm - 2am Bank Holiday BBQ Special, Jean Jacques Smoothie, Midnight Candymen, Little Jo Beep, Love To DJ, Mood Gremlin, Fat Chris, Mr Ed and Supine. Kosheen Venue: Price: Times:
NTU Union £13.95 adv 7.30pm
music / weeklies / comedy /exhibitions / theatre Monday 07/05 Monday Madness! Venue: Maze Price: Free Times: 8pm Botnik, Girlfixer and Monkeys of The High Seas!
Tuesday 08/05 Acoustic Tuesdays Open Mic Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free Times: 8pm Ray Davies Venue: Royal Centre Price: £26.50 Times: 7.30pm The Maze’s Big Birthday Jam! Venue: Maze Price: Free Times: 7pm Grain, Old Basford, Trickster, Deep Sound Channel and more.
Thursday 10/05 The Twang Venue: NTU Union Price: £10 adv Times: 8pm Ephel Duath Venue: Rock City Price: £8 adv Times: 7.30pm Guarneri Trio Prague Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 7.30pm An Evening With’ Eliza Gilkyson Venue: Maze Price: £12 adv Times: 7.45pm
Friday 11/05 Wigflex Style: Dubstep, Tech, Electronica Venue: Muse Price: £1.99 (NUS) Times: 10pm - 4am Caspa, Rust and Blitzz. Riot Promotions Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £6 / £8 Times: 9pm - 2am NFD (Ex Fields of The Nephilim), Rhombus and Nightmoves. Rat and Survival Bike Show Venue: MFN Club Price: £10
Teitur Venue: Social Price: £6.25 adv Times: 7pm
Detonate - Indoor Festival Style: DnB, Hiphop, Breaks Venue: Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Stealth Times: 8pm - 6am Detonate takes over Rock City and its attached venues for their second May bank holiday indoor festival. This year bringing the ridiculous Valve Sound System with them. The line up is huge with over fifty acts confirmed across seven arenas. Below is a summary of some of the better known names, check the full lineup on detonate1.co.uk: Drum and Bass (Detonate): Pendulum, Scratch Perverts, Andy C, LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad, Goldie, DJ Hype, Dillinja, Teebee B2B Calyx and Transit Mafia. Breaks (Spectrum): Stanton Warriors, Pendulum and Pete Jordon. Hiphop (Camouflage): Rahzel and DJ JS-1, Supernatural, C2C, hosted by Karizma. Roots and Reggae (Highness Sound System): Iration steppas and Highness selectas. Wigflex presents: Nightmares on Wax, Spam Chop and The Hizatron. Dubstep (Futureproof and Heavyweight Rocksteady): Skream, The Bug, Digital Mystikz and Sergeant Pokes and Geoim. Dollop Presents: Digitalism, Nightmoves, Miss Odd Kid, The Glamour Soundystem and D’Lex.
Saturday 12/05
Friday 18/05
Friday 25/05
Riot Promotions Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £6 / £8 Times: 9pm - 2am Dirty Rig, New Generation Superstars and Disarm.
Lionel Richie Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £35 / £50 +bf
Hot Renault Traffic Club Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £4 Times: 8pm - 2am The Films.
Willy Mason Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £10 adv Times: 7pm The Hidden Hand Venue: Rock City Price: £7 adv Times: 7.30pm Plus Stinking Lizaveta and End of Level Boss. Liars Club Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm / £5 Times: 10.30pm - 5am DJ’s: Does it Offend You, Yeah?, Le Castle Vania and residents. Pama International Venue: Maze
Sunday 13/05 The Zombies Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £17 adv Times: 7.30pm Cosmic American presents Venue: Maze Price: £10 adv Times: 7pm Nick Harper
Monday 14/05 Funeral Venue: Price: Times:
For A Friend Rock City £8 adv 7.30pm
Cosmic American presents Venue: Maze Price: £10 adv Times: 7pm Carrie Rodriguez Trio (USA) Plus Support Doug Hoekstra
Tuesday 15/05 Ghosts Venue: Social Price: £7 adv Times: 8pm Leftlion Unplugged Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free Times: 8pm - 11am Liam Bailey and the Soul Parade, Austin Francis Connection, Will Jeffery and Tim McDonald.
Wednesday 16/05 Saxon Venue: Rock City Price: £18 adv Times: 7.30pm With support from Masterplan and Rose Tattoo. Lúnasa Venue: Lakeside Price: £15 Times: 8pm James Harries and Kris Drever Venue: Maze Price: £8 adv Times: 7.30pm
Thursday 17/05 Sam Brown Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £14 adv Times: 7.30pm Jeff Healey Venue: Rock City Price: £24 adv Times: 7pm
Riot Promotions Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £4 Times: 8pm - 2am The Bishops Audiophile Style: Reggae, Electro, Techno Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - late Simple Kid Venue: Social Price: £8.35 adv Times: 7pm Tom McRae Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £16 adv Times: 7.30pm Farmyard Records Presents Venue: Maze Price: £5 adv Times: 9pm
Saturday 19/05 Magnum Venue: Rock City Price: £18 adv Times: 7pm Tuung Venue: Rescue Rooms Price: £9 adv Times: 7pm Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers Venue: Royal Centre Price: £11 - £15 Times: 7.30pm Nottingham Punk Club Venue: Maze Broken Bones, Burn, Subvert, Destroy, Buzzkill and The Human Targets.
Monday 21/05
Silversun Pickups Venue: Social Price: £7 adv Times: 7pm Dollop Venue: Social Friendly Fires live and more TBC. Saggy Pants Vs The Maze! Venue: Maze Domino Bones, Penny Black and The Right Friends. Detonate Venue: Stealth Price: £10 adv Times: 10pm - 4am DJ Marky (2hrs), Foreign Beggars, Transit Mafia, Santero, Detail, Rust and more TBC
Saturday 26/5 Liars Club Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm / £5 Times: 10.30pm - 5am DJ’s: Nesakyk Mamai and Your Mum / My Mum.
Sunday 27/05 Super Sundays Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free Times: 7pm Dot To Dot Festival Venue: Rock City Price: £22.75 adv Times: 1pm See next page for full information. Mat Andasun Band Venue: Maze Times: 9.30pm
Monday 28/05
Joe Jackson Venue: Rock City Price: £17.25 adv Times: 7.30pm John Martyn - Solid Air Tour Venue: Royal Centre Price: £24.50 Times: 7.30pm
Tuesday 22/5 Acoustic Tuesdays Open Mic Venue: Malt Cross Price: Free Times: 8pm Isis Venue: Rock City Price: £11.75 adv Times: 7.30pm
Wednesday 23/50 Devil Sold His Soul Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £5 / £7 Times: 7.30pm 11.30pm With support from Zenith. Dustin’s Bar Mitvah Venue: Social Price: £7 adv Times: 7pm
Thursday 24/05
Manic Street Preachers Venue: Rock City Price: £28.25 adv Times: 7pm
Massage in The Park Venue: Arboretum Park Price: Free Times: All day There’s a carnival theme. Think pin the tail on the donkey, mice races, helta skelta’s, organised sports day events, egg and spoon and sack races... There will also be a farmers market, cider bar, clothing and jewellery stalls, live performance art, fire and glass walking, stick fighting, spinning and twirling fire poi, a massage stand and a skate ramp with skate companies running competitions!
UK Takeover 5 Venue: Rock City Price: £10 / £15 + bf Main Stage: Lethal Bizzle, Klashnekoff (live band), Wiley, Taskforce, Kyza, Shameless, L.Man, Chain of Command, Stig of the Dump and Dr Syntax, Baby J presents Antourage, Dynamite MC, Mr Ti2bs, Precha, Alex Blood and Malik, (MD7), Wariko, Young Kof, J Gold and Gully, Spit Semis (Takeover 4 Battle Champion). Hosted by: Mista Jam and Rodney P. DJ Room: DJ MK, Excalibah and Mr Thing.
Dot to Dot Festival
Sunday 27/05 Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Social and Stealth
Words: Alasdair Catton Sunday 27 May sees the return of Dot To Dot, Nottingham’s multi-genre five-venue alldayer. Rock City, The Rescue Rooms, The Social, Stealth and Nottingham Trent University are representing from 1pm to 4am, making it the biggest DTD ever. Back for the third go-around,
DTD is shaping up to be one of the jewels in the crown of the Notts music calendar, and once again the line-up is cow-heavy and laden with quality acts who stalk the fringes of the big time. Headline acts include The Cribs (three brothers who you really
should have heard of by now), Kano (MTV Base darling and one of the few grime acts worth the steam off your piss), Blonde Redhead (huge cult band in the Sigur Ros / Mercury Rev mould) and Erol Alkan (DJ on that Electroclash / dance-punk one).
the Fopp award for new music), Datarock (Norwegian mash-up masterdons), Para One and Surkin (the vanguard of the burgeoning French-Electro movement), Dani Wind (Canadian New Rave sorts) and, oh, loads more.
As always, a smattering of local bands get the opportunity to step up. Castle Donington’s Late Of The Pier (“Music to have asthma to”, apparently), The Recovery (brutally heavy altrockers), I Was A Cub Scout (Synth-Pop ahoy!), and La La Lepus (our very own Electronica stars in waiting) all get the opportunity to put their synths on something a bit sturdier than a beer crate, and all of them are worthy of your tab-related attention.
All of this could be yours for a mere twenty of your English pounds, and once again demonstrates that when it comes to snotty young things screaming into a microphone, Nottingham more than holds its own.
The line-up is still being fiddled with as we go to press, but if you want us to mark your card, we’d point you in the direction of Olympus Mons. (winners of
We had a natter with DTD founder Anton Lockwood What’s the ethos behind Dot To Dot? Loads of great new bands and DJs for not too much money… one massive party…music not sponsorship…check out something you wouldn’t normally…no sleep til hometime! Oh, and we won’t have the same bands two years
listings... Weeklies Fridays Love Shack Style: Eighties, Nineties Venue: Rock City Price: £4 / £5 Times: 9.30pm - 2am
Hiphop, House, Breaks Dogma Free 7pm - 2am
Pop.Your_Funk Venue: Bluu Price: Free Times: 9pm - late
Saturdays Uberism Venue: Price: Times:
Media £8 / £10 10pm - 2am
Sundays Jazz at the Bell Style: Jazz Venue: Bell Inn Price: Free Times: 12.30pm – 3am
Out To Lunch Style: Jazz Venue: Dogma Price: Free Times: Afternoon Moog is Sunday Style: Relaxed, Funk Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 12pm - 12am We Love Style: Acoustic Venue: Deux Price: Free Times: 8pm It’s live and almost acoustic. Eclectic open mic night.
Mondays Saturday Venue: Price: Times:
Night live Deux Free 7pm
Rise and Shine / Funk U Style: Alternative, Nineties Venue: The Cookie Club Price: £5 (NUS) Times: 10.30pm - 3am Stylus Venue: Price: Times:
Snug £6 (NUS) 10pm - 4am
Distortion Style: Venue: Price: Times:
Rock, Alternative Rock City £5 (NUS) 9pm - 2.30am
Nottingham School of Samba Style: Samba Venue: Templars Times: 7pm - 9pm Rock Jam Style: Venue: Price: Times:
Session Rock Running Horse Free 8.30pm - 12am
Tuesdays Crash Style: Indie, Alternative Venue: Rock City Price: £3 (NUS) Times: 9.30pm - 2am Crash is Nottingham’s longest running indie night. Open Mic Style: Venue: Price: Times:
Night Acoustic Running Horse Free 8.30pm - 12am
The Horseshoe Lounge Style: Country Venue: Deux Cowboy Fun! Americana, bluegrass and country.
Wednesdays The Big Wednesday Style: Alt, Rock, Pop Venue: The Cookie Club Price: £2.50 (NUS) Times: 10.30pm - 2am Games Night Venue: Loft Price: Free With giant Jenga, cards, prizes and competitions. Wigflex Style: Hiphop, DnB, Dubstep Venue: Stone Price: Free Times: 9pm - late Spam Chop playing beats, breaks hiphop, techie house and all sorts else. With live breakdancers, free N64 and visuals by Synoptics.
Motherfunker Venue: The Cookie Club Price: £1 before 11pm Times: 8.30pm - 12am
LeftLion Pub Quiz Venue: The Golden Fleece Our weekly pub quiz continues at the Fleece. Come down and you could win a load of beer or a meal for your team and more importantly have a laugh.
Sundays
Melody Market Style: Acoustic Price: Free Times: 7.30pm
Who are you looking forward to seeing? Can’t wait to see La La Lepus, Gallows, and Blonde Redhead. Who’ve been the standout bands from previous Dot To Dots? If you can remember it, you weren’t really there. Where do you source the bands for Dot To Dot? Agents, mostly. We’re getting a great rep now, so it’s getting easier to get people to do it. Any message for LeftLion readers? Pray for sunshine. I know the venues are indoors, but it’s been sunny the last two years and that’s made it all shiny and lovely…
For up to date details, check
www.dottodotfestival.co.uk
music / weeklies / comedy / exhibitions / theatre
The Underground Sessions Venue: Snug Price: Free Times: 9pm - 4am Salt Style: Venue: Price: Times:
running. How boring are festivals that do that?
Open Mic Night Venue: Golden Fleece Price: Free Times: 8.30 - 12am Come down at 8pm to secure a 15min slot.
Electric Banana Venue: The Social Price: £2 Times: 10.30pm - 3am
Thursdays Homegrown Venue: Deux Price: Free Times: 7pm The best of Nottingham’s talented singer-songwriters. Noodle Venue: Price:
The Spot Free
Music Saves The Day Venue: Bluu Times: 9pm - late Dogma Presents Style: Hiphop, Breaks Venue: Dogma Price: Varies Times: 9pm - 2am Various live acts every week. Jazz Night Venue: Variety Club Price: Free Times: 7:30pm doors Club NME Style: Venue: Price: Times:
Indie, Rock, Alternative Stealth £2 - £4 10pm - 2am
Singer / Songwriters Night Style: Acoustic Venue: Raffles Art Cafe Price: Free Times: 8.30pm - 12am
Comedy Tuesday 03/04 The Comedy Cabin Venue: Co-op Regency Rooms Price: £8 adv / £9 Times: 7.30pm Geoff Norcott, Mark Allen, Matt Hollins and Aaron Rice.
Thursday 05/04
Thursday 05/04 Sue Perkins Venue: Lakeside Price: £15 Times: 8pm Disappointment is Sue’s middle name. Her mum had preferred Elizabeth, but was overruled by her dad, who had an altogether darker view of life...
Friday 06/04 Lenny Henry: Where you from? Venue: Playhouse Price: £23.50 / £25 Times: 8pm Back with a new show. Expect his usual mix of stand-up and character comedy.
Thursday 12/04 Rob and Skatz Venue: Grosvenor Price: £4 / £5 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm Featuring Rob and Skatz, Matt Hollins, Joe Rowntree, Sheldon Pellets and Darshan. With compere Spiky Mike.
Tuesday 17/04 Should I Stay or Should I Go? Venue: Maze Price: £3 / £4 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm Twelve acts compete. Each does two minutes, then the audience judges with red and cards vote to keep them on or off. With compere James Sherwood.
Friday 04/05 Punt and Dennis Venue: Lakeside Price: £15 Times: 8pm Their first live outing since the 2005 sell out tour ‘Grown Men in Public’.
Saturday 05/05
Ricky Gervais - Fame Venue: Royal Centre Price: £25 + bf Rich Hall Venue: Playhouse Price: £14.50 / £16 Times: 8pm
The Comedy Cabin Venue: Co-op Regency Rooms Price: £8 / £9 Times: 7.30pm Geoff Norcott, Mark Allen, Matt Hollins and Aaron Rice.
Tuesday 08/05 Should I Stay or Should I Go? Venue: Maze Price: £3 / £4 (NUS)
listings... Thursday 10/05 Markus Birdman plus more Venue: Grosvenor Price: £4 / £5 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm start Markus Birdman, Russell Kane and Guests. With compere Spiky Mike.
Tuesday 15/05 Reginald D Hunter Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 8pm
Friday 25/05 Jimmy Carr - Gag Reflex Venue: Royal Centre Price: £18.50 Times: 8pm
Tuesday 29/05 Should I Stay or Should I Go? Venue: Maze Price: £3 / £4 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm start
Exhibitions Sunday 01/04 Prizewinners Exhibition Venue: Surface Gallery Price: Free With Tomas Chaffe and Ben Rivers. Runs Until: 14/04
music / weeklies / comedy / exhibitions / theatre Saturday 07/04 Parade 3: Stuff Happens Venue: Angel Row Gallery Price: Free Work by: Ayling and Conroy, Penny Davis, Craig Fisher, Tom Godfrey, S Mark Gubb, Tristan Hessing, Matthew Jamieson, David Kirshner, Danica Maier, Paul Matosic, Philip Mayer, Peter Norman, Alexander Stevenson and Jason Thomson. Runs Until: 12/05
Saturday 14/04 Designer Makers for Weddings Venue: View from The Top Price: Free 14 April (10am - 4pm) and 15 April (10:30am - 4pm). A table top weekend wedding fair. Runs Until: 15/04
Tuesday 17/04 The Lace Market, Arts and Business Project Venue: View from The Top Price: Free A display of artwork and concepts by artist and sculptural designer Fiona Heron. See the concepts behind the redesign of the Lace Market Square just around the corner from the gallery. Runs Until: 30/04
Saturday 21/04
Prickings: Catherine Bertola Venue: Nottingham Castle Price: Free Runs Until: 15/04 Hetain Patel and Jason Singh Venue: Lakeside Price: Free This interactive multi-screen installation forms part of a national tour, with each exhibition changing in response to its location. Runs Until: 15/04 The Art of Wedding Photography Venue: View from The Top Price: Free Times: Normal opening hours An exhibition by top regional wedding photographers. A chance to see a wide range of approaches to capturing the moment. Runs Until: 15/04
In Sickness and In Health Venue: Lakeside Price: Free People today have high expectations of long and healthy lives. This was not always the case. The uncertainties which faced people through disease and poor medical services are demonstrated in the University’s collections of family archives, hospital records and early medical text books. Runs Until: 22/07
Saturday 07/04
Natural Artifice Venue: Lakeside Price: Free Includes sculpture, installation, drawing and photography. Runs Until: 17/06
Tuesday 01/05 City Arts Nottingham Venue: View from The Top Price: Free Runs Until: 14/05
Perceptions of People with Learning Disabilities Venue: View from The Top Price: Free An exhibition of photography challenging the way we see people with learning disabilities. In conjunction with the NHS. Runs Until: 21/05
Tuesday 29/05 Raw Photographic Collective (RPC) Venue: View from The Top Price: Free A group of digital photographers who met while attending digital photography courses at South Nottinghamshire College. Runs Until: 04/06
Theatre Tuesday 03/04 Guys and Dolls Venue: Royal Centre Price: £11 - £32 Runs Until: 12/04 A Word In Your Eye Venue: Lakeside Price: Free Photography by Graham Lester George. Runs Until: 20/05
Defending The Caveman Venue: Royal Centre Price: £16.50 / £18.50 Times: 7.30pm This look at men, women and why the battle of the sexes is back. Defending the Caveman opened on Broadway in 1995 and ran until 1997 - the longest running solo play in Broadway history
Saturday 14/04 Forever Venue: Notts Arts Theatre Price: £7 / £9 Times: 7.30pm A play about three friends who share each others happiness, joys and sorrows of life.
Monday 16/04 Hot Flush! A Menopause Musical Venue: Royal Centre Price: £9 - £26 Times: Various Packed with new songs, an all-star cast and a sprinkling of HRT. Get ready to share in the friendships, secrets, laughs, tears and the (probably hormonal) ups and downs of some terrific characters.
Wednesday 18/04 The Permanent Way Venue: Lace Market Theatre Price: £6 / £7 Stockbrokers, railway workers, policemen, crash survivors, relatives and counsellors are all linked by avoidable, fatal events. Who should take responsibility? Runs Until: 21/04
Thursday 19/04
Tuesday 15/05 Thursday 05/04
Wednesday 04/04
Henri Oguike Dance Company Venue: Playhouse Price: £12.50 / £16 Times: 8pm Henri Oguike, dubbed one of the most musical choreographers of his generation, returns to the city with his eight-strong troupe.
Hang Lenny Pope Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 8pm Can a family find hope for the future? Chris O’Connell’s new play explores the possibility that love might return and redemption be found for a couple whose lives have been battered by the experience of parenting a violent son. Both touching and funny, Hang Lenny Pope is an urban love story with a macabre twist. Runs Until: 21/04
Monday 23/04 The Hound of the Baskervilles Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £22.50 Times: Various An eerie, bloodcurdling howl is heard across the moors. A blanket of images and sounds envelop the audience bringing the atmospheric terror of Dartmoor, the eerie gothic hall and the ghostly hound to life. Runs Until: 28/04
Thursday 26/04 On Saturdays This Bed is Poland Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 8pm Julie Wilkinson’s new drama tells the story of three women thrown together miles from home. Runs Until: 28/4
Monday 30/04 Acorn Antiques Venue: Royal Centre Price: Various Runs Until: 05/05 Acorn Antiques was first seen on BBC Television 21 years ago and has been a firm favourite with the nation ever since.
Tuesday 01/05 Riverdance Venue: Royal Centre Price: £17.50 - £37.50 Times: Various Runs Until: 06/05 Sea Of Bones Venue: Lakeside Price: £12 Times: 8pm Music by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Tom Waits, Sonic Youth and Domenico Scarlatti. Sea of Bones is a dive into the collective unconscious.
Saturday 05/05 Painkillers Venue: Notts Arts Theatre Price: £5.50 / £7 Times: 7.30pm Nadia, a journalist, traces the life of Angela as she explores what can lead a woman to mourder. Awardwinning writer Paul Buie lifts this dark story that shifts between truth and fabrication, vulnerability and ferocity taking us through the psyche of women who kill.
Monday 07/05 The New Statesman Venue: Royal Centre Price: £10 - £26 Times: Various Meet Alan B’stard, impeccably pinstriped, nose aloft, stalking the corridors of power leaving a trail of devastation in his wake. Runs Until: 12/05
Thursday 10/05 Derren Brown Venue: Royal Centre Price: £21.50 Times: 7.30pm This is his third tour and is expected to sell out as quickly as the last one; which won the coveted Olivier Award for Best Entertainment. Runs Until: 11/05
Monday 14/05 Footloose - The Musical Venue: Royal Centre Price: £10 - £27 Times: Various Based on the smash hit 1980s movie starring Kevin Bacon. It’s the story of city boy Ren who has to move to small town America where dancing is banned. Runs Until: 19/05 The Lieutenant of Inishmore Venue: Lace Market Theatre Price: £6 - £8.50 A Martin McDonagh play. Mad Padraic’s cat has been knocked over on a lonely road. Was it an accident? Padraic will want to know when he gets back from a stint of torture and chip shop bombing in Northern Ireland. Runs Until: 19/05
Sunday 20/05 Tosca Venue: Price: Times:
Royal Centre £21.50 - £31.50 7.30pm
Monday 21/05 The Unexpected Guest Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £22.50 Times: Various Lost in the fog on a lonely road, a stranger seeks refuge in a nearby house, only to find that he has stumbled onto the scene of a murder. When the dead man’s wife confesses to killing her much despised husband a stranger agrees to provide her with an alibi. But, who is he really protecting? Runs Until: 26/05
Sunday 27/05 Jaleo Venue: Playhouse Price: £12.50 - £16 Times: 7.30pm A cocktail of explosive footwork, singing, guitar playing and percussive handclapping from some of flamenco’s finest award-winning artists.
Tuesday 29/05 Gob Squad’s Kitchen Venue: Playhouse Price: £12.50 - £16 Times: Various In 1963 Andy Warhol bought a 16mm film camera and pointed it at a friend while he slept. The resulting eight hour film ‘Sleep’ was the first of many. A quest for the original, authentic, here and now. Runs Until: 30/05
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £22.50 Times: Various This exciting definitive multi-award winning production comes hot from two sell-out seasons in the West End. Starring Shane Richie. Runs Until: 02/06
Wednesday 30/05 The Lover Venue: Lace Market Theatre Price: £6 - £7 After ten years of marriage can Richard and Sarah keep their relationship alive? A drama by the Nobel Prize-winning author, about fantasies, faithfulness, unfaithfulness and the games people play. Runs Until: 02/06
Return to the Forbidden Planet Venue: Notts Arts Theatre Price: £8.50 / £10 Times: 7.30pm Runs Until: 19/05
Tuesday 15/05 Thriller Venue: Royal Centre Price: £19.50 - £29.50 Times: 7.30pm doors A celebration of the phenomenal career of Michael Jackson. This tribute to the king of pop is performed by a full company of West End singers, dancers, a children’s ballet, gospel choir and a live band.
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LeftLion Unplugged at the Malt Cross The third Tuesday of every month
Tues 17th April Black Vinyl Heart John Hull and the Instant Band Daisy B
Tues 15th May
Liam Bailey and the Soul Parade Austin Francis Connection & Will Jeffery
Tim MacDonald
LeftLion Presents at The Orange Tree The first Saturday of every month (From 8:30pm - Midnight)
Sat 07th April
You Slut! Dead City Presidents Stiff Kittens DJs
Sat 05th May
Model Morning Lois Stiff Kittens DJs
This issue’s Nottsword was written by former male stripper turned quizmaster and Kojak impersonator Al Needham. If anyone can actually manage to fill this out correctly and send it back to us by email or to the address on page three, you will win a LeftLion T-shirt (limited sizes left) and a personal handwritten loveletter from Nottingham’s ‘Mr. Sex’.
ACROSS 1. 3. 6. 7. 10. 11. 12. 14. 17. 20. 21. 22.
Chippy frequented by Toulouse Lautrec (6,5). It’s on Mansfield Road, but we’re buggered if we can locate it (4). Former LL cover star – giz a pound, we’ll tell you who he is (9). A Nottingham coward (6). Former Radio Trent DJ, now stacks shelves (4,6). Glossy advertorial mag (3). Used to be The Black Orchid (4). The Scottish club Jimmy Sirrell played for (7,6). When model Jodie lets herself go, she shops here (10,6). Headband-wearing Metal Overlord of Nottingham (6). Our crisp-making inbred cousins (9). Twisted local band (4).
DOWN 2. 3. 4. 5. 8. 9. 13. 15. 16. 18. 19. 20.
Where we have our pub quiz on Wednesdays (6,6). The tiniest bar in Trinity Square (8). Buses even shit theirsen when on our domain (8). Summat to keep your cobs in (4,3). Swing into Viccy Market for some CDs (8,7). Su Pollard’s other sitcom (2,6,7). Firest cup hero Roy Dwight’s nephew’s hit record (6,3). Should be loads of chippies on this street (5,4). Ex-Forest manager, Glenryck Pilchard lookalike (5,5). Found around 17 across on Sunday nights. And around, and around… (3,6). Tits by the Trent (3,6). Very old channel 3 TV region in the Midlands (3,6).
The LeftLion Pub Quiz takes place at the Golden Fleece on Mansfield Road every Wednesday evening. Blessed be to all of those who take part in this most fiendish and devilish of intellectual contests. Those brave souls compete to win a gallon of beer or a meal for them and their friends in this gladiatorial battle of the minds and beer bellies. Sample some of the weekly delights below...
AD SLOGANS
6. Mastication for the nation 7. Lose the smoke. Keep the fire 8. Software for the people-ready business 9. Spend a little, live a lot 10. Anytime, any place, anywhere
FOOD AND DRINK
11. Which citrus fruit was once known as ‘the Forbidden Fruit of Barbados’? 12. Which Asian country grows the most apples in the world? 13. Within one either side, how many Lockets do you get in a packet? 14. What chocolate bar used to be called Raider in Europe?
15. The Dutch version of Aero shares the same name as which rubbish 80s band? 16. If ‘porcine’ refers to pigs and ‘bovine’ refers to cows, what does ‘ursine’ refer to? 17. In the Disney version of Robin Hood, what animal is the Sheriff of Nottingham? 18. What animal is associated with Reggie Perrin’s mother in law? 19. In the original Planet Of The Apes, which breed of primate formed the government? 20. Not counting birds, what animal appears the most times on the official badges of the 20 Premier League clubs? BONUS ONE: How many of them are there?
FOOTBALLERS BEHAVING BADLY
21. Billy The Fish-lookalike Charlie Nicholas nearly caused the death of six US marines when he threw a bottle of vodka at their windscreen and caused them to veer off the road. Who was he playing for at the time? 22. When Gary Charles’ car was searched by police after another drink-driving episode, what very special piece of evidence did he leave on the back seat? 23. Which current manager was sacked as a player for breaking into a teammate’s hotel room and breaking his jaw as he slept because he lost at cards to him? 24. What did Gazza break in Glenn Hoddle’s hotel room when he was told he’d been dropped from the England squad for the World Cup? 25. Which former Forest player got his team sent home early from a pre-season break when he let off a fire extinguisher in the hotel bar?
BONUS TWO: Who did said former Forest player beat up in a French bar during the 1998 World Cup?
MAVERICK ROUND - DRUGS
26. Name the highly addictive drug that originated in Prague, caused people to vomit up their own pelvis, and was exposed in an episode of Brass Eye? 27. Finish the following piece of graffiti; Zammo chased the dragon and got… 28. What nationality was Dr Albert Hoffman, the man credited with the invention of LSD? 29. Sid Vicious, Sonny Liston, Paula Yates and Janis Joplin all died as a result of overdoses of which drug? 30. Which drug was first used to treat wounded soldiers in the Vietnam War?
ANSWERS:
1. “I do this, this, this, this, this and goal” 2. “Hey, look friend, let’s just cut the shit. Now we both know why I was transferred. Everybody thinks I’m suicidal, in which case, I’m fucked and nobody wants to work with me; or they think I’m faking to draw a psycho pension, in which case, I’m fucked and nobody wants to work with me. Basically, I’m fucked.” 3. “Now I want you to give me the gun. Oh, I get it, you gonna end like Doughboy... like little Chris in a wheelchair. Give me the motherfucking gun, Tre.” 4. “Right Banks, you bastard! I’m the daddy now, next time, I’ll fucking kill ya!” 5. “One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires.”
FILM QUOTES: 1. Escape To Victory; 2. Lethal Weapon; 3. Boyz N The Hood; 4. Scum; 5. The Lost Boys. AD SLOGANS: 6. Trident gum; 7. Nicotinell; 8. Microsoft; 9. Aldi; 10. Martini. FOOD AND DRINK: 11. Grapefruit; 12. China; 13. 10; 14. Twix; 15. Bros; 16. Bears; 17. A wolf; 18. A hippopotamus; 19. Orangutans; 20. Lion; BONUS ONE: Three - Villa, Chelsea, Middlesborough. FOOTBALLERS BEHAVING BADLY: 21. Arsenal; 22. A handprint of his own excrement; 23. Dennis Wise; 24. A table lamp; 25. Stan Collymore; BONUS TWO: Ulrika Jonsson. MAVERICK ROUND - DRUGS: 26. Cake; 27. A smack on the nose; 28. Swiss; 29. Heroin; 30. Ketamine.
FILM QUOTES
www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
43
words: Kate Jolly
Why is it that a person’s word seems to mean nothing anymore? The concept of keeping your word, amongst those I seem to meet, is a tool you can use to deceive, get one over or play mind games for apparently pointless reasons. Maybe it’s the feeling of power or the notion of control or maybe it’s just that I deserve it. Though fool that I am, in spite of signs advising action which is contrary, I still do it, running around making my ass blue and flylike until late, busy trying to keep my word, to no avail it would seem, though maybe I only try and keep said word for the same twisted reasons. I don’t personally like being considered a useless twat but I can handle being one, as long as people are distracted by my slagging someone else off. The idea of letting myself turn into one, as about appealing as spending four days dragging the heaviest thing it’s possible for me to drag towards a bottomless well of shit. Is there a way out, do we really have to be this shit? Is the mould set? Don’t expect me to answer that, I don’t have the answers. I don’t know if I even want them, they sound like they would be a burden, besides I have far too many things to complain about. So they would be no use to me, being about as productive/useful as a compliment, if I didn’t somehow manage to warp said answers with persistent whinging, they would gather dust or ‘accidentally’ dive into the toilet bowl as an upsetting last resort. There’s always a problem of some sort, nothing is ever just simple. People always end up assuming the worst. Someone I know called Frank being a very good example of this. It seemed he couldn’t just be grateful that I had kept my word and saw it as a lesson in earnestness that he should heed. No, of course not, he instead, like almost everyone I meet, jumps off the boat of logic, head first into the swamp of stupidity. ‘I am shocked!’ He says before going on to explain that it’s because when people normally say they are going to pay him back they don’t. Yes he is a dealer. That may not sound illogical or eye-wateringly stupid in the slightest, perhaps because that alone is not. It was only when I went on to query why he should think that, if he considers the fact that having known him for a good length of time I have yet to let him down, coupled with the fact that he also knows friends of mine who I have not let down either. Prompting me, quite rightly to think, ‘Jesus… if that is the extent of your intellect, no wonder you have rejected the system and plumped for being a dealer’. I thought about my response before simply saying ‘okay then, that makes sense’. In a questioning tone. He responded with:‘It makes a nice change that is all.’ At this point, my thoughts
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took a more pedantic route as I really wanted to respond by pointing out that it shouldn’t make a change as I have never let him down, but then I can be quite irritating so that may not be surprising. Though it is nice to bring a pleasant moment to someone’s life, it would be a hell of a lot more pleasing if the act of someone keeping their word was not something which was strange and was instead accepted as the norm. What must be taken into account is the fact that being a dealer will give you a slightly screwed version of the trends in morality and I think his amazement was more to do with the fact that without realising, he already is treating others as he expects to be treated: meaning because he himself cannot be relied upon, he assumes that no-one else can either. He is probably right in his actions though, People are shit! People are best avoided, they are not to be trusted, relied upon, compensated or - though it pains me to say it - loved. They say that chocolate stimulates the same bits, which sounds about right, they both make you fat, lazy, look like shit, come out in spots and eventually after your fill, you are left bored, scarred, unsightly and a damn sight more miserable than you were before
your first mouthful. If reality bites, people maul.’ Game theory’s most famous game is called ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma’, a non-cooperative game that involves the following imaginary situation: The police arrest two suspects and keep them isolated from each other. Each prisoner is told that if only one of them confesses, the one who confesses will go free but the one who remains silent will receive a severe sentence. They are also told that if they both confess, each will receive a moderate sentence and if neither confesses, each will receive an even milder sentence. Under these conditions, each prisoner is better off confessing no matter what the other one does. Yet by pursuing their own advantage and confessing, both get harsher sentences than they would have received if they had trusted each other and kept quiet. Prisoner’s Dilemma highlights and summarises a conflict between individual and group interests that lies at the heart of many important real-life situations. Decisions about paying taxes, protecting the environment, or acquiring nuclear weapons may also reflect this tension between what’s good for the decision maker and what’s best for the group.
If you would like your work published on this page, visit the creative writing forum at www.leftlion.co.uk/forum and start posting. Each issue we select the best submissions for the magazine.
Fistful Riot Ready Love
Dream Train
Will I?
Shane West-Bridgford
Just one more time, And then I’ll go, Just one more time And then I’ll let you be, One more apple cork A last glass filled right To the top, Just one more time And then I’ll leap, I’ll jump out of the window It’s faster than the stairs And then I’ll be out of your hair, And into the arms of some Fat business man, who will take me home Dress me up real nice,
Did I tell you about my dream last night Riding on a train Down a never ending track Fasterthanthespeedoflight My life in danger yet I felt safe As i flew like a bird on that train. and I was free.
Whether I will Or whether I won’t Won’t make up my mind, if I do or I don’t
Spotty young yobbos Thieving and fighting. The Observer film critic finds them “very exciting”.
Just one more time Lets let the light out Crank up the stereo And fight all night, Just one more time Because then in the Morning pain, I’ll look like shit With blood in my hair And dirt under the nails And you, Will have divine anger And curse me to hell Scream that pervert Get out! And it’ll be just like It used to Just one more time, We can sleep all day, The cats won’t starve For hunger, They’ll just leave And find new owners And we’ll never have to wake, I’m not asking for much Just bring the glass to the table With such speed as to crush my hand, Just one more time, Shout, scream, cry and weep, And tell me what I did Last night? by Callmadman
The new haiku skip a group system introduce the hatless man strange yourself awhile love’s a crazy beast omnipresent and untamed lets get wild tonight by chief kegwin Stand beneath dark clouds allowing light rainfall to cleanse your prejudice the spider spins it’s web and captures hearts as well as flie by Loinheart
by Chantal
And whether I can Or whether I can’t Won’t make me decide If I should or I shan’t. by dylan6776
Throw in sharp dialogue like “gi us a wank” and you’ll be laughing like me all the way to the bank.
Southern Cutter...
Have you seen my job?
Waxed folicles of matted kelp, Tumble in rolls, over this washed rock undercut, Shaved in conditioning brush strokes by the blue rinse.
Has anyone seen my job? I lost it earlier this week, i just turned my back for a second and it was gone,what a cheek.
Permanent air foil quiffs of bushes, highlight dark razor cliffs flecked in bleached contrast, by the shampoo spray. Layers of dreaded time, sweep clean aside And focus short cuts; falling to all the bodies lashed, upon this barberous shore. by tokingjohn
Wrath of the chicken god Bird flu bird flu bird flu, everywhere he looked All this propaganda for some flocking sneezing chooks How can a few folks dying Turn into a billion yolks crying? Because the flapping media are lying? Perhaps the King of chickens will judge their deceit Peeling their skin with his glorious taloned feet Breaking their bones with his gigantic wing And pecking their eyes for their editorial sins And lo the feathered deity’s wrath will rain down upon them And they’ll regret the day that they crossed the master hen He’ll stomp through the cities, seeking them out “Where are the scaremongers” he’ll clucking shout “Bring them to me brothers, to my throne of shitty sticks” “Drag them from their newsrooms, the nylon suited pricks” “ill make paparazzi omelette with a sauce of their dismay’’ “and they will see the fear that they propagate each day” by Jack Twatt
Jumbo-sized Sharons chasing council house clowns has the middle-class queueing from Broadway to Brownes.
I’m off to Provence now to party and rave as I fly over Skeggie I’ll give ‘them’ a wave. by Lord Biro
by Barnze
The Pig And The Boat I had a boat and I had a pig. I put the pig in the boat and set out for new lands. The pig didn’t mind, he loved long journeys. The pig could bark like a dog and he would if you paid him enough. (Which used to upset the real dogs in the neighbourhood.) I made sure I was wearing a hat when we left, and I packed some ice in case it got hot. Whatever I or the pig thought of became the topic of conversation. ‘Snowboarding,’ said the pig. ‘Ever tried it?’ I admitted I hadn’t and the pig snorted his derision. For a pig he certainly had strong opinions. ‘Can you fly an aeroplane?’ the pig asked. I shook my head sadly. The pig looked disappointed. This wasn’t going well. I started to tell the pig about the time I knifed a man for lying about his age. The pig seemed impressed. The pig told me his secret love was a white rabbit that lived in a hut in the garden. The pig danced about the boat as he described the beauty of the rabbit. The pig and I decided to make a film about drowning. We wanted to capture some of the ecstasy of dying underwater. The pig thought he could sell the film to some guy at Sundance. The pig had taken up smoking, which he did with a smile. He was a very independent pig. Each night as the sun went down the pig took on a mystical appearance. He worshipped the sun like a poet, and when night had come he would rig up a complex lighting arrangement so the dark couldn’t touch him. ‘I’m lonely’ the pig often said, gloomily. I ignored him. I was trying to make music that no-one could hear.
I had two cymbals given to me by the devil, and a violin that acted like a tranquilizer. The music annoyed the pig, I could tell. For his birthday I bought the pig a checked shirt. He refused to wear it, saying that checked shirts were a cliche. The pig told me he longed to be an Eskimo, which somehow enraged me. I picked the pig up and swung him overboard with a glamorous flourish. The pig was fascinated to find himself in the water, but slightly nervous. ‘I prefer trains to boats,’ the pig said one morning as I was dreaming of sandcastles. I didn’t say anything, but I noticed that the pig had taken out his medical records and was leafing through them unconcernedly. The pig wanted to know what year it was. ‘Its 1989,’ I told him, although it wasn’t. The pig was thinking of becoming a communist, which struck me as a great idea. For weeks he was full of revolutionary fervour: everything was ideological and explainable. The pig wanted me to call him Henrik, after his cousin. I bought the pig a tyre, told him I found it in the library. The pig started to whisper things at night. ‘Marcel Duchamp,’ whispered the pig, ‘was a terrible speller.’ I nodded my agreement. ‘Walt Whitman didn’t know what he was doing half the time,’ the pig continued. I phoned my brother to tell him what the pig had been up to, but he was out winding up clocks so I just left a short message. The pig began to grow a beard, which I had to admit suited him. The pig was always discovering new things: he was always paying close attention. I liked that about him. I realised the pig was practicing his punctuation while I was asleep. by Cal Gibson
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Aries (March 21 - April 20)
Libra (September 24 - October 23)
You’ll be violated hundreds of times by out-of-control alcoholics this month, but it’s to be expected. Sometimes you might even enjoy it. It’s not that bad if you sit back and relax with a bottle of bourbon. It tickles more than it hurts really…
The horror of everyday life is apparent in every hour that you spend pretending to work at your desk. Over half your waking life is spent faking it. But ask yourself, is any of this real? Or is it just a test? Is someone up there playing an incredibly sophisticated joke on us all or is it genuinely this dull.
Taurus (April 21 - May 21) The weird and often unfriendly looks you receive on your bus rides throughout the city are the downside to your new hobby. If you want to play then you’ll have to get used to them. The bus driver knows more about you than you will ever know.
Gemini (May 22 - June 22) You were told nothing good would come of dishonesty, but you can be happy with all the mediocre stuff that did. Bathe in your sinful nature and realise it’s what makes you human. The house cats will be the next species to rule the planet. Until then they rest…
Cancer (June 23 - July 23) Save time by keeping your socks together throughout the wash and dry process. Get some safety pins and keep them by the washing machine especially. Pin the toes of the socks together and save valuable time matching them up afterwards.
Leo (July 24 - August 23) If you will continue to take your role models from popular television and films then you’ll continue to end up in sticky situations. Big Brother is about as true to real life as Peter Pan. in fact less so. Eastenders and Coronation Street should be banned! Why on earth would you want to make with that Deirdre Barlow Ken fool?
Virgo (August 24 - September 23) Of all the gin joints in all the towns she walked into mine. It was a day I will remember for the rest of my life. She waltzed in with legs up to her armpits, speaking softly saying: “Hey sugar, I’m from the environmental health department. I’ve come to close you down.” That was the day I lost everything. It was so beautiful.
Scorpio (October 24 - November 22) You can control your dreams if you become aware of them whilst still asleep. Next time you’re nodding and you see a light switch try and hit it. The one thing you can’t change in your dreams is light levels - as extra light is what wakes you up. If the switch doesn’t work then you can have whatever you want. Make it lucid baby.
Sagittarius (November 23 - December 22) A holiday will do you the world of good, but coming back after it is hard. The thought of running away with someone new appeals, but the most obvious option is not always the best. Your tattoos rock! Whatever happens, you’ll always have a place to stay in hood town. Two if you count your sister’s pad.
Capricorn (December 23 - January 19) I don’t mean to make obscene, but I’ve always been this way. I was born as the seventh son of a seventh son. My mother and grandmother are both very tired and old as a result both thoroughly sick of giving birth to boys. So they stopped and I was the last. But anyway, enough about me…
Aquarius (January 20 - February 19) Is it possible to happily live in a state of monogamy or is that just a misspelling of a type of darkcoloured wood? Some people claim that marriage interferes with romance. To my mind there’s no doubt about it. Anytime I have a romance, my wife is bound to interfere.
Pisces (February 20 - March 20) If you need to drug a dog this week then make sure you disguise the flavour of the tablets. Canines have sensitive gums which react badly to the acidic flavour of common household medication. Try experimenting with something strong to take the flavour away like Marmite. They’ll either love it or they’ll hate you…
City Cen tre Squares Special!
MARKET SQUARE
Year of origin: 1493
Year of origin: 1155
Designer: Ivan III
er Designer: Gustafson Port
Corpses on display: 1
Corpses on display: 0 Semi-naked hen parties
(per week): 14.4
tains (p.a): 135 Washing-up liquid in foun
46
www.leftlion.co.uk/issue16
RED SQUARE
gallons
Semi-naked hen parties
(per week): 1.4
Washing-up liquid in foun tains (p.a): 12 gallons
MEET AT THE LIONS
PARTY SQUARE ON THE
LIVE MUSIC WEEKEND 30 MARCH - 1 APRIL
FRIDAY 30 MARCH 6PM ONWARDS
CRAZY P
SATURDAY 31 MARCH 1PM ONWARDS
SUNDAY 1 APRIL 12PM ONWARDS
THE BEVERLEY KNIGHT MAGIC BENT (DJ) NUMBERS FREDDIE KOFI KODA COLA PLUS SUPPORT MORE ACTS TO BE CONFIRMED
JUST JACK MUMM-RA CHERRY GHOST I WAS A CUB SCOUT OLD BASFORD CAPTAIN DANGEROUS
TONY HADLEY AND HIS BIG BAND KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS OCKBROOK BAND
(THE BEAT AND EG COMPETITION WINNER)
PLUS SUPPORT MORE ACTS TO BE CONFIRMED
Visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/oms to find out more.
This is a free event. All events are correct at time of going to print but may be subject to change.