LeftLion

LeftLion is a printed and online culture and listings magazine which covers Nottingham, with a specific focus on the local music and arts scene.

It was originally set up by three childhood friends: Jared Wilson, Alan Gilby and Tim Bates and launched as a website on 1 September 2003. The first issue of the printed magazine came out a year later in Autumn 2004.

The organisation takes its name from a stone lion in Nottingham's Old Market Square, which since Nottingham Council House was built in the 1920s has been known as a meeting point for people in Nottingham City Centre.

Contributors

LeftLion is put together by a range of creatives who all either live in or have links to the city of Nottingham. Most of these contribute on a voluntary basis.

Contributors have included Al Needham, actor Paul Kaye, Miles Hunt (lead singer of The Wonder Stuff), Nicola Monaghan, Tom Hathaway (author of Full Bacon Jacket), Rob Cutforth (award-winning Canadian blogger), Wayne Burrows, Ash Dilks, Jennie Syson, Andrew 'MulletProofPoet' Graves, Nathan Miller and Roger Mean.

The current editorial team consists of Alison Emm, Jared Wilson, Adrian Bhagat, Paul Klotschkow,James Walker, Aly Stoneman, Penny Reeve, Scott Oliver, Dave Parry, and Dominic Henry.

The magazine is equally well known for its strong visual appeal due to a talented artistic team run by Alan Gilby and Photo Editor Dave Parry, including Raphael Achache, Becca Hibberd, Si Mitchell, Rob White, Rikki Marr, Steve Larder and more. Cover artists in 2013 included Jon Burgerman and Jon Blanche.

Interviewees

People who have been interviewed in the pages of their magazine include Derren Brown, Alan Moore, Public Enemy, Paul Smith, The Prodigy, Juliette Lewis, Roots Manuva, Dizzee Rascal, David Nobbs, Noel Fielding, Ed Byrne, Shane Meadows, Jonathan Glazer, Klaxons, Jon McGregor, Derren Brown, Alex Hales, Alice Oswald, Alexei Sayle, Sir Andrew Motion, Alan Sillitoe and The Sheriff of Nottingham. As well as hundreds of Nottingham-based musicians, artists and other creative types who have received exposure alongside these bigger names.

They were the only media organisation who ever interviewed Frank Robinson and the last publication to ever interview legendary Nottingham author Alan Sillitoe and journalist Ray Gosling.

Awards and press

In late 2006 and 2007, LeftLion were nominated for a series of awards including Best Free Music Magazine by Record of the Day, Ambassadors of Nottingham by BBC Radio Nottingham and for their use of Technology in the Nottingham Creative Business Awards. The Nottingham Evening Post referred to them as "the high priests of Nottingham culture".

In 2009, LeftLion won the 'Writing and Publishing' award at the Nottingham Creative Business Awards, in a ceremony held at the Nottingham Council House on 7 October 2009. They were also runners-up for the award of Creative Business of the Year.

In 2013, the publication celebrated its tenth anniversary with BBC's East Midlands Today running a feature interview and BBC Online running a photo gallery.

Events

LeftLion also gives its name to regular free music nights at venues in the city featuring bands from the area, a weekly pub quiz and has produced a series of podcasts and live literature events. During 2006 LeftLion worked closely with A Drop In The Ocean, a highly ambitious city-wide music festival that raised £27,200 for charity.

Musical acts and artists that have played at LeftLion events include Liam Bailey, Jake Bugg, Thepetebox, Natalie Duncan, Amusement Parks on Fire, Thepetebox, Lightspeed Champion, The Hellset Orchestra, Love Ends Disaster!, Rapunzel MAP, Bent, Crazy Penis, The Smears, Alice Rock, Model Morning, Old Basford, The Elementz, Cappo, Kids In Tracksuits.

External links

LeftLion links

• LeftLion website
• LeftLion Extravaganza BBC Review
• Ambassadors of Nottingham nomination by the BBC

LeftLion contributor links

• Rob Cutforth
• Dominic Henry
• Rob White
• James Walker
• Aly Stoneman
• Dave Parry