Alan Gilby Cryst-Al Ball alan.gilby@leftlion.co.uk
Jared Wilson Editor-in-Chief jared.wilson@leftlion.co.uk
George White Editor george.white@leftlion.co.uk
Lizzy O’Riordan Assistant Editor lizzy.oriordan@leftlion.co.uk
Natalie Owen Head Designer natalie.owen@leftlion.co.uk
Curtis Powell Head of Video and Photography curtis.powell@leftlion.co.uk
Adam Pickering Partnerships Manager adam.pickering@leftlion.co.uk
Tom Errington Web Developer tom.errington@leftlion.co.uk
Addie Kenogbon Fashion Editor addie.kenogbon@leftlion.co.uk
Dom Henry Stage Co-Editor dom.henry@leftlion.co.uk
Ian C. Douglas Stage Co-Editor ian@leftlion.co.uk
Al Draper, Alison Gove-Humphries, Alison Harrison, Alison Hedley, Anamenti, Anne Jennings, Ant Haywood, Barbara Morgan, Ben Lester, Caroline Le Sueur, Catriona, Chloe Langley, Chris Mead, Chris Underwood, Claire Foss, Claire Henson, Claire Warren, Clare Foyle, Colin, D Lawson, Dan Lyons, Dan Hemmings, Darren Harvey, David Knight, Dean Collier, Dick Watson, Donna Rowe-Merriman, Eddie, Eden PR, Ellen O’Hara, Emma Hibbert, Emma Lipinski, Erika Diaz Petersen, Felicity Whittle, Fred Glenister, Freddy Angell, Hayley Howard, Heather Hodkinson, Heather Oliver, Helena Tyce, Ian Storey, Ian Yanson, In memory of Anna Novak (Bradford and Scoraig), In memory of Jenny Smith, James Medd, James Place, James Wright, Janine Lees, Jayne Paul William & Pirate Jack, Jed Southgate, Jem Woolley, Jenni Harding, Jess Gibson, Joanna Furniss, John Haslam, John Hess, John Holmes, Jon Blyth, Jonathan Axworthy, Jonathan Fenn, Jos Potts, Joshua Heathcote, Judy Gray, Julian Bower, Justyn Roberts, Kathleen Dunham, Kay Gilby, Kiki Dee the Cat, Koprowskit, Lawrence Poole, Leanne Moden, Les Hayes, Livi & Jacob Nieri, Liz Knott, Lizzy and Margot, Lizzy Colyer, Louise Duffield, Marc Weaver, Maria Brambles, Mark Barratt, Mark Gasson, Matt Cliffe, Matt Turpin, Matthew Riches, Mighty Lightweights, MinorOak Coworking, Miri Debah, Moira Scothern, Monica White, Nick Donovan, Nick Waine, Nigel Cooke, Nigel Hudson, Nigel King, NottingJam Orchestra, Paul Boast, Paul Woodall, Pete Barker, Philip Miller, Rachel Ayrton, Rachel Hancorn, Rachel Morton, Raphael Achache, Rhys Hawkins, Rich Fisher, Richard Barclay, Richard Goodwin, Rob Arthur, Roger Hughes, Ron Mure, Ross Balzaretti, Roy Manterfield, Russell Brown, Sam Hudson, Sam Nahirny, Sam Rose, Sarah Manton, Sarah Moore, Sarah Scriver, Simon Evans, Spicer, Stephanie Larman, Steve Lyon, Steve Riordan, Steve Stickley Storyteller, Steve Wallace, Stewart Berry, Stuart, Stuart Wilson, Sue Barsby, Sue Reader, Tim Foster Hair, Tom Justice, Tom Patterson, Tracey Newton, Vicky Sorsby, Will
Jamie Morris Screen Co-Editor jamie.morris@leftlion.co.uk
Marta Tavares Art Co-Editor marta.tavares@leftlion.co.uk
George Dunbar Art Co-Editor george.dunbar@leftlion.co.uk
Fancy seeing your name (or the name of your band, small business, loved one, pet etc) in this mag every month? It only costs a fiver and the money supports this magazine. Plus you get all kinds of other treats too. patreon.com/leftlion
Daniela Loffreda Food Editor food@leftlion.co.uk
Fabrice Gagos Photography Co-Editor fabrice.gagos@leftlion.co.uk
Oliver is a freelance film writer and software developer. He has recently started a Masters in Film Cultures at the University of Leicester but remains a Nottingham resident, where he has lived since birth. He has been a huge fan of films since a young age, something that was cemented when he first watched Eraserhead by David Lynch; nowadays he enjoys everything from silent German cinema to Westerns and French New Wave. You can find him editing LeftLion's screen section and tweeting infuriating hot takes over at @olivertparker.
Check out Oliver’s F for Film column on page 33
Our resident crystal gazer has studied the stars to figure out your fortunes, great people of Nottingham. You’re welcome…
It wouldn’t be an issue of LeftLion if we weren’t at least a little self-indulgent - so we asked Kerry Louise Ward to read our tarot cards
Astrology is a hot topic for the youth of today, becoming something of a TikTok and pop culture sensation. Our Lizzy O’Riordan explores why…
With energy bills soaring and rail networks in disarray, LeftLion columnist Nadia Whittome MP calls for public services to become public once more
Reading tarot cards, chatting to those who have passed into the afterlife, running workshops - it’s just an average day for a fortune teller Earth, Wind & Fire (...and Water)
Aiming to crowbar a wider range of topics into this mag, we’ve taken a look at astrology’s elements and used them as relevant (ish) jumping-off points
Ahead of the upcoming Middleway Words Festival, LeftLion talks to Julie Malone, one of its organisers, about her journey to authordom
Hello there,
Sorry to channel my inner Gen-Z in my first issue in charge, but the theme of this mag is a topic that’s fascinated us for quite some time.
Love it or loathe it, astrology is undoubtedly having a bit of a moment right now. A TikTok sensation, an obsession of younger generations, a regular reference point in popular culture - whether taken seriously or made the butt of a joke, astrology is all the rage. So, as a trendy, hip mag that’s always on top of what’s fresh and cool, we thought we’d look into why studying the stars has become such a popular practice with the youth (and non-youth, in fact) of today. Check out our deepdive on page eighteen for all the answers.
With the insecure mentality of needy secondary schoolers, we didn’t want to miss out on the fun ourselves, so we decided to get Wollaton-based tarot card reader Kerry Louise Ward to see what our futures have in store (page seventeen). Tipped to be great leaders, gifted creators and gutsy
Author Jim Gibson explains how his hometown of Newstead Village inspired his debut short story collection The Bygones
It’s set in Nottingham, it stars Vicky McClure and it’s packed with talent from The Television Workshop - there’s no series more Notts than Without Sin
Our good pal Katie Lyle, former Music Editor for this very magazine, is making waves with her band The Crying Violets - we hear all about it
Out of Time: Norman Robert Pogson
From discovering Isis (the minor planet, that is) to running the Madras Observatory, N. R. Pogson was a pretty important guy
adventurers, Kerry either twisted her readings for the sake of our sanity or we’re onto big things. Only time will tell. Outside of this, we hear from a Fortune Teller in Notts (p15), who explains why they’ll never tell someone when they’ll die (which is… reassuring?), get our resident clairvoyant to give their predictions for the people of Nottingham (p16), and ask author Julie Malone all about her star sign (p22).
If crystal-gazing isn’t your thing, though, fear not. With features on everything from brand new, Nottingham-based ITV shows to the importance of hedgerows (yep, really), we’d like to think there’s plenty for even the most ardent astrology-sceptics to enjoy.
So, whether you indulge in the zodiac or not, we hope the stars shine favourably on your future, and even more favourably on this issue…
LeftLion Magazine is fully recyclable and compostable. Our paper is recycled or made with FSC® certified (C015932) sources, and printed using renewable energy.
“Some shots during a shoot with @mariano_doronzo in Nottingham a while back, looking a lot paler”
Tag us on Instagram @leftlionmagazine to feature in a future issue
George White, Editor george.white@leftlion.co.ukFranky Bones
Our mole on the ground isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to bring you the Notts stories you might have missed...
"How come I always get released just as the weather turns bad?"
Slightly embarrassing news to report from the world of lesser mammals: hedgehogs in Keyworth have had to rely on humans just to get around. Residents on Dale Road actually won an award for their work helping the spiny simpletons navigate their back gardens (steady), after they drilled holes in fences to create ‘wildlife corridors’ for the hogs. I have a tip: learn to burrow, ya scroungers.
In more fluffy press for less impressive animals, Nottinghambased charity Disability Support has recruited a tegu lizard to provide therapy to their beneficiaries. Apparently the beast, Taz is his name, is helping people to “relax instantly” with his mere presence. That’s great for him, but when are us moles going to get our time to shine? We’re actually cuddly, unlike that coldhearted, scaly so-and-so. Unbelievable.
Regardless of how much animal news is out there, you can always rely on humans to make headlines for the most baffling reasons. This time, I caught one of you whizzing past University Park, riding an office chair on top of an e-scooter. Operator Superpedestrian weren’t happy, saying they “do not condone this behaviour”, but I have a bigger issue than the mode of transporthaving your hood up when it’s not even raining? Get a grip, son.
This month we’ve tasked John Baird, author of Follow the Moon and Stars, with choosing a few of his favourite things…
Man 1:“Ireallywanttowatchthat film, what's it called, OldManonaCountryRoad?”Man 2: “You meanNo CountryforOldMen?”Man 1:“Ohyeah,that'sit.”
“I want him to touch my fallopian tube.”
"ThoseFrench,yeah? "Yes,Theyeathorses." I know. Snails as well.""Snails eat horses?" “Yeah, it’s really bad, needed loads of stitches… Nah mate, I couldn’t be arsed with hospital. I just used me mam’s sewing kit.”
Little girl: "I love Halloween, mummy."
"What? You'venever licked abattery?"
Mother: "Well, you shouldn't do because it's for Satan."
Charles Darwin's most accessible book is his largely-forgotten, and hugely insightful, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Published in 1872, it’s arguably the first psychology book, and it’s one of the first releases to feature photographic illustrations.
Jungleland, the epic nineand-a-half-minute climax to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s album Born to Run, is a powerful tale that opens with an intricate violin-piano combo and peaks with saxophonist Clarence Clemons' brilliant solo.
I’ve never been to Scarborough but I do like the look of the place. Grandeur without pretence, it’s got three theatres, two sandy beaches and a large bookshop. And what does a Scarborough donkey get for lunch? About five minutes.
The Willowbrook pub in Gedling do a cracking fish and chip meal, with goldenbrown chips and tasty white fish in a crispy light batter. Breaking with local custom, I opt for garden peas, all washed down with a Castle Rock real ale.
The Band performed their last concert in 1976 and Martin Scorsese was there to record it for his film The Last Waltz; a rockumentary that captures a celebration of music featuring many of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time.
On a good day there’s nowhere quite like the City Ground. The Trentside location, the history, the fans. Four very different stands, each with its own character, yet each a place of belonging, togetherness, desire and, occasionally, celebration.
@JohnBairdAuthor
"We'vehadsomany donations,wearehavingto widen our feminist area."
on
words: Dani Bacon
He’ll be a fantastic king. He’ll only be in the role for twenty years or so, but he’s likely to be very good at it. We watched that documentary by Jonathan Dimbleby and it makes you realise how many things he’s already done. He was talking about plastic pollution back in the 1970s and fifty years later everyone else has cottoned on. For years people spoke about the Queen abdicating, but that wouldn’t have been right. But he’s now here at the right time.
Will she even still be Prime Minister when this is printed? (Ed’s note: clearly not). It’s all utter chaos. Contrary to what she says, she’s not the first Prime Minister to go to comprehensive school. Ted Heath was the first, followed by John Major and Gordon Brown. Also Theresa May - who is from her own party and still presumably knocking around. Ted Heath’s father was a bricklayer, you know? John Major’s father was a trapeze artist!
We’re getting on a bit and we want to remain flexible in our old age - we can’t be doing with hobbling. So we decided to take up yoga and went to a class at a place near town. There were about fifteen or twenty people there in total, although most of them were younger than us. The teacher was very good, but we ended up leaving with the most terrible headache. It’s hard keeping your head level for all that time. If we can master the head bit we’ll have another go.
Gedling Village Community
I hate to say it, but it’s a wood pigeon.
Lenton Community Group
Personally think it’s a disgrace that the roads are closed. My tax and other road uses can’t travel on the roads we pay to travel on. And for what? Raising money for illnesses
Gedling Village Community
There are some seriously sick members on here who post an imoji symbol
Spotted Ilkeston Town Surely someone must recognise a thumb.
Gedling Village Community
Oh look another laughing comment from Dave
Spotted Ilkeston Town
Anyone else brought Heroes from morrisons? Usually all the chocolates are miniature but I brought this tub and it has 2 full size single twirls and no small ones?
Carlton Hill Community
The answer is simple. Ban the fireworks that go bang
Lenton Community Group Could you be Jesus?
Spotted: Long Eaton hit a cyclist one time and all of a sudden you’re a murderer? Smh made dinner tonight doesn’t make a chef. I feel for you mate
Spotted in Netherfield Haven’t seen anyone in ng4 trim a bush as neat as this fella, keep up the good work
Spotted Ilkeston Town Why Boy Racers I think it's quite offensive that you're just assuming their gender
Spotted: Long Eaton Would you be able to help get it in?
Spotted in Netherfield Avoid the knob area
Spotted Eastwood Its always haloloween in ripley. Freaks everywhere
Spotted Ilkeston Town
Is it open Mike night on spotted tonight .
Spotted Ilkeston Town who took my bike wheel on lime street at 8 :38 pm just nip in my m8 for 2 min
Spotted: Long Eaton speed bumps on a 40mph road? You must smoke some amazing stuff
I shall never laugh about Carlton Square car park again as this is far more amusing!
Spotted Ilkeston Town
I feel a bit upset I didn't get pulled
Spotted Kimberley & Eastwood IM A MAN WITH A VAN!
Nottingham’s most opinionated grocers on...Astrology makes everyone feel special while astronomy makes everyone feel insignificant.
words: Nadia Whittome photo: Fabrice Gagos
Much as I’m passionate about good quality, affordable public transport, I can’t relate to my colleagues who talk about how bad things are in their constituencies. Nottingham buses never let me down. If I miss one, I know I can expect another in minutes (which is very much not the case when I’m down in London). When I was at college, I would sometimes even do my homework on the bus because the WiFi was better than in my own home!
As well as being modern and reliable, they are among the greenest in the country, leading the way in replacing diesel with electricity and biogas. No wonder they can boast an impressive list of national awards.
Why am I bringing this up? On Sunday 16 October, Nottingham City Transport celebrated 125 years of public ownership. While transport networks across the country were being sold off, Nottingham buses remain in the hands of the Council.
Similarly, despite having made £758 million profit last year and paid its CEO a hefty £753,000, privatised Royal Mail has refused to lift its staff wages with inflation - and announced job cuts to break up their strike. That’s why many unions involved in the recent wave of strikes have not only demanded pay rises, but also talked about the need for services to be returned to public hands.
The energy market has been making headlines like rarely before, as soaring bills erode our paychecks and force millions to choose between heating and eating. It’s heartbreaking to hear about children going to school hungry or pensioners shivering in cold homes. But it’s enraging to learn that large energy companies are not experiencing a crisis at all, but making billions in excess profits thanks to rising prices. CEO of BP, Bernard Looney, who famously described the company as a “cash machine”, has seen his salary more than double in a year, to an eye-watering £4.46 million.
What would change if these services were nationalised? For starters, they would be run with more than just profit in mind. Rather than trying to squeeze every penny out of us, they could prioritise keeping prices reasonable and workers’ wages liveable. Instead of going into shareholders’ pockets, any surplus made could be reinvested into improving quality or sustainability.
For over forty years now, since the era of Thatcher, we’ve been told by politicians of all stripes that privatisation is the only way. The private sector, they argue, is synonymous with efficiency; competition drives up standards and lowers costs. But do the facts back up these claims? Let’s look at some examples.
Take water. Since it was sold off to private providers in 1989, bills have gone up by 40% above inflation. Last year, while sewage was flowing into our rivers and pollution targets were not being met, 22 bosses of water companies paid themselves £14.7 million in bonuses.
Just like water, the rail is an example of a “natural monopoly” where the rules of market competition simply don’t work. Unlike with jeans or ice cream, you can’t switch to a cheaper brand or pick one you like more. If you rely on a train to get you to work, you don’t have much of a choice - so you’ll put up with pricier tickets regardless of the quality of service. This allows the operators to keep raising fares, while you sigh hearing of another delay.
Given that British railways were privatised 25 years ago, it’s ironic that most of our train lines are owned by governments - just not our own government. Britain’s ticket fares, famously among the most expensive in Europe, are used to subsidise better public transport abroad.
Privatisation harms not only customers, but also workers. While many rail bosses are paid more than the Prime Minister, low-paid staff face real-terms pay cuts.
Public ownership also enables more transparency and accountability. When public institutions don’t meet expectations, we blame the Government or councils, and can elect a different one. When privatised services are subpar and prices go up, there’s little we can do. A small company could go out of business and be replaced - but many of the corporations that provide our essential services are too big and powerful to simply fail. The Government spends billions on bailing out private companies when they’re struggling, but they get to keep the profits when they’re thriving.
Public ownership doesn’t have to mean going back to the 1970s - it’s the norm across much of Europe. Switzerland’s railway, considered the best on the continent, is state-owned. So is France’s biggest energy provider EDF, which helped ensure that French energy bills only went up by 4% this year (compared to 96% in Britain). But we don’t even need to look across the Channel for examples. Scottish Water, which was never privatised, has been ranked by customers as the UK’s most trusted utility provider.
It’s time we learned from this and accepted that public ownership works. Rail, mail, energy and water should belong to us all, and be run in the interests of citizens, not profit.
Meanwhile, I will continue to praise Nottingham buses. I’m only being a little bit biased when I call them the best in the world.
Public ownership doesn’t have to mean going back to the 1970s - it’s the norm across much of Europe
ya winning, sun?Matt Williams
I started doing divination from a really young age. My grandmother taught me how to read tea leaves at the age of about four, and how to read tarot a bit later, so I’ve never known life without divination. Of course, I didn’t know it was going to be a career, and certainly in my early twenties I didn’t believe in myself enough to work in this field. I was very solitary in terms of my magic and tarot and didn’t start reading professionally until I was almost in my thirties. Like everyone, I was brought up to believe you have to get a career and a Monday to Friday job, but ultimately I had to follow my heart and creativity. In my work now, I mainly use tarot to connect to the spirit guides. They are souls who have lived thousands of lives on this plane as mortals, and who then move into being spirit guides once they’ve learnt every eventuality of what we do on this plane. They know all the options of what could happen in the future, and that’s how I access the knowledge. We still have free will and your future could turn out any way, but the guides can tell you what will happen if you stay on the path you’re currently on. If you go to a reader and they try to tell you exactly what’s going to happen in your future, then they’re lying!
Aside from tarot I also communicate with those who have passed, but most of my day is spent reading tarot. I tend to read between four to six people a day depending on whether I have an event, and so it’s really key to be in the right headspace which I achieve by having a nice breakfast, a decent long shower and a session of meditation. All of which are important to get my energies right and straight. If I feel my house needs a cleanse I’ll do that too.
I love seeing how the tarot affects people. Especially when someone walks in through my door and you can instantly see that they’re stressed or worried, as many people are. It’s great to see them leave standing up a little more straight and with a smile on their face, like the weight has been taken off their shoulders, because the reading has allowed them to come up with a plan a little bit. That means more to me than any of the other aspects of my job.
That’s not to say that I only focus on the positive elements of their future. There are a couple of rules that I stick by and I’ll never break them because they are moralistic rules. I will never tell someone how they die, when they die, or if someone close to them is about to die - because I just think that’s wrong. You’re really playing with people's lives
when you read tarot. You’re in their head and you’re in their space which is really private and so you have to be careful. I want to help people with their lives, not frighten them. But I don’t steer away from bad news as such. There are times I’ve seen people's partners cheating on them in the cards, or a friend that’s talking behind their back, and I won’t step away from those conversations. If it’s in the cards I will tell them so they have forewarning.
I know a lot of people will be interested in how I actually read the cards and what I always say is that I read intuitively. This means that I get a feeling, an energy, or even a minivision popping up from the cards, which might sound mad when I try to explain. I’d be classed as crazy twenty years ago, but that’s how I experience it. As you can imagine, this takes up a lot of energy because you have to sit at a higher level of consciousness. That sometimes surprises people because they think tarot is easy to read, but it’s very intense because the readings come through the reader, not just the cards. I can literally read tarot through a pack of playing cards. I don’t necessarily need fancy pictures; the cards just put the story in order for me.
In terms of the people I see, it used to be women between the ages of thirty and 45 but now we’re seeing a lot more men opening up to it, and a large number of young people. They’re becoming more open and spiritually aware. It feels really good when I get a call from an eighteen-year-old who wants a tarot reading to see how their life will be. I think that’s really great and I love it. I only wish that they weren’t getting all their information from TikTok, because though it’s great for getting youngsters interested, it’s all about quick fixes. Lots of the people there are reading tarot without knowing anything about the cards, and expecting all kinds of results without putting the time and effort in. That’s something that frustrates me, because they aren’t teaching the proper way of doing it.
That’s why, looking forward to my own future, I’d like to build more on the workshops and talks I currently do, because I love sharing my knowledge and experiences. That’s not to say that I want to stop doing tarot, but I’d also like to help people through learning.
illustration: Evie WarrenI will never tell someone how they die, when they die, or if someone close to them is about to die
Our resident crystal gazer has studied the stars to figure out your fortunes, Nottingham. You’re welcome…
Town of the bees, smile with glee. The once humble abode within which you reside shall continue to soar in value, and you may soon find yourself sleeping within the boundaries of an undisputed treasure trove.
The posh part of the city, brace yourself for sustained noise and rabble - as every other Saturday afternoon, you will continue to be flooded with a sea of red and overpowered by the distinct rumble of Depeche Mode. But exercise patience, for the Tricky Trees will likely be relegated by the Summer, and those recently-risen superfans will disappear back into the abyss…
Trouble town, your troubles will soon be no more. Your globe-trotting icon shall return to these pastures in due course. Prepare for his arrival and witness his homecoming, sporting a container of golden delight in the grounds of the great Arena.
This is a day of fresh beginnings for you, Sneinton. New leaders, new makers, new neighbours have taken residence in your Avenues. Start the November cycle by indulging yourself with the fine feasts, draping yourself in the fine garments, and warming your cockles with the fine liquids of the land.
Wollaton, where history lays down its hat. You must balance the line between the old and new, while remaining to your traditions true. Home of the deer, lakes and trees so many, you have been chosen as the guardians of the land - an honour not given to just any.
Though full of tall trees no more, the Forest Fields are still lush with thriving streets. But now the goose has gone and the field lays empty, use this next month as one to rest and recharge.
words: Claire S. Voyant illustrations: Tracey MeekChannelling our usual, narcissistic energy, we wanted to put together an article that’s all about us. So, what better way than to ask Kerry Louise Ward, Cosmopolitan’s tarot card specialist, creator of Crystal Magic Tarot and author of Haunted Wollaton, to dive into our fortunes? Here’s what we thought both before and after those fateful readings…
I don’t know whether I believe in zodiac readings. Sure, when I open up a magazine I skim to the Leo section and ponder for a moment, but once the glossy pages shut, I tend to forget all about the astrological. Nonetheless, in what I’m told is true Leo style, I’m eager to learn more about myself and jump at the chance of a tarot card reading - one which will be informed by my star sign.
Warm, a natural leader and a go-getter are all words used to describe my sign and I’m feeling pretty good about myself, idly whistling past the sections that imply I can’t take criticism and need to be the centre of attention.
Kerry pulls The Magician for my current energy, which has me feeling pretty smug. Representing creativity and innovation, it captures a few things that I’m trying to put together right now and definitely feels encouraging. As does the Three of Wands, which tell a story of something I need to work on. Fun, spontaneity, going with the flow. As an anxious girl in the world, this absolutely rings true as an area of growth. Also, read just a few days before I fly alone for the first time ever, this seems a timely reminder which I’m grateful for.
Initially a bit of a cynic when it came to tarot, so far it all seems like sage advice…
And sage advice it was, particularly the part about letting go and having fun - which I’ve had plenty of this month in the form of travel. But not without anxiety rearing its ugly head, marking this month as one equal in good times and emotional challenges. Surely fulfilling its point, my tarot has been helpful in leading me in the right direction, and encouraging me towards a place of self-improvement, all while giving me a chance to reflect on myself. Did I see myself in all of the reading? Not necessarily. Was it helpful anyway? Definitely.
The idea of an Astrology-themed issue of LeftLion filled me with quite a bit of dread - our first month with Gen-Zers in charge, and this is what we get… What next? Scrapping the Thompsons for some minor local celeb’s palm reading or other such mystic guff? Actually, though, it’s been really fun, and I might even be a tarot convert. The creativity and detail that’s gone into the zine-y digital reading we received stands out. Would recommend. I actually feel the coming month could well be my best, as Kerry prophecies. I’ve got a lot coming up, and like to think I'm on an upward curve. I’m encouraged to “be mad, bad and dangerous to know, to let loose your shadow side, be sexual and powerful and bold, have a wild adventure, live out a fantasy” on the date of Hockley Hustle. Well, that's a given.
Cards-wise, a Two of Wands is - eek - a poke to get serious. A Five of Coins, an “old wound” sign, says to fret less about past failures in the realm of work, which, to be fair, is bang on point for me. There’s Seven of Swords, which warns to look out for snakes in the grass and follow my instincts. I’m watching you, George. And finally it’s a Seven of Wands, which encourages me to enter some sort of competition. So now would be a good time to nominate me for any prestigious awards you have in mind… Thanks in advance.
Has it been my best month ever? Well, it's definitely been one of my busiest. A lot of stuff has happened, but boy does it feel hectic. I'm drawn, as I often am, back to that familiar second law of thermodynamics - entropy, obviously - because as time goes on, the more chaotic and unpredictable things seem. Such is life I suppose, especially when we’re making big moves, which I no doubt have this month. Adulting, eh? That said, I may well look back when the dust settles and chalk this one up as a goodie. It’s been a ride.
“A loving, supportive and supported, at peace, wise and creative leader.” This whole tarot thing seems pretty spot on to me. “Someone who is more than a boss or a boyfriend, but a ~rock~ for others, a soothing presence and a source of shrewd counsel and compassion.” Yep, the cards definitely speak the truth. “The King of Cups is the master of emotions, intuition, knowing himself and others very well.” Okay, this is getting scarily accurate, now.
Real talk, though, whether you’re a believer in tarot readings or not, there’s definitely a benefit to reflecting on yourself. Not to get too deep in this whimsical column, but by taking a step back to consider whether I am peaceful (I’d say I am, at least until someone claims Seal isn’t the greatest artist of the past three decades), a rock for others (I’m probably more an annoying grain of sand that you just can’t quite get rid of), or a good leader (through fear of losing her job, Lizzy will definitely tell you I am), I’ve found this to be a good practice for thinking about how, if I’m failing in any of these categories, I can work to improve.
So, over the next few weeks, in which Kerry warns me not to “follow the paths of least resistance, create constriction or pressure, veer to perfectionism, or feel rigid about doing it all right first time”, I’m going to try and do exactly that, and see if it does make me a peaceful, rock-like leader. Let’s see how it goes…
Well, as we approach deadline day, LeftLion still hasn’t shut down, team spirit appears strong, and no members of staff have called for me to be fired (that I know of). This might not be a high enough bar for claiming the title of “wise and creative leader”, but it’s a pretty good start. I’ve been relatively peaceful, kept control of my emotions, and hopefully supported those around me - so, at least on this basic level, the tarot cards have spoken the truth. Maybe there’s something in this astrology business after all…
photo: Fabrice Gagos Crystal Magic Tarot is now available to buy online @mytarotbella
Whether in the form of tarot card readings or online horoscope predictions, astrology is experiencing a major cultural comeback - hence us dedicating an entire magazine to it this month. But why is interest in the celestial so high? We catch up with two Nottingham Trent University lecturers to find out about the psychology behind this trend, alongside making a few speculations of our own…
As far as we know, people have always looked for answers outside of themselves, whether in the form of religion, magic or through the stars. However, it would be fair to say that astrology is having a bit of a moment right now, and whether you believe in it or not, there are plenty of people turning to the cosmos to find answers about the world around them, alongside information about themselves.
It’s the pseudoscience’s openminded attitude that makes it so popular. There are no set beliefs that you must hold to enjoy reading your horoscope
First invented in the way we know it in Classical Greece and The Middle East, some time between the first and fifth centuries, astrology describes the study of celestial bodies and how they influence the natural and human world. And it’s a phenomenon that has stood the test of time, experiencing many peaks throughout history, including in the 1960s with the hippie movement, the 1970s with the New Age movement, and now, particularly among Millennials and Gen-Zers - and even more specifically with women and the LGBT+ community. But what is it about astrology and horoscopes that resonate with these groups? And what are the pros and cons behind this quickly-growing trend?
Most obviously (and superficially), horoscopes are fun. They take no commitment to read, and people are able to take or leave what they want. Compared by NTU’s senior lecturer in Psychology, Andrew Dunn, to playing Wordle, it’s a daily habit that adds levity to the otherwise mundane. Easy to read on the bus or train to work, they are highly consumable thanks to apps like Co-Star and Sanctuary. Plus, for many younger generations, astrology has become a shorthand for making jokes online, particularly with Gen-Z making fun of themselves through tongue-in-cheek, astrology-based TikTok content.
With this said, the rise of astrology is meeting a human need greater than just enjoyment - most specifically, according to Dunn, our desire for certainty and order, something that most of us have desperately been craving thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Astrology has experienced revivals and declines since its genesis, with particular societal peaks occurring at times of acute stress, for example in the First and Second World Wars, where an increased use of horoscopes was found in the newspapers - a pattern that implies our current love for astrology is born from anxiety.
Taking over the role of religion in an increasingly secular age, astrology therefore provides a sense of surety in people's lives - regardless of whether this surety is based on any definitive fact. This draws criticism from fellow NTU senior lecturer in Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Andrew Mackenzie, who believes the rise of astrological practices implies that evidencebased thinking is in decline, commenting that “belief in something that has categorically been shown not to be plausible and fundamentally incorrect time and time again is so dangerous.”
However, regardless of whether you agree with Mackenzie on the dangers of astrological thinking, it’s clear that it is filling a spiritual gap in people's lives. As mentioned, this can be especially true for some members of the queer community who have (often) experienced exclusion from religious groups. Astrology, in contrast, provides the sense of control that humans naturally crave without the complications of dogma.
In fact, it’s the pseudoscience’s open-minded attitude that makes it so popular. There are no set beliefs you must hold to enjoy reading your horoscope, and in fact many people who enjoy learning about their zodiac don’t hold any strong belief in it at all - meaning the astrology community is exceptionally open to anyone who wants to take part, requiring no proof of your commitment or faith.
For a lot of folks, it’s simply a way to reflect on themselves through the lens of the zodiac, whether this is someone born in August
empowering themselves to become more confident as their sun sign pronounces they are, or those with a rising sign of Libra reflecting on how to bring more balance into their lives. Astrology, like personality quizzes in this respect, simply acts as a tool for selfreflection by providing users with a language and a framework to discuss the self.
Admittedly, though, as Professor Dunn notes, this doesn’t always lead to totally accurate self-reflection, thanks to the 'Barnum Effect' - which claims that people tend to see themselves in any personality descriptions, regardless of how deliberately vague they are. Nonetheless, as with all things, if taken without too much literalism, astrology can be a useful way for readers and believers to process their lives.
Taking over the role of religion in an increasingly secular age, astrology provides a sense of surety in people’s lives
This, of course, explains the adoption of astrology into the wellness community, illustrated by articles within Vogue entitled Should Astrology Be Part Of Your Wellness
Survival Kit?, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow’s famous Goop website publishing a bevy of astrology under its online wellness tab. It’s interesting to see that astrology is being coopted and marketed as a tool for inner growth (and, of course, wellness sales, with the rise of crystal necklaces and tarot cards being part of the deal).
So, once again, if you believe in astrology or not, it’s pretty clear the phenomenon is making a big impact on our current world and in many areas of our lives. And whether you think it will “remove the accountability for one’s behaviour”, as professor Mackenzie further comments, fuel the capitalism of the wellness industry, or act as a helpful and fun tool for reflection, it seems that, at least for now, astrology is here to stay.
@PsychologyNTUFor those who don't know, what's Cosmoctopus about? Basically, Cosmoctopus is a tabletop game about players who are devotees to a celestial cephalopod… The theory is that the players are very serious about this being, and think that if they can just understand it, they can be bestowed with some form of powers. The truth is, he’s a bit more like a space toddler - and is actually pretty indifferent to the players’ existence. It can be picked up really quickly if you’ve played board games before, but if you haven't, it’s easy to learn - the complexity only comes from deciding how to get the most cool stuff, rather than simply playing the game. So it’s a great starter for those wanting to get into tabletop games for the first time.
As well as having an interesting premise, the game is visually very impressive. How important is it to catch the eye when you’re putting together a board game? That’s definitely a big part of it. You can try to convince yourself otherwise, that what’s really important is how it plays, but ultimately you need people to pick the game up in the first place - and that’s where the aesthetics come into it.
We initially started with a more serious approach, but it quickly became a bit too Lovecraftian and bleak. So we decided to throw in brighter colours - pinks and purples and teal - to make sure that, when it’s on the shelf in a shop or board game cafe, it’ll stand out among the crowd. In terms of the octopus itself, we also wanted to tap into the Baby Yoda vibe, with cute, big eyes and striking features. I think we pulled it off!
Why was the charity set up?
interview: George WhiteA conspiracy theorist’s dream, Cosmoctopus, the new board game from Sherwood-based publisher Paper Fort Games, explores what would happen if octopuses were actually alien. Following the launch of its Kickstarter campaign, Lead Developer Chris Kingsnorth tells us what to expect…
You’re funding the game through Kickstarter. How important is community support on projects like this?
As a small, independent studio, it’s absolutely vital - there’s literally only myself, the designer and the artists that will work on this game. Unlike a lot of big companies, we don’t have the money to front-end projects, so we rely on people’s backing to help get it off the ground. After that, sorting things like print runs, manufacturing and getting it into retail becomes a whole lot easier. Everyone who supports us will receive special rewards - with some getting their hands on a Cosmoctoplushy, which is a little teddy version of Cosmoctopus. It’s adorable!
Speaking of community, how exciting is Nottingham’s tabletop scene right now? When I came to Nottingham for university, I didn't really know the city had that association with board games, but it's a brilliant place for it. Obviously the foundation was laid by Games Workshop many years ago, and lots of people who worked for them have started opening their own game studios and splintering off, and now it’s become such a vibrant scene. We’re also lucky to have two board game cafes, Ludorati and The Dice Cup, in a city that's relatively small. That’s fantastic, and nurtures such a strong sense of community.
NTTC was founded in 1978 by a local mum of twins, in order to meet up with other parents juggling more than one baby. At that time, the group was small and just met in people’s houses. In 2018, we had a fortieth birthday party with a bouncy castle, a visit from a local fire engine, races and games, stalls, coffee and a celebratory cake. Over 200 people from local families with twins and triplets attended; the youngest twins were only eight-weeks-old.
Why is it important to the community?
NTTC provides a local support hub for families with multiples. The number is on the increase, with one in every 65 pregnancies resulting in a multiple birth - this is a lot of people.
Having more than one child at once comes with its challenges, such as high-risk pregnancies, a burden of exhaustion with two or more babies to care for, logistical challenges of having more than one child, the struggle of supporting your children’s individual identities and the financial burden. We bring local families together in order to
support each other through these challenges, while also sharing the joys and benefits of having two or more children born at the same time.
Is there a particular moment that encapsulates the spirit of the community group? During the lockdown period we met on Zoom with families who were expecting multiples and hadn’t been able to physically meet up with local people in a similar situation. They were daunted by the practicalities of having more than one baby and it was such a joy to provide them with an empathetic local point of contact and with practical advice. The relief on their faces at having people to turn to reminded us why we needed to keep the Club going through those strange times.
We have our AGM in November, at which there will be free pizza and lots of chat, with the usual charity formalities, then there’s a Christmas soft play party in December!
nottinghamtwins.org.uk
paperfortgames.com
Since 1978, Nottingham Twins and Triplets Club has provided a lifeline for families with multiple children in Nottinghamshire. We chat to Anne Bishop, chair of NTTC, to find out more about what the charitable group is all about and why it plays such a vital role in the community...interview: Yasmin Turner
Taking over the family business eight years ago, Jon Blyth is now the proud owner of Sneinton hotspot The King Billy. Dedicated to community and inclusion, he tells all about how the pub fell to him and why he loves his job…
The King Billy has been in the family for fifteen years. My dad has run pubs in and around Sneinton since the late seventies, and he bought King Billy around the time I left for London to pursue my writing dreams. Then, after eight years, I said I would help to run it. My sister-in-law had just stepped down and I didn’t want my dad to sell the Billy to a big company. So, me and my dad ran the pub together until 2017 when he passed away, and I’ve been doing it on my own since.
We love being independent, because it means we can get whatever customers want, rather than having to sell Greene King IPA, for example. We try to sell from places that we know and love, like Black Iris and more recently Totally Brewed.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard work. When I came back to Nottingham I didn’t have grey hair, and my beard went completely grey within the first year because of panic. The pub wasn’t that busy then and I was a forty-year-old who had just moved back in with his parents. But luckily, year-on-year it just got better and I was able to support myself and pay our staff good wages. We are very much above the living wage in our place.
I’m now really proud of the pub, and in terms of the community, we have a crowd of people who we recognise. We really grew our community feel during lockdown because of our pizza and beer deliveries, during which time everyone was desperate for contact. Now we have a whole range of characters, some of whom are eccentric, in a great way, and who really make the Billy such a sociable place.
We’re on the border of where the Creative Quarter turns into Sneinton, so it’s nice to have both groups here. I was brought up around pubs in Sneinton and it’s great to be tied into that. But equally I love that we get the artists and the students along with the old school Sneintonites. We are very big on being inclusive, and so have some amazing gay and trans people who feel comfortable with us too. That’s really important to me. I love seeing a diverse group of people in the pub, and I want everyone to feel comfortable walking in.
The King Billy is located on 6 Eyre Street, Sneinton
Aiming to crowbar as wide a range of topics into this mag as possible, we’ve taken a look at astrology’s elements - Air, Earth, Fire and Water - and thanked the heavens that each is home to a relevant (ish) star sign, be it the goat or twins, the fish or the ram. So, using these as (slightly) relevant jumping-off points, let’s groove…
illustrations: Kate Sharp
Anyone who’s been to the City Ground when Derby County come to town will know the two clubs either side of the A52 aren’t too fond of each other. In fact, it’s a rivalry almost as old as the sport itself, and one that David Marples’ new book, Reds and Rams, chronicles in layered, sophisticated detail. We give our thoughts on this refreshingly mature release…
As someone who’s always been a little sniffy about the local rivalry between Nottingham Forest and Derby County (I usually mark the matchday online with the meme of SpiderMan pointing at his doppelgänger, or a reference to the pointless Springfield-Shelbyville rivalry in The Simpsons), I approached David Marples’ second book Reds and Rams with a little trepidation. Could there be any more to football rivalries than knuckle-dragging tribalism? In a world torn apart by splits between Leave and Remain, Left and Right, was now really the time to revel in yet another, albeit more local, turf war? As a huge admirer of Marples’ first work, The History Boys, I wanted to learn more and be proven wrong.
It soon becomes apparent this book is about far more than crude sheep seduction songs or pub punch-ups. Marples reaches back to the very formation of both clubs and locations, evaluating their social and economic roots. At 432 pages, Reds and Rams goes to great lengths to ensure that neither city is sold short. What’s particularly fascinating is how markedly different Nottingham and Derby are, despite their geographical proximity. Then, as now, wealthy benefactors, political tribalism and industrial upheaval push and pull at our two proud cities like piston valves pulling the first Midland Counties train between them in 1839.
It would be easy for such a project to get sucked into the gravitational pull of its main characters, but the steady pacing and reasonably strict chronology of this book resists the clichés of more straightforward biographical works. Recent re-examination of Robert Maxwell in light of his daughter Ghislaine’s actions drew me particularly to learn more about his time at Derby, not to mention those players and managers who dared represent both clubs: Dave Mackay, Peter Shilton, Steve McClaren and Nigel
Clough to name but a few. Which brings us to the ultimate protagonist of this story, of course, Nigel’s Dad and the man responsible for the most glorious period in not just one, but both of these clubs’ histories. The love we all have for Brian Clough reflects a deeper complexity to the relationship we have with each other and with this mercurial, charismatic father figure. Marples leans into ‘brotherly’ analogies with good reason.
So what’s at the heart of our local rivalry? ‘We define ourselves not just by our own achievements, but also by the failings of others. We measure our success in relation to others’ shortcomings,’ Marples reflects, with customary diplomacy. He’s too astute to indulge trite psychologising, but I can’t help but wonder if the less palatable reality is that we hate people who remind us of ourselves: we see our own vulnerabilities, our need to belong to a place, a badge, a tradition, in someone who happens to wear a white shirt instead of red… and we hate them for it. We’re so good at being outwardly abusive at our enemies on the terraces, because our inner monologue rehearses these excoriating lines each time we look in the mirror.
So, is this a sensationalist tale of gratuitous violence along the A52? I needn’t have worried. Marples is the Rolls-Royce of football writers and thanks to him I now appreciate the importance of Rolls-Royce to the Derby economy. In other words, this is an elegantly-written social history which couldn’t be any further from hooligan porn if it tried: meticulously researched, circumspect and illuminating, Reds and Rams chronicles the rivalry between cities a mere sixteen miles apart, with empathy and insight. Essential reading.
Reds and Rams: A Story of the East Midlands Derby is now available in bookstores and online
Middleway Words is a new festival with ambitions to share Midlands authors with the world. A mix of online and live events, the jewel in Middleway’s crown is a celebration at Waterstones for Nottingham’s literary talents. Ahead of the event, LeftLion talks to Julie Malone, one of the festival organisers, about her personal journey to authordom…
Julie, how did you become a writer?
The fact is, I was in an abusive marriage and my children and I had to get out. We changed our names and escaped with help from Women's Aid. Next, I needed an income so I went back to college. One of the professors said to me, ‘You got away from your abusive husband and changed your life. You need to write this down. Yours is a success story. And can help others to move on as well.’
I tried over and over to write my story, but it was just too painful. The scars were still healing. When I married again, I told my new husband what I wanted to do and, bless him, he bought me a computer. So, it started with one tiny little sentence in my head, and from that came five young adult fantasy adventures, plus another five children’s books. I've even got a crime thriller coming out next year.
And you now dedicate a lot of your time to the local writing community, is that right?
I set up New Writers UK to support independentlypublished authors, help them connect with their readers and show not everything comes from a famous author.
From that, I got involved with organising book festivals. But I had more to give back. I persuaded the County Council to fund a Nottinghamshire children’s creative writing competition, which I ran for thirteen years. It was just wonderful. I've watched children grow up and become midwives, barristers, surgeons and even writers. We had one lad on the autistic spectrum who was so shy but is now a journalist. Sometimes, adults put young people down, but I’ve met some amazing youngsters who’ve grown up into admirable adults.
What would your advice be for anyone who wants to become a writer?
Think very carefully! I've heard famous writers say it took them twenty years to become an overnight sensation. It’s not easy. For example, I went to a fantasy convention and spoke to a high-profile editor. She said if you're not selling eighty-odd thousand books a year, you're a failure. I replied, “I thought your job was to sell the books!” But children contact me and say they love my books. When a seven-yearold tells me she started reading because of my work, I know I'm not a failure.
Tell us about the Middleway Festival at Waterstones, it sounds exciting.
We have Elizabeth Chadwick, the historical author, who most readers of historical fiction will know. She’s a member of the historical re-enactment society, and tries out all these things like wearing chainmail, cooking over an open fire, so
she knows how these long-ago actions feel. Quite honestly, her stories play out like scenes from a movie. Anyone who loves historical fiction will be delighted to meet her. Tim Logan is the bestselling author of The Holiday, which was recently serialised on TV. Then there's Claire Harvey - she writes World War Two novels, which all stems from her own family connections to the war. Also, there’s you, Ian C Douglas, with your gripping science-fiction novels. And Wilf Morgan, a publisher and author of young adult novels. The night kicks off with a Q&A panel. Next, the authors read from their bestsellers. After this, we break for refreshments and some chatting and we'll come back for book signings.
Very good question! What's your answer?
Not yet!
By the way, what’s your star sign?
Cancerian. I walk sideways... Actually, my son, my granddaughter and I are all Cancerians, and we’re very much the same, personality-wise. They say Cancerians are family-orientated and I'm definitely happiest around family and friends.
Let’s see how you compare to typical Cancerian traits. Are you compassionate? I'd like to think so.
A goofy sense of humour? That’s a yes.
A good shoulder to cry on? Definitely.
Do you like steamy cups of chamomile tea? No, it makes me unwell.
How did it come about?
It was because of COVID, actually. Ignaty Dyakov-Richmond, co-chair of the West Midlands Society of Authors, came up with this idea of an online festival as nobody could go to actual festivals. Ignaty contacted his peers across the Midlands and word spread. I got involved because I'm fascinated that this will stretch from Yorkshire down to Northamptonshire and right across the Midlands to showcase the talent we have here. Not everything happens in London - surprise, surprise!
What can we look forward to on the night?
Getting your questions answered by published authors. And seeing the talent we have within Nottinghamshire. I've spoken to a lot of young people and they're really excited about meeting some of Notts’ acclaimed authors - and talking with them!
Who’s compère for the night?
We're very lucky to have John Holmes, much-loved BBC Radio presenter, who has so much experience at interviewing people. He's met everyone from Sting to Marc Bolan. He's even worked with puppets on the radio. John's a legend and a lovely man. His memoir, based on his BBC career, will be available for sale. It’s a fascinating read!
If you were in the audience, what would you ask? Did you ever get to a point when you felt you wanted to give up writing?
Are you moody and snappy? How long have you known me? Of course not!
Quick to retreat into your shell?
Sometimes.
Are you sharp-tongued? I'd say no, but you’d better check with my husband.
Oh, sapphires. Love the Blues.
You should’ve said rubies, the Cancerian birthstone! Astrologists say Cancerians share the following qualities with good writers; unpredictability, being thick-skinned and persistence.
Unpredictability? Yes, my characters are forever taking me by surprise. Thick-skinned? No, I'm very sensitive. Persistence? That's me.
Do you have anything in common with these famous Cancerian writers: Hemingway, Orwell, Kafka, and Dan Brown?
Um, I’m not a massive fan of any of them, really… Sorry!
Middleway Words Festival will be taking over Waterstones on Thursday 10 November for a special evening with local authors
jaemalone.co.uk
I got involved because I’m excited that the Festival will stretch right across the Midlands. Not everything happens in London!
Never A Dull Moment @N.A.D.M
The city’s food and drink scene is thriving more than ever, and nobody knows that better than Jules Head - or, as you’ll probably know her best, The Nottingham Food Guide. Now with over 6,000 Instagram followers, the 36-year-old has become a trusted, go-to source for all things food-related in Notts…
Chances are, you’ve stumbled on the Nottingham Food Guide while scrolling through your Instagram feed. But you’re probably not aware of the fascinating story behind its founder, or just how much hard work has gone on behind the scenes to get the page to where it is today.
Originally from Cape Town in South Africa, Jules moved to Nottingham three years ago to settle with her husband. Going out to eat had always been a hobby of theirs, but she quickly realised it was also an ideal way to get to know her new home. Speaking on how her blog came about, she says, “Back in Cape Town I had a very small veggie blog. It had around 250 followers but it was a huge fail because I started eating meat again… So once I moved here, I decided to rebrand it as The Nottingham Food Guide and start again. It’s taken me three years to get to 6,000 followers, so I think I’ve got a long way to go to where I want to be, but I still never expected the response I’ve had.”
creating phenomenal food. It blows my mind that some are only in their midtwenties and just giving it their all. There’s a lot of passion in Nottingham and that really stands out for me.
“The one thing the city is lacking - well a gripe of mine, anyway - has been that you can’t get tacos in Nottingham. You have to go to a street vendor who isn’t always there. There’s been a real gap in the market for an independent Mexican restaurant, but the owners of Bar Iberico should be filling that soon!”
The first Nottingham restaurant Jules visited was Yamas Meze and Tapas, and she still holds it as her go-to Greek restaurant in the city. But while eating out can seem like the dream job, Jules’ Insta is a part-time hobby while she works full-time as a senior executive assistant at the University of Nottingham.
“I think people see the fun side of it, eating at great places, which is obviously amazing. But there's a lot of pre-planning. As you get a little bit bigger [on social media], you're doing content planning to market these pieces,” she admits. “And then there’s all the editing of your images and your reels - reels are my nemesis because they’re so much work - typing the write-up, choosing the best time to post and doing the research on the places you've visited. So there's a lot of work and a lot of money involved. It's not a cheap hobby, that’s for sure, but I have no complaints because I absolutely love it!”
Like many of us foodies, Jules just can’t get enough of the Nottingham hospitality scene, admitting that one of the things that makes the city so great is its wide array of street food and young entrepreneurs. “I’ve really fallen in love with NottinghamI feel a lot of civic pride here,” she explains. “There’s some seriously talented people
Ultimately, for Jules, one of the best things to come from blogging has been the people she’s met in our city. “It’s a wonderful and supportive community and it's done wonders for someone like me who moved here in 2019 and didn’t have a single friend in Nottingham,” she muses. “It’s definitely got me out of my shell.”
They do pizza (that’s the ‘Slice’ bit), they do beer (that’s the ‘Brew’ bit) - and they do both really well. These popular pizzaiolos finally have a permanent joint on King’s Walk.
@slice_n_brew
Reckon you’re a cheese fan? Prove it. Take on the Biggar Blue, a salty goat’s cheese that packs a “strong blue bite” and nutty undertones, and we’ll believe you. cheeseshopnottingham.co.uk
Make like a fish and dive Under the Sea (that’s a saying, right?) with this gin, blue Curaçao, coconut syrup and lemonade mix - which comes with an edible mermaid’s tail… Because why not? slugandlettuce.co.uk
There’s some seriously talented people creating phenomenal food. It blows my mind that some are only in their mid-twenties and just giving it their all@thenottinghamfoodguide
The newly-opened Binks Yard restaurant is the first addition to The Island Quarter. This venue boasts canal-side dining, and is the more casual of the two eateries at the site. Its neighbour, Cleaver and Wake, is a fine-dining restaurant, and there's certainly some glamour in their kitchen: MasterChef winner Laurence Henry and fellow contestant Hira Thakur serve up the goods behind the scenes.
One of the great joys of becoming a local journalist is being invited to restaurant openings. Especially when one of said openings is the exciting new street food venue that’s landed just thirty seconds from the office. The one serving up fresh, exciting food every single week and offering an ocean of cocktails, ranging from the classic Espresso Martini all the way to the hyperlocal Sneinton Sour.
So, when an email from Bustler arrived in my inbox the week before the VIP launch, I was most definitely clicking yes. As was the rest of the office. And I suddenly found myself eager for it to reach Thursday, peeking in through Bustler’s windows on my way to work and refreshing their Instagram page to see which vendors would be attending the event. As it goes, the list included Praid Thai, Yardbirds, Cartel and ElCapos Pizza, all of which were stationed in the beautiful outdoor space when I arrived, surrounded by fairy lights and a whole host of tables and chairs.
Binks Yard provides a bar with an outside kiosk, and a bespoke grill serving wood-fired pizzas, tacos, burgers, steaks, salads, and smaller sharing plates.
Walking up to the Island Quarter is a striking and impressive experience. The development wouldn’t look out of place amongst the spiralling skylines of Manchester. Once seated, you can view the canal from the arched windows, and enjoy a cocktail from the fully-stocked bar. Feeling fancy, I ordered the Binks Garden Martini - which consists of Sauvignon Blanc, elderflower, gin, apple juice, cucumber, and a dash of bitters. I moved up six social classes with my first sip...
We ordered a few things to share, but the star of the show was the nduja pizza. Its doughy base came with plenty of flavour, spice, and cheese - each slice was triumph. We also sampled some fish tacos which were light and refreshing, but it's fair to say you can expect a 'starter portion'. The truffle and parmesan fries are some of the best I’ve ever had - forgetting to order these would constitute a catastrophic failure!
The pizza offerings are certainly unique: You can order pizzas topped with mussels, or even a Waldorf Salad. It's out-of-the-box thinking, but the more adventurous among us will certainly reap the rewards! We left with one regret - we didn't make our way through the desert menu. A menu, by the way, which features Basque-burnt cheesecake and lemon meringue pie. A full inquiry is underway, we assure you. The Nottingham Food Guide
binksyard.com
1 The Great Northern Cl, NG2 3BJ
Tempted by everything, I ended up opting for Yardbirds Dirty Clucker Burger: a buttermilk fried thigh burger on brioche, served with smoky bacon and the perfect amount of pickles - which, let’s be real, every good burger needs. Very much the right decision, it was delicious.
A mild night, we sat outside enjoying the lights, but inside was an equal treasure. Packed with lush greenery and a canteen-style table set up, the atmosphere was warm and fun thanks to the DJ and the drinks. Here, I ordered myself a Raspberry Gin Fizz, followed by the aforementioned Sneinton Sour, both of which were spot on. Overall, it was a brilliant opening evening for Bustler, marking another exciting development for Sneinton Markets' ever-evolving landscape, and I’m glad I came along. Lizzy O’Riordan
bustlermarket.co.uk/nottingham Avenue E&D, Freckingham St, NG1 1DW
This might not be a trip to space, but it’s definitely a trip to a more relaxing place. Dropping a little CBD oil into this Clusters brew to create a superbly sweet flavour, this Cannabrew collaboration is pricey but nicey. Little Tron
It might sound like a euphemism, but Little Tron is serious business. With an ABV of 8.2%, this double IPA packs a real punch - and offers a fresh, hoppy taste that’s wrapped up in this delightfully nostalgia-inducing can. It’s a big yes from us. Reptilicus in Space
Dinosaurs and space - there has to be a low-budget student movie about this on Amazon Prime, right? If there is, Reptilicus in Space is the perfect, fruity companion for a laid-back watch party. And if not? Well, sink a tin of this anyway. The Endless Blackness of Space Picture it: you’re sat at home after a long day, contemplating life as we know it, thinking about how the universe is ever-expanding and full of unknowns. Existential dread sets in and you need to chill out - crack open a can of this forest fruit sour and you’re right as rain.
Notts’ newest LGBTQ+ inclusive bar is already a real gem of Broad Street. Cooking up top meals, serving up fresh drinks and putting a proper focus on community, they’re a place of pure positivity.
@thegoatnottingham
Want your Nottingham foodie business featured in the mag? Fancy writing for us?
Email us at editorial@leftlion.co.uk
With what is the greatest collaboration since Stormzy and Jose Mourinho, four of Nottingham’s finest breweries - Totally Brewed, Black Iris, Neon Raptor and Liquid Lighthave combined to produce this gloriously refreshing pale ale. Originally brewed for Nottingham Craft Beer Week 2022, but so good it’s still on sale after.
If you were knocking round Nottingham in the eighties and nineties, you may have been familiar with GForce, an eye-catching shop nestled in the heart of Hockley. Behind its iron door made of sculpted shapes and forgotten objects was a shop that many have regarded as one of the forefathers of the UK streetwear scene, with fans including Eric Contana and Cher. We catch up with founder Robin Kerr to find out more about the iconic GForce years…
It’s clear GForce was really special, but can you tell us how it all began?
I studied fashion at Nottingham Trent University and by my second year, I was making and selling things mainly to support the course but also because I enjoyed it. I remember there was a vintage stitch shop opposite the uni and they had these chenille curtains hanging up. I said to the girl, “I think I could make something out of them, what do you reckon?” And she told me they don’t sell them so I could take a couple and see what I could do with them.
I made them into fitted jackets with a big collar and took them back to the store where she hung them up and sold them. From there it became something I did regularly with any chenille curtains they got in.
There was an image of Cher wearing one of our knitted jackets in the Mail on Sunday Stereo MC would wear our stuff constantly. You’d often see somebody wearing GForce on TV
At our height, we had a factory in the Lace Market that employed in the region of twelve people. We had stores in London, Nottingham, Paris and Brussels, so it was quite big. We probably produced around 500 garments a week which we sold across Europe and Japan - which was our biggest market in the late eighties. Back then, we sold everything in the store as well - whatever we made was sold. So we didn‘t actually buy anything in, it was all produced.
We closed our Nottingham store in 2006 when it became really difficult to trade. We would have had to produce in the Far East to be competitive, and labour and manufacturing costs were getting really high, which is why all our competitors ended up producing in China. However, part of the philosophy of the brand was to produce in the UK. Sadly, though, that just wasn’t viable anymore as the prices would have had to be too high. We didn’t want to be selling really expensive clothes as that wasn’t what we were about.
For those who aren’t familiar with GForce, how would you describe the style?
It’s quite difficult to explain, but I would say it was one of the style forerunners of what is classified as streetwear today. So, a lot of denim and a lot of oversized garments. The style was built to last - heavy duty stitching, mainly British fabrics, often industrial fabrics. It was quite a strong look.
Can you tell us more about how Eric Contana got his hands on some GForce pieces?
We sold to a store in Manchester and he was playing for Manchester United at the time. He must’ve gone into the store and bought it as we certainly didn’t give it to him. And then he just appeared wearing it on that day when he kicked somebody. It was amazing as we were doing kids’ versions of the jacket at the same time, so I remember making a tiny version for a three-year-old and sending it to him as I knew he had a kid.
Were there any other big names that wore the brand?
The problem is, it was all pre-digital so you just don’t have copies, but there was an image of Cher wearing one of our knitted jackets in the Mail on Sunday Stereo MC, who were big in the nineties, used to buy and wear our stuff constantly. You’d often see somebody wearing our stuff on TV - in fact, I still see people wearing them, particularly the knitted jackets as I think they last the longest. And when I go to Paris or Japan even today, I see people on the street wearing GForce, which is incredible.
How would you say GForce compares to the trends there are now?
I think the reason it’s so wearable now is because the silhouettes and shapes are right. The types of fabric, the detail, the construction - it all falls into place with what is quite contemporary at the moment. But even ten years ago, you still could have worn them. They are timeless. My two daughters have raided my archive completely. One of them, in particular, just wears GForce constantly.
Does it tempt you to relaunch the business seeing how much interest the brand is still getting?
Yes, on a very small scale, but I wouldn’t want to go back to when it became so big, due to the responsibility and problems associated with that. I’ve always said that at some point I’m going to start remaking some of the retrospective pieces from the archive, and each year I put it off. But now I’m doing it and I’m quite happy making things myself rather than employing people to do it. For example, I’m working my way through some more jackets and I’m actually designing them and knitting them myself. I'll knit it, wash it and sew it together - I’ve done the whole process. I don’t want to get into the whole production side as it changes the nature of it. That means there’s a limit to what I can make, obviously. So, instead the pieces I make just become one-offs.
That must be really special then, as it’s like each piece is a unique piece of history.
Absolutely! All the knitted jackets have a number in the collar which says which jacket within the range it is - and there is a limited edition of ten of each of those, which means they’re really special. I’m working my way through three styles at the minute, so there’ll be thirty in total.
@gforce_nottinghamInspired by his time working as an intercity train manager, Sebastian Sullivan set about writing a railway novel exploring class injustices, with the result being Martin Martin & The Death Express, the satire-meets-spy-novel that was published earlier this year. Our writer, Lewis Keech, catches up with the author to learn more…
Martin Martin & The Death Express cannot be pinned down to one genre; it shifts between satire and spy novel and thriller. To characterise it best would be to say it’s an exciting and thought-provoking modern railway novel, based on the double-named lead Martin, who is working as a railway manager, and who one day fights back against a violent passenger and unexpectedly kills him. It’s an event that causes Martin to join the railway’s ‘Special Collections Unit’ - a clandestine organisation run by railway boss Silas March, which intimidates and eventually deals with any passengers that are unruly.
The novel is witty, fast-paced, and engages satirically with social and economic questions relevant to today, all of which I want to untangle in my interview with author Sebastian Sullivan when we meet in a Nottingham café on a pleasant Saturday morning.
railways, where he still works part-time, after a long career starting in 2003.
Back to the book, in which Martin must carry out acts which go against his very moral compass to please the big bosses, I ask why the world he created is so dark. What does it represent? “It’s the result of the line of predatory capitalism,” Sebastian explains. The Special Collections Unit is a vision of a future in which the privileged few are so greedy that they use whatever means necessary to strip the general population of their wealth and financial independence - a scenario that feels frighteningly close.
“You can’t trust institutions anymore,” he says, pointing to the ballooning bonuses of energy bosses during the current cost-of-living crisis.
Sebastian continues, “I wanted to write about a world of monsters, but also to try and explain them.” This is a theme you can see in Martin, who has a normal family background in Derby and is then suddenly flung into this world of semiespionage. “I think Martin represents a sort of everyday man,” he says, adding that the titular character reflects those who try to stick to their integrity in a capitalist world which requires them to be selfish, to be overreaching, to do things that they wouldn’t usually imagine themselves doing.
A ss wORKFor a lot of history, the literary canon has asserted that all good literature is universal. It speaks of the human condition, it captures the unchanging truths, and so on and so forth. But such assertions don’t necessarily hold true. Because, after all, doesn’t literature mainly reflect the author who crafted it? And surely an author can largely only write about the sector of society they know.
That’s why it’s so important to add a variety of perspectives to your reading list, to see what the world looks like through an array of eyes - not only because of the ethics behind it, but because it opens up a richer and wider range of narratives.
We start off talking about his own background, his early love of writing and what drove him to write Martin Martin. “I was always documenting,” Sebastian says of his childhood, “always writing prose, poetry, taking notes and photos.” The youngest child of a working-class and loving family, he grew up listening to the bands his siblings did, and reading the books they recommended to him. So, when his family dove into the pages of Martin Martin, they noticed that, apart from it being similar to the satirical writings of Irvine Welsh, it greatly resembled the type of crime novels they grew up reading - especially Tom Clancy’s techno-thrillers, something Sebastian says he hadn’t intended to base his writing on, but which rather “subconsciously influenced” him. So too did his time on the
Upon finishing the novel, I wonder whether Sebastian has plans to write any more, perhaps in the world of Martin Martin, or in another world, maybe with another doublenamed protagonist. The author confirms that, alongside working on another series of thrillers, he plans a sequel to Martin Martin & The Death Express - one which is more “international in scope” and will tackle more injustices. It’s a big aim, no doubt, but completely achievable - as his writing style is perfectly poised to tackle the big questions society throws at us.
Martin Martin & The Death Express is now available online and in Waterstones
Often also referred to as Proletarian Literature, this is the body of work that explores the life of the workingclass, largely with a focus on the systemic issues that blight them
It’s for this reason that this month I’m suggesting that more working class authors should be celebrated in the study of literature. Often also referred to as Proletarian Literature, this is the body of work that explores the life of the working class, largely with a focus on the systemic issues that blight them. Authors in this category famously include farm worker John Clare and, of course, Nottingham’s own Alan Sillitoe, who was raised often on the brink of starvation.
A genre thoroughly written about by Nottingham Trent lecturer John Goodridge in the book A History of Working Class Literature, our city has a long legacy of working class authors and a thriving modern day scene. Think, for example, of Georgina Wilding’s poetry collection Hag Stone, which delves into the experience of working class girlhood, or this month's book Martin Martin & the Death Express, which addresses class inequality through a railway tale.
Created to reach readers and writers throughout the Midlands, Middleway Words Festival is back for the second year running, including a panel Q&A hosted by the BBC’S John Holmes.
Thurs 10 November, Waterstones
Readers and bookshop lovers unite - Robin Ince has written a tour of Britain's best and oddest bookshops. And to make things better, he’s coming to Five Leaves this month.
Thurs 17 November, Five Leaves Bookshop
Speaking of Five Leaves Bookshop, this month they celebrate the nineyear anniversary of their physical store. We couldn’t imagine the city without them.
@fiveleavesbookshop
It’s vitally important, particularly now, to keep on representing what life looks like for the normal people of society. Because if we don’t, then it’s left to those in power to hold all the narrative space, and to deem which stories are worth telling…
words: Lizzy O’RiordanThe novel is witty, fast-paced, and deals satirically with social and economic questions relevant to todaywords: Lizzy O’Riordan
Combining the supernatural with the mundane, Nottingham author Jim Gibson has just published his debut short story collection, The Bygones - a project based loosely around his hometown of Newstead Village. Made up of 21 stories, it muses on a place that has been forgotten by the world, the everyday minutiae of life and the oddness that is so often found in rural communities. We catch up with the writer to find out about how he uses the place as a character, how he put the collection together and much more…
‘When I met the devil I was twelve years old’, opens Jim Gibson's new book The Bygones - the short story collection set in a fictional village inspired by the author’s own. Combining the supernatural with the mundane, it’s a place you’ll find a boy meeting the devil, a whole host of disillusioned young people and a small town market on the verge of collapse.
Published by Tangerine Press, who champion authors on the fringes of society, it aims to tell the stories of working-class protagonists, particularly those who have often been demonised by society at large.
“It’s a story where place is a character,” author Jim Gibson says, the book reminiscent of his own hometown, Newstead Village. “I have always loved works where the location is a living, breathing place, and that was on the forefront of my mind, to make setting a major driver.”
Because when you know a place intimately, when you know all its back alleys and corners, it can’t help but be a personality. “That’s why I picked the name Bygones, because it describes a place that has had its time and has been left to be forgotten.” It’s a sentiment that’s shared by a lot of residents in rural villages.
“It didn’t necessarily start out that way. They were mostly just short stories that had been written over a period of time but it quickly became obvious which ones fit together and that then became the concept. When you enter The Bygones you are entering into a rural, working-class community,” Jim says, “and though it’s not really kitchen sink realism, it does aim to capture the eccentricity and strangeness of living in a small village,” something that Jim achieves by intertwining the short tales with supernatural touches, adding that “here, strangeness is an everyday thing, and though it might not be the devil walking
around, you do see odd things and the supernatural reflects the rural life in that way.”
Made up of over twenty tales, The Bygones is a collection that succeeds in capturing small town mannerisms, personalities and worries. Whether through familiar characters like the house proud mother in The Devil or the metaphorical changing and disorientating landscape present in The Pond, it paints an image of a kind of place that is rooted in tradition but that feels currently displaced - a story that feels all too familiar among many of Nottingham’s small exindustrial and mining villages.
Though the stories do undoubtedly have a ‘morose’ element, as Jim describes it, found in the sadness of the characters, they also double as stories of celebration. They highlight the community and the relationships between all who live in the Bygones, who treat each other with a wary kindness.
This makes it a collection of stories about normal people trying to be their best for each other even during hardship, whether this be a period of unemployment or hard financial times, both of which are discussed in the collection. Ultimately a project that encourages its readers not to judge, no story exemplifies this better than the final piece, simply titled God, in which the speaker meets a higher power while sitting on the bus one day. Slightly eccentric and drinking a warm beer, he is the last person you’d expect as the all-knowing - but, like the rest of the stories, we’re encouraged to look past our initial perceptions.
“I really wanted to treat everyone like a person and to challenge expectations to a certain extent,” Jim says when asked about his host of working class protagonists who populate the stories. “I hate the idea that working class stories are always full of violence, for example, because they take away the humanity of the people. Whereas in reality everyone is different and it’s important to show that.” A particularly important task when so many working class communities are painted as ignorant or lazy, these stories offer a counter-perspective. Writing about working class characters with kindness, showing the world through their perspective, the collection refuses to reduce people to stereotypes.
Talking to Jim over Zoom, he still seems surprised that the stories have received so much publicity already, commenting that “I never imagined this would go anywhere, because it’s just a short story collection.” Yet already the body of work has garnered attention from a former Booker winner.
Another great win for the Nottingham literary community, it’s fantastic to see writing representation not just coming from Newstead Abbey, but also from the small, often forgotten village just down the road. So, with all that said, The Bygones are waiting for you to enter them. Here you will find sharpness, laughter, community, sadness and understanding - all through the perspective of those so often considered misfits.
You can purchase The Bygones through Tangerine Press or at Waterstones
I hate the idea that working class stories are always full of violence, because they take away the humanity of the people
We’ll start with the most predictable question - where did the inspiration come from for this story?
Vicky [McClure] was looking for a project to do back in Nottingham, and she’d watched a Channel 4 documentary about restorative justice and thought there was something really interesting in that. She wanted to dive into the question of what would happen if a mother went to meet the man she believed had killed her child, hoping for an apology, and then he flips the meeting on its head. So I met with Vicky about the idea, and once I left the room it was all I could think about. Johnny Harris and Vicky have been good mates since the This Is England days, and they wanted to work together again, so I teamed up with them to develop a story.
wherever we could, we’d add Notts people to the cast and crew. We’d like to think we’ve helped to set a precedent that Nottingham has the capacity to host big scenes and big series, and that was so important for us.
The series is one of those that says a lot while saying a little. How do you go about writing a script where moments of silence are almost as important as lines of dialogue?
That’s a process of elimination, really. Your first draft is always going to be overwritten. As a scriptwriter you always want to bring in everything you think of, and then a fresh pair of eyes will tell you what you don’t need. I’m lucky to have a great team around me at Left Bank Pictures who will go through that process, and I love getting feedback and improving my work. Then when you get to set, the actors and director will have their input and say what they think is and isn’t important, and slowly the script is stripped back to be more impactful and effective.
Speaking of the director, the series was overseen by Al Mackay, who’s worked on the likes of This Is England and Control. How was your relationship with him?
How much of an influence did the pair have on the script?
It was a really collaborative process. This was the first project Vicky made with her company [Build Your Own Films] and she was really hands-on and would help massively. We’d be in conversation a lot and she was so supportive on set. Johnny would come into the office and we’d sit down for really in-depth table reads, and forensically go through line-by-line, which was brilliant because it helped him to take control of his character. It was great to put the series together in the way they envisioned.
Yourself and Vicky aren’t the only locals that worked on Without Sin - it’s packed with Notts talent in front of and behind the camera. How important was that for you?
Very important, and the same goes for Vicky. The Television Workshop was the first place we went to whenever we needed somebody, and the casting process was really exciting - the young actors absolutely blew us away. They’d come in, you’d give them one note and they'd give you so many different variations of their character and performance. They’re so confident in that way. We had a lot of problems with COVID, things were constantly being changed and the script would be re-written at the last minute, and they dealt with it all much better than some actors with twenty years’ experience would.
Behind the camera, we had Gavin Lewis, Shane Meadows’ Art Director from Dead Man’s Shoes, we had amazing location scouts who knew Nottingham so well -
I was really lucky because he’s such a generous, collaborative director. We’d have little chats and problem-solve together, and I think we generally worked more closely than a lot of writer-director teams. Al really helped to work through the script, he joined Johnny for the read-through sessions and he just knew what we were after. He gets Nottingham, he knows the area really well, and he brought a real authenticity to the series.
People can check out the finished product on ITV X soon. How exciting was it to find out that Without Sin would be on national television?
It was amazing. I went to film school ten years ago; it took me a decade to get my first series. It’s such a long slog. As soon as Vicky and Johnny came on board I knew there was a good chance that it would reach the mainstream - people love both of them, and you know any crime drama with Vicky is going to pick up momentum. But you ultimately never know.
When ITV officially came on board, it was slightly surreal knowing that so many people are going to watch my work - that’s what this job is all about. Sure, when you first start out at film school you want to make niche, little projects, but once you get into the industry you realise you want lots of people to watch and enjoy what you do.
Without Sin launches on ITV X later this year
@francespolettiAs soon as Vicky McClure came on board I knew there was a good chance it would reach the mainstream - you know any crime drama with Vicky is going to pick up momentum
“Directed by Anger” appears on the title cards to some of the most provocative and radical short films of the 20th Century, all by the underground and experimental queer filmmaker – Kenneth Anger. Since 1937, he has produced approximately forty works, with his earliest films being from when he was around the age of ten. His first film to truly gain recognition was Fireworks, which he made at the age of twenty, often referred to for being the first openly gay narrative film made in the United States; Anger released many films in the period of time before the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the United States.
Throughout the fifties and sixties Anger remained a cornerstone of American counterculture. With his films frequently dealing with a range of themes such as pop culture, occultism, the surreal and his own homosexuality, influencing his work was seminal French illusionist Georges Méliès, American surrealist filmmaker Maya Deren and the British gnostic mage Aleister Crowley.
Despite never making a feature length film, his shorts alone have cemented his position in cinema history. Whether it’s 1954’s Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, a psychedelic acid trip revolving around magicians, betrayals and people being banished to the pits of hell. Or 1964’s Scorpio Rising, Anger’s most famous film, which intersects clips of biker subculture with both occult and pornographic imagery; all played out over a sixties pop soundtrack featuring Elvis, Ray Charles and more.
This masterful usage of music along with his incredibly formalist and avantgarde style have led him to become a crucial influence for directors such as Martin Scorsese, David Lynch and Nicolas Winding Refn. Throughout his lifetime, Kenneth Anger has remained an iconoclastic and innovative director whose work remains as uncompromising and as important just like it was back in the sixties.
@LeftLionScreenThe Doc'n Roll Film Festival finally arrives in Nottingham on Thursday 3 November, after two false dawns due to that pesky blighter COVID-19. LeftLion sits down with festival organisers and curators Mark McIntyre and Marcus Duffield to talk all things music, the importance of a great documentary and what we Nottingham folks can expect from this year’s event…
This is the first time the Doc'n Roll Film Festival has fully returned since you had to cancel the event in spring 2020…
Mark: Unfortunately, yes, we had to cancel the festival screenings. Ironically, we had two films set up to be shown just at the beginning of both lockdowns. We had the Idles film (Don’t Go Gentle: A Film About Idles) which was completely sold out. Then we had the Rock Against Racism film (White Riot) and we had a full night lined up with speakers and bands and everything, and we lost that to COVID as well.
We did get to screen a couple of films last year as Broadway Cinema was reopening, just to get us going again, but this forthcoming festival really is our first full post-COVID event and it feels like a long time coming. But onwards and upwards.
Marcus: I think we sold out that Idles screening twice, so that was doubly annoying.
Can you tell us a little more about what the event will involve?
Mark: The overall festival is running nationally; there is the single festival in London and then festivals in twelve or thirteen cities run parallel to that event. This will be our fourth major festival in Nottingham, and we try to make it very experiential. There will be the showing of the films themselves, and wherever possible we will get the director or the producer involved, and then get local people with a knowledge or an interest to come and interview them. We will also put bands and DJs on, so if you come to a Doc’n Roll event, you’ll be coming to see more than just the film - you’ll be getting a real enhanced experience.
Marcus: We have now spread out too. Previously we have been focused on Broadway, but we have moved to different venues this year. We have screenings at the Old Bus Depot, and Mammoth as well.
Why do you feel the Doc’n Roll Festival is important?
Mark: When we first started doing Doc’n Roll in London, it
was good but if you are living outside of the capital then you don’t want to be travelling down all that way to see four films in a day. So, we bring these films to places like Nottingham, that otherwise you probably wouldn’t see. All the films shown are premieres for Nottingham, you’re seeing it on a big screen with fantastic sound and you’re with people who love their music and it’s a very different experience from watching it on your own. That’s exactly why we do these events.
If you come to a Doc’n Roll event, you’ll be coming to see more than just the film - you’ll be getting a real enhanced experience
What do you think makes an effective music documentary?
Mark: I think there are two or three key elements. There must always be a human narrative. If you look at our whole back catalogue, I don’t think you’ll find anything that has a chronological telling of a particular band; that’s not really what we do. We’re looking for a story we don’t know, it's not a mainstream story and has a real human element. The other aspect we’re quite serious about is that it's independent. One of the first films we had shown was by a director who made it for just £5,000. It was done in quite a punky way, by someone who really wanted to get her voice out there. That’s definitely important to Doc’n Roll.
The Doc’n Roll Film Festival runs from Thursday 3 to Tuesday 8 November at venues across Nottingham
A live orchestra playing the iconic scores of Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit - every nerd’s dream is taking place at Royal Concert Hall this month. Thurs 10 Nov, Royal Concert Hall
Since it’s Doc’n Roll season, we thought we’d highlight one of our own’s finest documentaries. Jeanie Finlay’s intimate deep dive into Teesside's last surviving record shop won plaudits from Empire, NME and loads more.
Legends in Nottingham’s film scene, Kino Klubb have been screening cult cinema in Notts for over a decade. Drop them a follow to find out what they’re planning next.
@KinoKlubb
words: Oliver Parker
Anger’s films frequently deal with a range of themes such as pop culture, occultism and the surreal
The Crying Violets have become one of the most
interesting, unique bands in Nottingham since forming in 2019 - but, despite playing at the likes of Splendour Festival and BBC Introducing, the highlight of the past few years for lead singer Katie Lyle undoubtedly has to be her time as LeftLion’s Music Editor. We chat to her about her passion for both producing and writing about music…
How have the first few years of The Crying Violets been for you?
So much fun! We started the band back in 2019 (which feels like five minutes ago) and ever since we have had the chance to play so many exciting shows and release music we have been really proud of. We have certainly grown a lot as a band. It started out with just a guitar, drums and vocals, and later we had Dan join us on bass, which brought an entirely new element and completed our sound. Originally performing solo, being in a band was always something I wanted to do but I was almost nervous at the prospect. Yet being in The Crying Violets has helped my confidence to flourish, and I feel like we have gotten to know our sound progressively as time has gone on.
What does the future have in store for the band?
More music, and hopefully a further progression in our sound. We’re always looking at experimenting and seeing where it takes us. We have been playing around with heavier guitar tones, and taking influence from different artists, and I think we are going to continue to do that. We took a brief break over the last couple of months as our bass player Dan became a dad, but we are back and have an upcoming gig supporting the amazing Lime Garden at The Bodega on Monday 7 November, which we are really excited about - so come and catch us if you can, it’s going to be a good one!
How would you summarise your time as Music Editor for LeftLion?
It was just all about amazing local music. It has been so great to get to see the latest of the Nottingham music scene, listen to so many exciting genres and also have the chance to speak to so many top musicians. I think my highlight would definitely be getting to sit down and chat with Jason from Sleaford Mods in my first few weeks of working at the mag. That was definitely one of my favourite issues to be a part of.
What will you miss the most about being a LeftLion editor?
What was it like playing at Splendour Festival this year? It was amazing. It’s such a lovely festival and it was our first time attending it too. We had originally been on the lineup in 2021, which was obviously cancelled be cause of COVID, so it was great to finally have the chance to play as we had been so excited about it. We performed in the courtyard, which is a really cute stage, alongside so many amazing other fantastic local artists. Midnight Rodeo were so good and one of the standouts from the weekend!
What has been the highlight of the past year?
Getting to gig again. This year the music scene has felt so alive and we have been lucky to perform a lot throughout it, and also catch so many bands. It’s felt so good to be back enjoying festivals again!
I’ll miss getting to be so involved with supporting local talents. My favourite thing about working at LeftLion has been the opportunity to listen to so many brilliant artists that have sent their music into the magazine, and also getting the opportunity to go to so many amazing local shows and be so involved with the scene, because Notts certainly is an exciting scene to be a part of.
Also all the amazing people on the team behind the magazine. Everyone works so hard to make it what it is, and makes it so fun in the process. I was lucky enough to join as Marketing and Editorial Assistant straight out of university, working closely with Adam [Pickering, Partnerships Manager], and then started doing the music editorial alongside that, and working at LeftLion has truly taught me so much and has been such a fantastic opportunity. So a huge thanks to everyone for allowing me to be a part of it. But I hope to still continue to contribute to the mag in the future, as it's something I love doing.
Check out The Crying Violets when they support Lime Garden at The Bodega on Monday 7 November
We like music and if you like music too, who knows, you might like our music. Come and see us play music and maybe afterwards we can talk about music or something.
PASTE.
We like to bring people together with our weirdly organised chaos at gigs. For us, we just want to give people that high-energy, crazy show that sends them home feeling alive.
@martins_revong
@_paste.bandPenny Moon We are a female-fronted band with a love of pairing sweet melodies and heavy guitars. If you’re into pop rock with some undertones of grunge, come see us on our little musical adventure. @pennymoonband
We’re always looking at experimenting and seeing where it takes us. We have been playing around with heavier guitar tones, and taking influence from different artists, and I think we are going to continue to do that@thecryingviolets
After the release of single Horror Movie Weather in 2021, this year we’ve been treated to an equally dreamy song by Catmilk with The Man Who Was A Horse. Slightly more upbeat but still with that sad girl sound, you can enjoy the sweet and melodic voice of lead singer Alex in this new single, which was picked up by BBC Introducing earlier this year. Having recently performed at Hockley Hustle, be sure to look out for Catmilk around the city. Lizzy O’Riordan
Following his previous releases, eyes and #miles, sparking the creation of viral dance challenges on TikTok, skaiwater is still riding high on the momentum of what could well be deemed his breakthrough moment as an artist. His first release since his fanbase rapidly increased to over one million monthly listeners, boys don’t cry captures everything that led to his internet virality in the first place - with a winning formula of hyperpop instrumentation blended with his distorted hip hop infused vocal style. Gemma Cockrell
Alone Again remains for its majority a song of a single rhythm; the hi-hat ticks away consistently as the slow beating of the piano places us somewhere between jazz and R&B. Franky’s vocals, with their gritty tone, introduce a lulling layer to an already relaxed tune. Then, Saffron, who is a delightful singer, takes the reins, though adds not an obscene amount to the track. The two Nottingham locals could very easily be successful in the future, there is no doubt about that, but I don’t believe Alone Again shows their full potential. Harry Mangham
As this latest track from Otala opens, with drums pounding and cymbals crashing, there’s a worry it could be little more than another generic indie tune - but once the vocals enter the fray, it’s clear that’s not the case. Otala’s leading man has the ability to jump from sombre, Ian Dury-esque chatter to spirited singing with ease. Tell the Bees slowly warms up before exploding into a wall of noise, which, while bordering on overpowering, marks an impressively full-blooded release from the self-proclaimed “Dark Wave Wannabes”. George White
Nottingham's eclectic, electronic, eccentric Dog Explosion releases his third album on Tuesday 15 November, and I got a sneak listen for this review. Artist Oliver Lovley, aka Dog Explosion, invites everyone back into his synth world, with sinister melodies and equally dark baritone vocals that demand attention. Post punk industrial sounds can be a thing of beauty and this album is a must listen for 2022. Bassey
In keeping with this month’s astrology theme, I want to explore another idea sometimes derided as woo-woo - the magical world of biodynamic farming. Fundamentally close to organic growing, foregoing synthetic chemicals and using nature-based principles, biodynamic farming digs deeper into plant, soil, and animal care, treating them holistically as one interdependent system.
Biodynamic growers typically employ astronomical calendars to guide sowing and planting dates, others apply remedial preparations of herbs and minerals to their soil. A cow horn stuffed with manure may be buried at the autumn equinox to be lifted at spring equinox which, advocates say, demonstrably increases the presence of humus, improving carbon capture.
Originally laid out in 1924 Germany by philosopher Rudolf Steiner in speeches heralding modern organic farming approaches, the country still boasts a large share of land farmed biodynamically. While often treated as unserious, Steiner’s work is influential and his famous schools have done much to catalyse more profound reverence for the environment.
The humble hedgerow is often overlooked, not only for their cultural and historic significance, but increasingly as a natural guard against the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. Lewis Townsend from CPRE explores these rich seams, and explains why the charity is teaming up with Green Hustle and Nottingham City Council’s Parks and Open spaces team to bring hedgerows back…
Over 4,000 years ago, Bronze Age settlers signalled the dawn of agriculture in Britain. Dense woodland was commonplace, bursting with biodiversity that had been developing, unhindered, over unimaginable periods of time.
Underneath these ancient forests lay nutrient-rich soil, untapped and ideal for growing food. So our earliest farmers cleared this woodland to make room for farming, but they did leave strips of trees to mark field boundaries. These earliest hedgerows were grazed by livestock and coppiced for wood, and you might still find fragments of these today on the borders of towns and villages.
For most of their history, hedgerows have largely been viewed as serving human needs. They enclose livestock, create divisions across land to signify ownership, and create privacy. But in doing so they also produced a living, breathing natural network across our lands. A patchwork of wooded growth, with lush plants and wildflowers thriving at the base. A highway, safe haven, and canteen for wildlife. Hedgerows are a classic feature of our countryside, and an intrinsic part of this island’s history.
Nottinghamshire is working with Green Hustle and Nottingham City Council’s Parks and Open Spaces team to restore hedgerows in Bulwell Hall Park, Snape Wood, and Rushford Drive Park.
Bulwell Hall Park is a wildlife oasis, about 25 minutes on foot from Bulwell tram stop. It was originally the private garden of a manor house, then called ‘Pye Wipe Hall’. The house and surrounding land was owned by John Newton, and over time sections of the land were sold to become housing. Much of it, however, remains as Bulwell Hall Park.
part of a woodland plantation. It would appear it remained as woodland in some form until the mid 1900s. At this point, most of it was cleared, leaving rough pasture behind. Some of the more mature trees in the park, and bordering Fernwood Crescent, may be the only evidence that woodland was once there. Inevitably, the area was built upon - but thankfully a green space was carved out which is Rushford Drive Park.
The park is set in quite a built-up area, so a length of native hedgerow will create corridors for wildlife between the local gardens and green spaces. Crucially, it’ll also help give the local community better access to nature.
These three volunteer-led projects will take place this winter. It’s going to be wonderful to reconnect and revitalise hedgerows in these three areas of Nottingham. The hope, of course, is that over time more communities mobilise and help restore hedgerows in their area.
The longest biodynamic-certified growers locally are Trinity Farm, who say they “take advantage of the planetary rhythms” and use a “combination of compost, biodynamic preparations and the use of green manures” - methods they point out are nothing new - to produce a wide variety of what they claim is the “finest and healthiest” food in farming. A couple of trips to their vibrant farm, shop and cafe in the village of Cossall (near Ilkeston) assures me they’re not wrong.
Curious growers might dismiss biodynamic farming on reading its Wikipedia entry, which says it relies on “pseudo-scientific and esoteric concepts” - this is unfair. As farmer Lewis Winter explains, “there is a science” to the methods, increasingly borne out by evidence. Yes, it does emphasise the spiritual side of food growing and land stewardship, but farmers who ignore this may be missing something vital.
Like with astrology, there are surely hidden values to these practices, whether or not you believe in their efficacy. Tuning in to nature, and giving way to its mystical and magical properties, reminds us that we are part of something which is, at its outer reaches, unknowable.
Shortly after the Second World War, the Agricultural Act was passed. Designed to bolster food security and independence, farmers were offered cash to remove hedgerows from their land, leaving more room to grow crops. This meant that some parts of the country lost around 50% of their hedgerows. This had a devastating impact on wildlife, andunknown at the time - diminished our natural defences to climate change.
In more recent years, action has been taken to restore our hedgerows, but we need to do more to revitalise these wildlife networks, and plant new onesbringing life back to our fields, villages, towns and cities. It’s become about much more than privacy and stockproofing. We stand to benefit so much from a richer hedgerow network, both physically and mentally.
This is why CPRE, the countryside charity, is calling on the Government to restore 40% of our hedgerow networks by 2050, and why it’s been campaigning on their behalf for almost 100 years. In 2021, CPRE received funding for our hedgerow restoration across England. Volunteers restored 5km and planted 15km of new hedgerows, with more to take place thanks to the project being renewed. This winter, CPRE
The park is a beautiful and diverse mix of woodland and grassland, and home to a variety of meadows (with unusual species like the bee orchid and bladder campion). In spring, its woodlands burst to life with wild garlic and dog’s mercury. 250m of mixed hedgerow will be planted here, which will improve and extend the wildlife network and give locals and visitors an even richer nature experience.
Snape Wood Nature Reserve is a species-rich woodland near Bulwell, and is cherished by the local community. The woodland is cared for by a dedicated group of volunteers who, among other things, undertake regular litter picks and help to promote this wildlife haven.
The woodland is teeming with life. In spring it’s carpeted with wood anemone and bluebells, indicating its ancient origins. Volunteers will be planting a variety of native species, filling in hedgerow gaps and creating a wildlife corridor along the boundary.
The final project is a little different; it’s located at Rushford Drive Park, a recreational green space just west of Wollaton Park. A deep-dive into historical Ordnance Survey maps from the late 1800s suggests it was once
We need to safeguard the place of hedgerows in our cultural history. But, for reasons that transcend our heritage, we need to write them into our future too. The environmental argument for hedgerows is clear. They’re life-giving corridors for a huge range of animals and insects. Well-managed hedgerows support up to 80% of our birds, 50% of our mammals and 30% of our butterflies. Wildflowers at the base of hedgerows also add to this rich habitat. At a time when we’re facing habitat loss at alarming scales, hedgerows have never been more important.
In terms of climate, hedgerows capture and store huge quantities of carbonone study found that they store 31% more carbon than grassland. Hedgerow roots stabilise soils and make them more porous, which helps in the (increasingly likely) event of flooding and landslides. They protect crops and wildlife - and us - from extreme weather. They help prevent pollutants from reaching watercourses. The list goes on…
Like trees, grasslands, peat bogs and woodland, we need to harness the natural defences we have against climate change and habitat loss, and integrate them back into our villages, towns and cities. This doesn’t just benefit wildlife, it benefits us all.
Sign up to volunteer for the Hedgerow Heroes project online
cpre.org.uk
We need to harness the natural defences we have against climate change and habitat loss, and integrate them back into our villages, towns and cities
The longest biodynamic-certified growers locally are Trinity Farm, who say they “take advantage of the planetary rhythms”
words: Adam Pickering
If you’ve taken a walk around the city centre at any point recently, you’ve likely seen the eye-catching work of Kid30, the graffiti artist known for taking famous cartoon characters and dropping them into a creative blender. Now, twenty years after first getting into the street art scene, he’s celebrating the landmark anniversary with an exhibition at Brickworks
It's in Brickworks, just off Sneinton Market. The show is made up of two bodies of canvas works, one making reference to popular culture through mixing my logo with other logos and characters that have been an influence to me. The other is a continuation of my mash-up work taking snippets of different cartoon characters and creating new figures of my own. Both have a nostalgic feel to them referencing things from different decades, some references are more obscure and maybe more personal but hopefully people will be able to take something from it, and maybe it gives them a feeling or memory of their own.
It's partly dubbed as a reflection of the last twenty years. How has your art evolved across that time?
I’d like to think I have progressed in my style. I am better at getting my ideas concluded than I used to be. I have produced a small book for the show which is images from the last twenty years, and I can see changes in my work from different themes or ideas I have focused on at the time. I probably have a different outlook to it now than when things were a bit more carefree, plus I have loads less time now.
Is there one piece of yours that still stands out as your favourite so far? If so, why?
I recently painted a gable end on Broad Street in Hockley. It's been an ambition to paint a personal bit of work on this scale for a while and it was good to finally achieve it.
The new exhibition will kick off with a special launch party on Friday 11 November. What will the night involve and why should people stop by? Brickworks is usually a club venue, so I will be hanging paintings on the walls and lighting it very differently, but hopefully bringing a gallery into a basement setting will give it a different feel. DJs on the night are Detail, Transit Mafia, EF2 and Jay Dimes, who will be playing hip hop, breaks, jungle and drum and bass. There are print releases for the night that will be available, a collection of old photos from the past twenty years, a book release and, most importantly, a bar, so hopefully it’s a good excuse for people to catch up, check out some art and have a social.
You have a really distinctive style - I can instantly tell when a work of art is yours. How would you describe that style?
I’m a character painter, mostly. I like a bold, clean outline, usually with solid, flat colours. At present, my character style is that of mash-ups , referencing bits of cartoon characters, more recently mixing in my logo.
I run a design and mural painting business nine-to-five, so that takes up a lot of my
creative energy - I have to fit my own stuff around that, meaning it’s usually quite quick and impulsive. If I have an idea I try to draw it up quickly and paint it before having time to reflect on it and talk myself out of doing it.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Popular culture, my childhood, stuff my kid is into, things that are happening in my life, weird stuff that pops into my head.
Graffiti has always had really strong roots in Nottingham, it just hasn’t been as visible in the city centre as it is now
Your art is often proudly displayed across town, like the beautiful beach side piece on Goose Gate. How does it feel seeing your work displayed so prominently in Nottingham?
I have a love-hate relationship with my work. I love thinking it up and wanting to go and make it, and the actual challenge of painting it , but after I have completed it, it can take a bit of time for me to decide if it's a good bit of work or not. In the case of the piece mentioned (painted with Boaster), I was quite happy with it, I liked it that other people had added bits to one section of it, which also made me go back and add some extra bits. This is one of the great things about this art form, it’s really transient, so your work will always disappear at some point.
Does it feel like there’s been a growth in respect for street artists over the past two decades?
From the general public and councils, for sure. People are used to seeing street art more in city centres and with the progression of different styles of street art, sign painting and so on, it's become a lot more commercially friendly. The rise of graffiti and street art festivals, paint shops, social media, and people having a phone in their pockets has meant it has become more commonplace.
From the outside, it feels as though it’s become such a core component of the city’s identity, especially in areas like Sneinton…
Graffiti has always had really strong roots in Nottingham, it just hasn’t been as visible in the city centre as it is now. There is a plus side to all the student flats being built - there are always hoardings to paint…
Kid30’s exhibition at Brickworks kicks off with a launch party on Friday 11 November. Tickets are available through Eventbrite kid30.smallkid.co.uk
What was the inspiration behind the cover?
All sorts of surreal collages. There is this digital artist that I really like, Morysetta, and I was mostly inspired by her. I also wanted to make something that has a vintage feel. When we were discussing the design for the cover I was advised to make something connected to astrology and astronomy, and in my research, I found out that star signs are associated with different body parts, and it gave me the idea of adding old astrology diagrams to my illustration.
How does it compare with some other projects you’ve worked on?
This was my first professional project that was not a part of my university learning journey. It took me a long time to find the art style I like and what type of illustrations I want to make. So, the other ones were more like learning and exploring; I would say only my recent personal projects define who I want to be as an artist.
What was the biggest challenge that you faced in creating the piece?
As a collage artist you are limited slightly, because of the images you can find and use (under a Creative Commons licence). Sometimes you cannot make everything that you have imagined in your head, but you need to work around the photographs and illustrations that you can find.
What have you got planned for the future?
I am going to focus on the last year of my Illustration degree at NTU. I am also looking for some volunteer and intern graphic design opportunities and commissions as I want to get as much experience as I can before I graduate. The other thing would be to open an online art shop and start selling posters and postcards with my designs.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell LeftLion readers?
I hope you have a nice day and enjoy your coffee break while reading this!
words: Marta Tavares photo: Oliver Parker
Mixing the mystical and the artistic, spirituality and style, Chaos Magic are one of the most singular art collectives in Nottingham. Our Marta Tavares stops by their spot at BACKLIT Gallery to find out more…
Magic, the moon, stars, rituals, manifestation, belief and life. There is no reality without chaos present, and Chaos Magic embraces all its beauty and darkness in their deepest forms.
The name ‘Chaos Magic’ comes from the belief system of changing reality through ritual practice and that a better, purer and fairer world can be manifested through cooperation and inclusivity. At Chaos Magic, you are invited as a person, and treasured as a human being, to take part in their art journey.
We cover a wide range of different disciplines and styles of work. Not all of us are witchy but some of us are at least adjacent to that
From performances, workshops, gardening, drawing, painting, video, poetry, to stars and the moon rituals, the project grows within the heart of Nottingham. But the question that arises within chaos and magic and art is, what gives them such a special connection?
The project started in 2019, when the artist Jeffrey Holder and five graduates from Nottingham Trent University decided to open a studio space to develop and offer the community a different view on the world, a way to open their eyes with creativity and belief. In a talk with Chaos Magic members Wingshan Smith, Adam Beautom, Thorn Greensides, Harry Martin, Francis Slip and Chloe Willis, we discover more about what happens within the walls of the BACKLIT studio.
“Magic works really beautifully in the way that we work as artists, which is responsive and setting intentions, which is what we do in rituals and within the community,” the group explain. “We cover a wide range of different disciplines and styles of work. Not all of us are witchy, but some of us are at least adjacent to
that. I believe that a lot of us see magic as intrinsic to everything and everyday ritual as part of a practice.”
All the mystery and creation behind Chaos Magic art gains life at BACKLIT. The studio hosts art exhibitions frequently, where the public can consider and appreciate how they feel and see art. Following the witchy and astrological theme of this month’s issue, we dive into Chaos Magic’s upcoming events, which will take us into a celebration of the moon. “The full moon circle we're doing is absolutely astrology,” they say. “We're looking at the full moon and what it is on each day and what that means for that month’s reflections. New moons are a time to foster new connections, start new projects, and acknowledge your growth since the previous new moon.”
This will be a space for casual discussions and to develop connections with each other as part of the wider community. It is a way of involving people during winter in a magical form, with music, show-and-tell, biscuits and tea, discussing a project or simply existing and appreciating the beauty of life with all its flaws.
If this isn’t where you feel at home, Chaos Magic offers ‘Touching Ground’, which is nothing more, nothing less than community gardening mornings on Sundays. “It sort of weaves together a more classic kind of gardening project with lots of magic happening as a part of that. Everything we do is interwoven with magic, including manifesting the spirits of the garden. It is done with magical practice around it, surrounding it. We will invite communities across the city to connect more deeply to the earth and each other and explore creative practice in an alive and nourishing way.”
The Sunday gardening mornings and creative workshops are at the Curious Tower garden in Victoria Park, as well as gardens in St Anns and Radford. If you fancy discovering more about your true self, the unknown, the universe and magical beliefs, then Chaos Magic might be just the place for you.
One-of-a-kind art collective SunFried Tribe are always putting on events around Nottingham - keep an eye out for their next groundbreaking exhibition.
@sunfried_tribe
To Visit Film Free and Easy Regularly taking over Primary Studios, Film Free and Easy bring together artists of all disciplines to explore the wide-ranging world of the moving image.
Primary Studios
A studio member at Chaos Magic, Adam Beaumont is an expert in piecing together lucid imagerydrop them a follow to add some mysticism to your timeline.
@diallelus_
chaosmagic.space
interview:
It’s a beautiful time of year to start studying the very interesting art of astrology. On a clear night, you can see Orion’s Belt making his way across the sky. We’ve been seeing Jupiter for weeks now and Venus will be out to greet the rising winter sun. Astrology is something that can help you understand yourself and may lead to revelations that can aid in relationships, career and life in general.
Your Birth Chart is a snapshot of the sky at the moment of your birth, the precise location of the planets and which constellations they were in
It can be one of the first ways individuals begin their journey of selfgrowth. Having a Birth Chart made gives insight into your personality, emotions and behaviour. It can highlight areas that need more attention and healing, and the areas in which you naturally flourish.
Your Birth Chart is a snapshot of the sky at the moment of your birth, the precise location of the planets and which constellations they were in. Maybe you’ve heard people talk about their Houses, Moon Sign or their Rising/Ascending, as these give a quick synopsis of you, how you deal with emotions and how you show up in the world. (For reference I am a Capricorn Sun, A Pisces Moon with a Leo Rising… it gets weird.) All twelve Houses represent a different aspect of your life.
Now, we all know Mystic Meg and the daily newspaper horoscopes and, while these can be fun to read, they are a general, collective reading of the Heavens.
A trusted, authentic astrologer will tap into the sacred knowledge, gathered through the ages, and their own intuition to give a more accurate reading. While the online, free birth charts are great, a more knowledgeable, in-depth reading is better if you’re serious about knowing thyself.
For our Affirmation: I AM OPEN TO LEARNING.
Until next time…
Be safe, no fear and stay blessed.
Life can be tough for any youngster - but that’s especially true in Nottingham, the Youth Opportunity Index has found. Thankfully, Base 51 are stepping up to support 11-25 yearolds across the city through counselling, group work and, very shortly, with their new music events, SUNDAY SES51ONS. Khadijah Islam hears all about the charity’s vital work…
Why did you decide to set up SUNDAY SES51ONS?
At Base 51 we have a state-of-the-art recording studio in our basement where young people can come and learn about lyric writing, music productions and everything to do with performance. We’ve got some talented people and want to give them an opportunity to show off their talent in the city of Nottingham. They’re from areas where they may not get many of these opportunities, so we want to help them out.
How is Base 51 doing now?
Earlier this year, Nottingham City Council cut funding for youth services across the city, including Base 51, which means we had to find new ways of funding our services. We’re looking to build corporate partnerships, and expand our community and individual fundraising, and we’re going to be running an exciting calendar of events to try and do that. We will have a Christmas campaign where every donation will be doubled - we’re already looking for Christmas presents and donations, as well as businesses who can help us.
How important are you to the community in Nottingham? We’ve supported 50,000 people since we first opened.
It allows young people to express themselves. We have art therapy and other therapies, but music seems to tap into the best ways for them to feel free. It gives them an outlet to express any frustrations they’re feeling.
To support a local charity where all the profits will help Base 51 with our work supporting young people. It will also take place in Binks Yard at the Island Quarter, which is a new must-see destination in Nottingham - and, more simply, it will be a fun day out! It’s the beginning of a series of events that will be running to raise funds for our charity.
Nottingham is officially the worst place to be a young person, according to the Youth Opportunity Index, which looks at the education and employment opportunities for young people in each area of the UK. Funding to youth services has been cut across the UK in recent years, which means less availability of support to young people in need, and some of our city areas are the most deprived. Base 51 is vital in providing support when they need us.
What are your future goals for Base 51? We’re looking to expand our funding so we can increase the number of people that we can support, launch new programmes and continue to be the leading youth charity in Nottingham.
The first SUNDAY SES51ONS will take place at The Bandstand at Binks Yard on Sunday 6 November. Grab your tickets online base51.org
We’ve got some talented people and want to give them an opportunity to show off their talent in the city
From discovering Isis (the minor planet, that is) to having a mathematical equation named after him, Nottingham-born Norman Robert Pogson was one of the most influential astronomers of the nineteenth century - yet remained relatively unknown on British soil. We take a deep-dive into his fascinating, and unlikely, cosmic career…
Where those interested in astrology look to the stars for signs, astronomers do so for science; astrologers try to find some explanation for happenings here on earth, astronomers for happenings far, far away from earth.
And very few have wanted to understand cosmic happenings more than Norman Robert Pogson, the Nottingham-born astronomer who was an unlikely source of scientific progress in the nineteenth century. Once seemingly destined for a life of power and luxury in the East Midlands, Pogson shunned it all to spend three decades looking after the Madras Observatory in India, helping to push forward knowledge of space in the country and beyond. That wasn’t before he became one of the most influential and well-respected young minds of his time back on home soil, though.
Born into a wealthy family in March 1829, Norman spent his formative years preparing to take over the hosiery manufacturing business of his father, George. Receiving “commercial education” up until his sweet sixteenth, his mind was trained for one path, but his heart was set on another. That is, rather than wanting to learn about the art of the deal, he became fascinated with science and mathematics - to the point where he left business school before his seventeenth birthday, instead aiming to pass on his passion to others as a maths teacher.
Yet before he could make his return to education on the other side of the classroom, Norman discovered that he had a natural talent for the galactic. By the time he turned eighteen, to say Pogson was already establishing himself as one to watch would be an understatement. Shortly after unearthing his interest in space at George Bishop's Observatory in 1846, he had already figured out how to calculate the orbit of two comets, with the help of fellow Nottinghamian John Russell Hind.
At the ripe old age of 23, he had bagged himself a gig at the world-famous Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford, setting himself on a potential path to greatness by joining the most skilled astronomy team in the country - and his time there quickly became a success. Within two years he had received recognition for his work studying variable stars, compiling a comprehensive catalogue of the 53 known at the time - including seven that he had discovered himself. One such discovery, that of minor planet Isis - named after his daughter Elizabeth Isis, child one of fourteen - saw him draped with the prestigious Lalande medal for scientific advances in astronomy.
For five years he continued to work hard on his obsession, but also turned his attention to studying phenomena a little closer to home - joining Astronomer Royal Sir George Biddell Airy in analysing the density of the earth, earning Airy’s “hearty thanks” and gaining a “cordial friend through life” as a result, according to Henry Meredith Vibart.
Norman’s residence in Oxford would turn out to be the most productive period of what was a very productive life, with his observations on stars’ brightness magnitude leading to the establishment of Pogson’s Ratio, which calculates that stars of the first magnitude are a hundred times as bright as stars of the sixth magnitude - which means something to those in the know, our sources tell us.
Before the turn of the decade, Norman had risen from assistant to director, taking the reins at John Lee’s Hartwell Observatory in 1859. Here, he remained as proficient as ever,
becoming a regular contributor to the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society with fourteen papers in a single year.
This earned the attention of Sir Charles Wood, then Secretary of State for India, who decided to deploy him in, you guessed it, India - appointing him as government astronomer for the city of Madras (now Chennai). Despite being met with less effective technology than he was used to, Norman’s time at the Madras Observatory was still unsurprisingly efficient. Within a year, he’d discovered 67 Asia, a large main belt asteroid 61km in size, which became the first of its kind recorded from the continent.
Never one to settle, though, Norman continued to impress those in the field, discovering three more asteroids in the following seven years - 80 Sappho, 87 Sylvia and 107 Camilla. These discoveries, plus a mere 51,000 more observations in total, made up Norman’s contributions to Taylor's Madras Catalogue, a codified collection of everything spotted at the observatory.
This work was largely carried out in isolation, and using technology that was deemed “very old and inadequate” by the Science journal, making his successes all the more remarkable. In total, he discovered 134 stars, 106 variable stars, 21 possible variable stars and seven possible supernovae, according to Thomas R. Williams and Michael Saladyga, making him one of the most active scientists of his time.
For all his accomplishments, however, Norman remained largely unknown back on home soil. The scientist spent the final three decades of his life in India, meaning that while he became the source of “some really good stuff”, he was, and still is, “someone no-one’s ever really heard of”, as Nottingham Trent University’s Dr Daniel Brown puts it.
Had he not shone so brightly so early on in his career, and had he avoided the attention of Sir Wood, his contributions to astronomy may have been even more profound - and more widely recognised. As his eulogy in Nature summarised back in 1891, “Mr. Pogson [had] been so long absent from England that, in a sense, he may be said to have outlived his reputation; but those who can recall the condition of astronomy in this country some thirty years since will remember him as a rising astronomer of considerable promise, and as one of the most indefatigable observers at that time. If his subsequent career has not entirely fulfilled his early promise, perhaps the condition of the Madras Observatory is to some extent the cause… possibly Mr. Pogson has accomplished all that could be done with his instruments and his staff.”
Still, for all the talk of unfulfilled promise, making vital scientific discoveries, picking up awards for your work and having an entire mathematical equation named after you ain’t half bad.
words: George White illustration: Ciaran BurrowsHad he not shone so brightly so early on in his career, Pogson’s contributions to astronomy may have been even more profound
The Australian Pink Floyd Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £32 - £101.50, 7.30pm
Listening Session: Seeing Through Flames: Hollows and Resonances by David Toop The Space, Nottingham Contemporary Free, 6.30pm
Russell Maliphant Dance Company: VORTEX Lakeside Arts £18, 7.30pm
Keeping it short, with Giselle Leeb and Alison Moore Five Leaves Bookshop £3, 7pm
Massive Wagons Rough Trade £10 - £33, 5pm
Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq
The Chameleon £11, 7.30pm
Cara Dillon Lakeside Arts £22, 7.30pm
Net Zero Essentials
Nottingham Trent University 12.30pm
Palaye Royale Rough Trade £15, 7pm
Writing Ghost Stories Nottingham Writers Studio £13, 6.30pm
Pots and Pints Rough Trade £27.50, 6.30pm
Warmduscher Rock City £20.44, 6.30pm
National Theatre Live The Seagull Broadway Cinema £14 - £16, 7pm
Nottingham Writers Studio Open Mic The Carousel £3, 7pm
Headsticks and Steve Ignorant’s Slice of Life
The Old Cold Store £16.50, 7.30pm
Tom Stade: The High Road Metronome £20.35, 8pm
Glass Grave Rock City £9, 6.30pm
Ugly Kid Joe & Massive Wagons Rock City £31.69, 6.30pm
The Harley Pottery Studio // Open Access
The Harley Gallery & Portland Collection £7 - £11.90, 10am
Hunting Nottingham’s History: Bridges, Bells and Lions Malt Cross £12, 10.30am
Candle Making & Glass Painting Workshop Malt Cross £45, 10am
NWS Monthly Social Nottingham Writers Studio Free, 7pm
Fleetwood Bac - The Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show Rescue Rooms £15, 6.30pm
Progressions: More to me than sex work
The University of Nottingham Free, 11am
Scottish Falsetto Socks: Eurovision Sock Contest Canalhouse £8, 7pm
Scott Bennett: Work in Progress Canalhouse £6.99, 8.30pm
Terrarium Making Workshop Nottingham Contemporary £50, 11am
Bodega Rescue Rooms £16, 7.30pm
Will Young Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £45 - £52, 7.30pm
Jay Sandhu and Tej Dhutia: How did we get here? Canalhouse £7.97, 8.30pm
Artists’ Film: Jarman Award Touring Programme 2022 The Space, Nottingham Contemporary Free, 6.30pm
Crawlers Rescue Rooms £14, 7.30pm
Lime Garden The Bodega £8, 7pm
Opera North - La traviata Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £22 - £69.50, 7pm
Stella Donnelly Metronome £12.50, 7pm
The Rocket Man Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £31.50 - £31.50, 7.30pm
An Evening with Lucy Worsley on Agatha Christie Nottingham Playhouse
Jack Harlow Rock City 7pm
The Birthday Massacre Rescue Rooms £20, 6.30pm
Adam Kay This Is Going To Hurt...More Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £27.50 - £47.50, 7.30pm
Messy Drink & Draw The Carousel £3, 7pm
Scummy Mummies Nottingham Playhouse £21, 7.30pm
Dried Flower Embroidery with Gilding @ Nottingham Lace Market Debbie Bryan £45 - £45, 2pm
A Celebration of the Music from Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £28 - £62.50, 7.30pm
Middleway Words Festival Waterstones £4 - £5, 6.30pm
Pussy Riot Rescue Rooms £20, 6.30pm
Deaf Havana Rock City £22.50, 6.30pm
Clearwater Creedance Revival The Level £25 - £27.50, 7pm
Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not To Come Nottingham Playhouse £18 - £24, 7.30pm
Darkzy and Window Kid Stealth 10pm
Submerged: In The Jungle Hidden Warehouse £14, 10pm
Alan Carr - Regional Trinket Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £27.50 - £27.50, 8pm
Propagation: Create your own soft fruit garden STAA on St Ann’s Allotments £25, 10am
Louise Atkinson: ‘Mates, a Work in Progress’ The Embankment £5, 5.30pm
Blossoms Rock City 6.30pm
Midnight Rodeo The Bodega £9, 7pm
James Campbell: The Funny World of ... Lakeside Arts £8.50 - £10, 3.30pm
Jazz Jam Malt Cross Free, 5pm
1525 Sound Circles: The Body as a Cave Nottingham Contemporary 11am - 4pm
Shawn James Rescue Rooms £17.50, 7.30pm
Amy Montgomery The Bodega £11, 7pm
The Big Quiz Malt Cross 7.30pm
Ray Bradshaw The Glee Club £12, 7.30pm
Sourdough Starter Masterclass Malt Cross £24, 6.30pm
Soul Asylum and Everclear Rock City 7pm
Professor Philippe Wilson Inaugural Lecture Nottingham Trent University 5.30pm
The Stylistics Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £36.50 - £36.50, 7.30pm
De La Soil Rock City £33.19, 7pm
Riot Ensemble University Hall £5 - £15, 7pm
The Districts The Bodega £12, 7pm
TV Moms
The Chameleon 7pm
NTU Life Sciences and Environment Job Fair 2022 Nottingham Trent University 11am
Rod Stewart Motorpoint Arena Nottingham £176 - £265, 6.30pm
ABBA The Story Nottingham Playhouse £27.50, 7.30pm
Womxn in Animation Primary Free, 6.30pm
Meet Joan Armatrading Waterstones £15, 5.30pm
Cult Film Club presents... Pretty in Pink Works Social £10 - £10, 6.30pm
Cucamaras Rescue Rooms £11, 6.30pm
Sea Girls Rock City £20, 6.30pm
Some Other Mirror Nonsuch Studios 7.30pm
The Trials of Cato The Bodega £15, 7pm
Martha Metronome £5 - £12, 7pm
David O’Doherty: whoa is me Nottingham Playhouse £24.50, 7.30pm
Jimmy Carr - Terribly Funny 2.0 Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £35, 8pm
The Prosecco Express Nottingham Playhouse £21, 7.30pm
Time To Shine Promotions presents... The Institutes! Rough Trade £9, 7pm
Kaiser Chiefs plus Special Guests
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham £53 - £123, 6.30pm
Nayla Yenquis Group [Jazz/Soul of Brazil]
Peggy’s Skylight £6 - £15
Chris McCausland Nottingham Playhouse £20.50, 7.30pm
Absolute Bowie Rescue Rooms £16, 6.30pm
Elvana Rock City £22, 6.30pm
The Bread And Bitter Free, 7pm
Sunday Piano Series - Hannes Minnaar
Royal Concert Hall £12, 11am
Nearly Dan: The Spirit and Sound of Steely Dan The Glee Club £20, 7.30pm
Before Breakfast & Sunflower Thieves Rough Trade £7, 7pm
Dale Storr: The Sounds of New Orleans Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £11.50, 7.30pm
The Big Quiz Malt Cross 7.30pm
Lewsberg (NLD) / Thee Mightees / Stuart Pearce JT Soar £10, 7.45pm
Coin Rescue Rooms £15, 7pm
Electric Callboy Rock City £22.50, 6.30pm
Skerryvore Lakeside Arts £24
Listening Session: Seeing Through Flames: Love Saves the Day by Tim Lawrence Nottingham Contemporary Free, 6pm
N-Dubz Motorpoint Arena Nottingham £53 - £113, 6.30pm
Fontaines D.C. Rock City 7pm
Whitney - Queen of the Night Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £25 - £34, 7.30pm
Wednesday Walkthrough: Norma Gregory, Black Miners Museum Nottingham Contemporary Free, 2pm
Tom Ward: Anthem
The Glee Club £14, 7.15pm
Messy Drink & Draw
The Carousel £3, 7pm
Crobot Rescue Rooms £18.50, 6.30pm
Phoebe Green
The Bodega £11.50, 7pm
Jerry Sadowitz: Not For Anyone The Glee Club £27.50, 7.45pm
The Rat Pack Christmas Show Nottingham Arts Theatre £25, 7.30pm
WRAP Café Nottingham Contemporary Free, 6pm
Confidence Man Rock City £21.56, 6.30pm
The Bodega £10, 7pm
Friday Night Comedy
The Glee Club £16, 7.45pm
The Orb Metronome £25, 7pm
The Jazz Defenders Peggy’s Skylight £8 - £17
John Power
The Bodega £17.50, 7pm
Learn how to build compost bins from wooden pallets STAA on St Ann’s Allotments £30, 10am - 12pm
Jake Bugg Motorpoint Arena Nottingham £33 - £96, 6pm
Late Night Wax X Park/90 Bar Eleven Free, 10pm
Limelight Backstage Tour Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £12, 10.30am
Aljaz & Janette - A Christmas To Remember Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £27.50 - £57.50, 7.30pm
Tin Man Lakeside Arts £8.50 - £10, 12pm
Sarah Borges The Chapel £15 - £15, 7.30pm
A Christmas Carol Broadway Cinema £10 - £12, 1.45pm
Swim Deep Rescue Rooms £12, 7.30pm
James Bay Rock City 7pm
The Big Quiz Malt Cross 7.30pm
Florence + The Machine Motorpoint Arena Nottingham £68 - £148, 6.30pm
CMAT Rescue Rooms £10, 7.30pm
Marcus Mumford - Intimate Performance The Level £16.50 - £37, 8.30pm
Shinedown - Planet Zero Tour Motorpoint Arena Nottingham £44 - £91, 6.30pm
DEFO MAYBE: INDIE Tuesdays! PRYZM £2.50
Traditional Irish Music Session Nottingham Irish Centre Free, 7pm
Cool Company Nottingham Contemporary Free, 10am
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall £47.50 - £47.50, 7.30pm
CALAN Lakeside Arts £18, 7.30pm
Sarah Keyworth: Lost Boy The Glee Club £13.50, 7.30pm
The Ruts DC Rescue Rooms £20, 6.30pm
Abbie Ozard The Bodega £8, 7pm
#SKINT
O’Neill’s Nottingham Free, 7pm
Metronome Sessions: The Brothers Gillespie Metronome £5 - £10, 7pm
leftlion.co.uk/issue150
leftlion.co.uk/issue153
When: Friday 4 - Saturday 12 November
Where: Various locations
How much: Various prices
Nottingham Comedy Festival is back once again! Spanning eight days and multiple locations, the festival promises (as usual) to get you laughing, cringing and possibly even crying. This year, featuring names including Scott Bennett, Louise Atkinson, Dave Twentyman and more, it’s a chance to get together with a few friends, sink a pint or two and get to know the full range of comedians this city has to offer.
When: Wednesday 9 November, 7.30pm
Where: Royal Concert Hall
How much: From £27.50
After rising to success with his 2017 book (and subsequent BBC show) This is Going to Hurt, Adam Kay is now touring with stories from his new book Undoctored. Once again sharing tales from his experiences as a junior doctor, the former medic and current comedian wowed crowds with his previous stage performance, described by the Mail on Sunday as ‘Blissfully Brilliant.’
When: Thursday 10 November, 6.30pm
Where: Rescue Rooms
How much: £20
Feminist protest and performance punk rockers Pussy Riot are coming to Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms this November. Known for their provocative style, the group aren’t afraid of controversial subjects - with lyrics regularly featuring anti-Putin sentiments, alongside supporting LGBT+ and feminist rights. Made famous through their guerilla shows, the energy here promises to be amazing.
When: Friday 11 Nov, 7.30pm
Where: Nottingham Playhouse How much: From £18
In collaboration with Soho Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse are hosting Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani from the popular podcast Brown Girls Do It Too. Celebrated for breaking the stigma around sex in the Asian community, the two hosts present a very special show where topics range from racism and family politics to first loves and relationships. Funny and refreshing, it’s not to be missed!
When: Saturday 12 November, 7pm
Where: The Bodega How much: £9
Hurtling quickly toward skyhigh success, Nottingham band Midnight Rodeo can be found at The Bodega this month, performing tracks including Shootout Sunday and Now You’re Gone. Self-described as a six-piece spaghetti western, the group combines psych pop with a classic Americana vibe to make a totally unique sound. Often seen fully clad in a seventies look, they’re all round fun.
Cult Film Club Presents... Pretty in Pink
When: Thursday 17 November, 6.30pm
Where: Works Social How much: £10
Not all of John Hughes' movies have aged well, but it doesn’t get much better than 1986's Pretty in Pink. Considered a cult classic and starring eighties sweetheart Molly Ringwald, it’s an iconic Brat Pack movie centering around high school senior Andie Walsh as she looks for love. Now screening this month at Works Social, we can’t wait to get all nostalgic with this one.
When: Friday 25 November, 6.30pm
Where: Rock City How much: £15
Rising to music royalty with their singular indie rock sound, it’s hard to find a band riding higher than Wet Leg right now, having played Glastonbury the very same year as releasing their debut album. Now the duo are coming to our city to perform at Rock City, following their previous intimate show at Broad Street’s Rough Trade. An amazing and affordable gig, it doesn’t get much better.
When: Saturday 26 November, 6pm
Where: Motorpoint Arena
How much: From £33
Playing at the Motorpoint Arena, Jake Bugg is returning to his home city for a show ten years after his debut album. Featuring all the songs from that groundbreaking record, this special performance marks the singer's past, present and future and the ways they are connected to Nottingham. Also including songs from all of Bugg’s subsequent albums, this all-encompassing show is the best place for longtime fans.
