LeftLion Magazine - June 2005 - Issue 5

issue #5. our style is legendary

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credits LeftLion Magazine Issue 5 June-July 2005 Editor Jared Wilson Deputy Editor Al Needham Sub Editors Alan Gilby Timmy Bates Nathan Miller Cristina Chapman Floyd Ferris David Bowen Design David Blenkey reasondesign@hotmail.com Photographers Ben Dennis Dom Henry Joe Ryder Josh Skinner Kevin Lake Petra Dee Medley Illustrators Ricky Marr Rob White Contributors Adrian Bhagat Alex Kocan Bones Dan Gardner Guy Gooberman Howell Lovell Jem Shaw Roger Mean LeftLion Embassy Yemi Akinpelumi “The difference between a brave man and a coward is a coward thinks twice before jumping in the cage with a lion. The brave man doesn’t know what a lion is. He just thinks he does.”

Charles Bukowski

contents . . .

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Local News For Local People Election 2005: Notts Results Joe Buhdha and Mista Jam Karizma and DJ Format The Magic Heroes Left of the Dealer The Hellset Orchestra Gob Squad Tales From The Business Called Show The Joys of Skegness: Nottingham’s Favourite Holiday Destination Out and About Just The Tonic’s Darrell Martin Nottingham Events Listings Nottsword Rocky Horrorscopes & The Fun Cave

editorial It is an interesting learning curve for us putting this magazine together. For those of you that don’t realise, our team still work (and have always worked) on LeftLion in our spare time and do other ‘day jobs’ as well. We’re just regular people who live in Nottingham, catch buses to work, buy our dinner in the supermarket and do all the things that you do in Hood Town.

It takes a lot of hard work, but we’re proud of what we do and we really think we’re making a difference to the dynamic that makes up life in this city. We’re aiming to give coverage to local people doing things that interest us along the way and it’s our belief that anybody who is reading this can probably contribute something if they want to. If you’re interested in doing something, just get in touch. Capeesh?

Since we started, other local publications have ceased and a few others have arrived in their wake. From us at LeftLion, good luck to them all! It’s not an easy thing for just anyone to do, but it can only be good for the scene to have so many people trying. Some of them will flourish and some will fail. It’s our task to make sure that LeftLion falls into the former category.

Putting out this magazine and the time that goes into it, however, does cost money and since we started our quest for a true independent voice in Nottingham media, we’ve also been learning the cost of business.

Advertising revenue makes us able to distribute this for free. What we get as a result is a big audience of people who are keen to listen. If you are involved in a business that you think could benefit by working with us then please get in touch.

This issue contains some quality products of the current live music scene in Nottingham. The Magic Heroes, The Hellset Orchestra and Left of the Dealer are three fine exponents of what the kids are calling ‘Notts-Rock’.

Alongside them we have the hiphop offerings of Joe Buddha and Mista Jam, DJ Format and Karizma, as well as the Gob Squad theatre crew and a Skegness holiday special. Thanks goes out in particular to Notts artist Rikki Marr for his hard work on our awesome Beano-like cover!

As always, there’s plenty more coverage of Nottingham culture on our website. The stuff you see in this magazine really is just the tip of the iceburg…

jared@leftlion.co.uk

LeftLion 349a Mansfield Road Nottingham, NG5 2DA info@leftlion.co.uk For advertising enquiries please contact: advertising@leftlion.co.uk office/fax: 0115 9623676 mobile: 07866 312044 8,000 copies distributed in over 50 venues around Nottingham

The views and opinions of contributors expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of LeftLion Ltd..

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Nottingham Voices things people have said on the leftlion forum

local news for local people with Guy Gooberman our correspondent in London

Save Haywood School

Please note that Guy Gooberman is a fictional character and therefore only as real as the news he writes for more painful laughs visit www.lunch-break.co.uk

This school is particularly important because there’s no other comp in the local catchment area. Closing it will leave a big gap in the local community of Sherwood, Bestwood, Mapperley Park, Carrington and further afield.

Jared The catchment is part of the problem, in that there’s a lot of disadvantaged young people going due to the area it’s in.

Guy Gooberman It’s true that Haywood is a very mixed ability school, with troubled kids as well as achievers. But, while it had problems a couple of years back mostly due to poor management, it is now back on track and one of the most improved schools in the entire country.

apples Our elected officials are here to make the right decision not the easy one. I honestly believe closing Haywood would be bad for the area, if it only went wrong in the last few years it can be turned around.

Alan Closing the Haywood site and merging with Bigwood wouldn’t help re-engage the middle class parents, it would result in even more middle class children going to schools outside the city. On the other hand, a bit of stability and continuity, along with continuing improvement, could help enormously.

NJM

Banning Hooded Tops The PM has backed a shopping centre that banned anyone wearing caps or hoods. The reasoning seems to be that people wearing caps and hoods are hard to identify on CCTV. Well... yeah. What did they expect?

NJM There should be no rule to ever stop you wearing what you want to. The shopping centre has the right to ban them (it’s their building) but they’re going to lose a vast amount of business.

Jamie I think it’s fair enough. I wear a hoodie but if I need to I can take it off. If a ban stopped all the little shits lurking in shopping centres and throwing chips at old people, or allowed the police/security to arrest/catch them I’m all for it.

dlex I think that it’s good that the government are finally opening their eyes, but by targeting all people in hoodies, they’re are going the wrong way about it.

Ollie Yet again, the government targets symptoms of a problem rather than the causes. People don’t shoplift and vandalise because they wear hoodies, they do it because they are poor, have nothing else to take out their rage on, and because of other anti-social conditions.

hipster k

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The Elusive Pig Mansfield Woodhouse isn’t famous for many things (apart from perhaps Andrew Brealey Accountants and a distinct lack of soul) but that’s all about to change thanks to a macabre new initiative from local farmers and government.

‘Wild Pig Search’ is a new attraction for stupid tourists to waste their time running around after wild pigs on local nature reserves. The croney who thought up the idea cackled: “There aren’t any wild pigs of course, but it’ll get the fat juicy tourists in and then we can set upon them and eat their brains.”

Nearly Hit And Run A sick new hobby has quite literally hit the streets of Nottingham and everyone who I know is ruddy shocked by it. Normal urban white middle class people are getting in their motor cars and mounting kerbs to see how close they can get them to pedestrians. Some of the sick, twisted bastards are

even going as far as to ‘slightly maim’ bystanders shoving their metal weapons on wheels literally into the faces of the general public. One pervert who does this every Saturday night said: “We tried dogging for a while, but the wife can’t park properly. This is much better…”

Forest Fan Awol The fact that Nottingham Forest were relegated to the lower reaches of the earth hit one fan too hard for words…but I’ll try. Mr Craig David of Porchester Road, Mapperley (who shall remain anonymous) was so shook up that he locked himself in a disused tramp’s house and

held some chickens and a labrador hostage for four days. He eventually freed the labrador after painting it red but the chickens were ground down into a fine powder that Mr David used as a deadly snuff to kill his mind.

Schools To Be Replaced

By Pits In a controversial move to save money and streamline the education system, schools are to be destroyed and replaced by massive pits, dug deep into the Earth’s crust.

Nottingham will be piloting the policy. Local Education Apparatchik, PJ Bust said: “Instead of schools we’ll have holes in the earth which children will be thrown in and whoever crawls out alive will be deemed to have graduated. It’s the epitome of natural selection, but in a pit and with the added possibility that some of the kids will be forced into cannibalism.”

Boy With Enormous Head Savaged By Army Of Baboons An Abbey Park teenager with a massive swollen cranium induced by copious amounts of glue, was attacked by a remorseless bunch of angry baboons earlier this month.

These primates have been upsetting the Rushcliffe population for quite some time with their lewd behaviour and hooting on

street corners. They are said to have assaulted the oddlooking young man because: “He was asking for it”.

Police are on the hunt for a gang of talking primates who, when caught, will be sold to science, taught to smoke and experimented on in the most horrendous manner possible.

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leapfrog the Conservatives and take second place by just 22 votes. They improved their performance in the other constituencies whilst the Tory vote actually fell, with the result that all three seats will be definite three-horse races in the next election.

Alan Simpson has always been considered something of a rebel, having been a thorn in Tony Blair’s side ever since he led the campaign to keep Clause IV. His share of the vote was down slightly from previous years, though he managed to win a stillrespectable majority of 7,486.

There was some excitement in Nottingham East when The Guardian mistakenly reported that Labour whip John Heppell’s majority had been cut to under a thousand.

In actuality, the party enforcer had won by 6,939 votes but his majority was down by more than 3,000 since 2001.

South of the river, Nottingham’s most senior politician, Tory grandee and former Chancellor Ken Clarke, won his ninth straight election in Rushcliffe and nearly doubled his majority, now up to 12,974. At the time of writing, the Jazzloving, Europhile friend of tobacconists was suggesting he might stand for the leadership of his party when Michael Howard steps down in the autumn. Howard, who claimed he would be too old to fight the next election, is a year younger than Clarke but the Old Nottinghamian is still one of the most respected and well-liked Tory MPs. Don’t put too much money on it, but it’s just possible that Cuddly Ken could be Britain’s next Prime Minister.

Whilst it may have seemed like business as usual for the winners, with neither a threatened Tory ‘resurgence’ nor the Lib Dem’s positive campaign and opposition to the War managing to trouble Labour’s vote too much, the fight between the two losing parties was much closer. In Nottingham East, the Liberal Democrats even managed to

Notts’ other Tory MP, Newark’s Patrick Mercer (who, incidentally, recently claimed to have never purchased a CD) also increased his lead over Labour with a majority of 6,464 but the Conservatives failed to take either of the region’s two key marginal Labour seats.

Gedling’s Vernon Coaker and Broxtowe’s Nick Palmer, both

strong constituency MPs, retained their seats but saw their majorities slashed, making them major Tory targets for the future. That may prove a tall order though, with former TV personality Anna Soubry failing to increase the Conservative vote in Gedling and the Lib Dems showing the most improvement in both constituencies.

Amongst the smaller parties, the Greens seemed to have had the best election, generally coming fourth (often just ahead of UKIP) in the seats they contested, with Green candidate Ashley Baxter keeping his deposit in Nottingham East. UKIP themselves managed to keep a deposit in Nottingham North, although the prediction of their candidate, spiritualist medium Irena Marriott, that she would unseat Graham Allen proved false. She lost by more than 16,000 votes but vowed to return.

Robert Kilroy-Silk’s most public humiliation since the infamous ‘bucket of shit’ incident took place on Election night in Erewash. Liz Blackman held the seat comfortably for Labour from the Tories, but the Veritas founder proved to be an irrelevance. He kept his deposit but took less than 3,000 votes. With his new party performing as badly or worse across the country, it looks like George Galloway

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Within the city, Labour’s triumvirate of Heppell, Simpson and Allen held their seats fairly comfortably, as was expected. Graham Allen’s win in Nottingham North gave him very nearly exactly the same majority as he entered the campaign with (down by 69 votes to 12,171). Allen is one of Britain’s tallest MPs and has been both a Labour whip and an Iraq War rebel during his parliamentary career.

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In a General Election of widely varying swings and some unlikely results, the political landscape of Nottinghamshire bucked the national trend by staying almost completely unchanged since the last election. words: Nathan Miller

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ELECTION 2005: NOTTS RESULTS

(who won Labour’s Bethnal Green and Bow seat in London from Blairite Oona King) is once again Westminster’s favourite maverick pantomime villain. However, it remains to be seen whether the public at large think the War in Iraq is still a more important issue than immigration. Thankfully, very few BNP candidates stood anywhere near Notts, although the party did have some relatively significant results in London and the North West.

The local results reflected the national picture, with the Conservatives mounting a

small challenge, but not enough to change anything.

Most of their apparent gains were really Labour losses, with the vast majority of Labour defectors switching to the Lib Dems or smaller parties. In 2009 (or whenever the next Election comes) Labour will have to defend their Nottingham seats to stay in Government, whilst the Conservatives must successfully gain seats here to have any hope of returning to power. With the Liberal Democrats increasing their share of the vote considerably at this election they will need to build on their results in Nottingham, especially in the three city seats, to prove they are a real alternative and not just an anti-war protest party.

Although turnout was up slightly on 2001, the apparent predictability of results here could end up breeding further apathy. This would be a shame, since constituencies in Notts, which is geographically about as ‘Middle England’ as you can get, will prove crucial in future elections.

Who’s In The House?

Nottinghams MPs (l-r): Alan Simpson, Graham Allen, John Heppell, Ken Clarke, Nick Palmer, Vernon Coaker, Patrick Mercer. In the shithouse: Robert Kilroy-Silk.

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Joe Buhdha and Mista Jam have been at the helm of SureShot Entertainments Ltd for the past few years. Within that time, they’ve not only worked to establish Joe Buhdha as one of the finest producers and Mista Jam as one of the most entertaining deejays and hosts in hiphop period, but they have also set up UK Takeover, which has grown to become the biggest British hiphop event in the UK. words: Bones photo: Petra Medley How old are you two?

Hiphop keeps you fresh, it’s youthful. Buhdha’s actually 55 but he looks 20. Jam’s actually 110.

How and when did you meet?

Buhdha saw Jam on Crossroads and at the time was looking for a chef for a restaurant he was planning to open. Buhdha asked him for a CV and instead got a mixtape. We started working together from Bring Da Noize in about 2000.

What are your roles within SureShot Entertainments?

Buhdha’s responsible for the ideas and the music. He runs the studio while Jam works with our other partner Ed to do the day-to-day stuff in the office. There’s a lot of hard work involved though. We both produce and deejay but Jam’s taking a break from the production and Buhdha’s taking a break from playing records!

Have either of you ever been an emcee?

Buhdha used to be in a crew called MC’s Logik but decided to put down the mic when the S3000 called him. Jam has never been an emcee but there’s still time...!

The rap market is flooded with product both domestic and American. Justify my love...

Justify my love? Wasn’t that a song by Madonna? Our love is that we love music, hiphop, vibes and love doing what we’re doing. There’s no better feeling than doing what you love doing for a job. If you’re feeling what we’re doing, then thanks for your support. Your love for hiphop can only be justified by yourself.

Any particular proud moments or releases?

All of our releases we’re proud of because we know the

process it’s been to put us in a position to release music and DVDs. Irregardless of what other people think of them, we’re proud. Moments every day we wake up and realise that this is what we do for a living. We have conversations about bringing KRS One & Rahzel to Nottingham or we’re discussing who we’d like on the next Takeover or what’s going to happen when Klashnekoff comes to Nottingham to record. We then turn these conversations into reality.

That’s a great position to be in and we’re proud to be in it every moment of the day.

What do you feel is strong about Nottingham hiphop?

There are strong foundations for hiphop in this town so we’re just working to continue that tradition and invest in the future for the next generation of hiphop. There’s a lot of people

in Nottingham that are making good music.

What do you feel is weak?

As with hiphop in general, we feel there are one too many crews, labels and artists who have lost their sense of quality control and will just put out any old shite and expect others to support it. We could also do with people stepping up their level of professionalism, but once again, that isn’t a Nottingham-only criticism, the same can be said for all music everywhere.

Describe your hiphop ethos, particularly as part of a genre now about 30 years old.

Our ethos is all about quality.

When you buy a SureShot release, or go to a SureShot night, you know that everything about it is quality because we know quality stands the test of time. Substance over volume.

How have you seen hiphop change and how does it make you feel?

We’ve seen hiphop change from being underground to mainstream. In 2005, there are few things that hiphop culture hasn’t touched, from other genres of music, to media, to fashion to journalism and we personally think it’s a good thing. If it means we can make a living out of doing what we love then it’s fine by us. The only thing we don’t like is the amount of vultures it’s created who are only here to rape and pillage what they can from the scene and water it down and repackage it without no knowledge or understanding of the culture. All we can do is put out music and put on events that we’re feeling and hope others feel the same. www.uktakeover.net

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Old School Format

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Two years ago Brighton-based DJ Format released his first album ‘Music for the Mature B-Boy’. It was an unexpected commercial success, showcasing his hiphop credentials to the fullest and gaining him kudos around the country. words: Jared Wilson Since then he’s been back to the studio to record the follow up ‘If You Can’t Join Em...

Beat Em’. Format and his Canadian sidekicks, rappers Abdominal and D-Sisive played at Stealth’s first birthday party in Nottingham earlier this year.

We caught up with Format, real name Matt, for a few words…

When Abdominal and D-Sisive get together there’s some kind of chemistry. It’s like the Beastie Boys or something you know. Individually they’re quite different, but together they give a really good balance.

You and Abdominal are a pretty tight partnership these days…

Special K with chocolate, banana and raisins added.

That’s what I have in the morning…

I had him on the first album and somehow we managed to turn two tracks into a whole forty five minute show. He was bought in to expand the live element and he’s brought something really special to the mix. I love touring with him because he takes the pressure.

What do you think D-Sisive has brought to the show?

What’s your favourite breakfast cereal?

Any thoughts on Robin Hood?

He’s a bit of a legend, yeah.

I guess I could make a comparison to how I make my music, stealing beats off some great old musicians and giving it back to the kids of today.

Is your sister a foxy lady like you say on the album?

Very much so. I think one of us is adopted. I’ve seen the milkman and he’s an ugly bloke with a very big nose.

Sometimes it makes me wonder where I came from…

I read that you drove the tourbus for Jurrassic 5 around the UK in 1998 I drove them around the UK and consulted with them on record buying shops around the country on a daily basis.

I love to listen to their music and as you can imagine it wasn’t a hard decision to take them up on it at the time…

You toured alongside them a few years after…

Yes. When Abdominal and myself toured with them it was 2003. Now that was the best three weeks of my life! Loads of great memories!

If you could work with any musical artist who would you choose?

Could I have a time machine?

Yeah….

Cool. I’d work with Big Daddy Kane. He was a real legend.

Have you heard much Nottingham hiphop?

I know Ivory from the P Brothers, so I’m aware of some of that stuff, but I’m not really someone who listens to a lot of contemporary music. I respect what they’re doing, but I’m just engrossed into my own stuff, which is usually sampling stuff that is decades old.

The Dapper Rapper Karizma (aka 23 year old Alex from Mapperley) has been smashing live hiphop shows in Nottingham of late, with a verbal assault of quality vocals. He is often found double teaming with local human beatboxer Foz and has been a resident at Camouflage nights for the past year or so. photo: Josh Shinner Karizma first came to light as part of Big Trev’s Outdaville crew with C-Mone, Scorzayzee, Lee Ramsay, DJ Fever and the rest. Since their split he has continued to ply his trade as an emcee in Nottingham, dividing his time between putting out tracks for Dealmaker records and raising a family.

What records got you into hiphop?

The first big tune I ever heard was on Heatwave FM and it was heavy. That was the first ever tune where I thought that was hiphop and I’m definitely feeling that! The rest was a natural progression…

Who else do you rate in the Nottingham hiphop scene?

Big Trev, Joe Buddha, Mr Jam, Black Viking, Notts Inna Nuttin and Wariko. I think 45 is smashing it. Respect to all crews tho really. Dealmaker and Camouflage. Tempa was in OutDaville with me and it was good to see her repping on TV. Tell us about some of you best memories from the Outdaville days.

Those were like a foundation, like being a rapper apprentice.

When I started I didn’t really have a clue. I had an inkling of it and the very raw material,

but then I met people like Lee Ramsay and Scorz and Fedel and all them other mans.

Working with Trev was just full of energy and all the different lives that went into the project made it something really special.

A good learning experience?

I think it was the ideal breeding ground for what I’m doing now, obviously we’re not all together anymore, but we’re all doing good things and there is no negative energy between us at all.

We’re all looking out for each other as we experienced a lot together.

Did you vote in the recent election?

I’m afraid I didn’t. I was on holiday with a very special person. Before it I was sitting with family talking and realised that I never understood a lot of things about politics and parliament.

No-one really teaches you those things in school.

What do you think about Forest getting relegated..?

It’s a sad day, but I actually support Liverpool. My dad followed them and it’s been passed down through my family. It’s not that bad for Forest tho, they’ll come back… have no fears.

Also new on www.leftlion.co.uk: Streetbeats Interview and Audio, Taskforce Interview and Audio

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Seventies ‘Frobacks Words: Al Needham :: Pictures: Dom Henry They rock, they roll, they take their shirts off and turn down interesting career opportunities at Poundland in the name of NottsRock. They played at this year’s A drop In The Ocean festival on two different stages, but they look like they haven’t seen the inside of a barber shop since the last century.

They are Paul ‘Stav’ Mylonas, Chris Reeve and Ian Starr, better known as funky Nottingham Nottingham band The Magic Heroes. God help us if there’s a war…

So how did it start for the Magic Heroes?

Ian: We were in a band during sixth form called Spinner, playing every grotty pub in town.

Chris: We used to clear the pubs out until only our mates were left, and they were absolutely steaming. And so were we. One of them would grab your arm midsolo and shout; “I’m off, mate!”

Yeah, nice one, but I’m just a bit busy now…

Stav: The band splintered about four years ago, and we started from square one.

Why the 70s fixation?

Ian: It’s not contrived. I suppose it comes from our parents…

Chris: My Dad used to play Cream non-stop in the car. I’d be strapped in listening to 20-minute Ginger Baker drum solos…

Ian: There’s something so captivating about the 70s for us. The look, the sound, and the stagecraft are all so extravagant.

You’ve put out your first CD off your own backs…

Stav: It’s taken us two years and cost five grand.

Chris: We packed in jobs for this, so a lot of the money has come out of our savings, credit cards, gigs, and a bit of garden centre work.

Stav: I was offered an interview to be manager of Poundland opposite Slab Square, but I somehow managed to turn it down.

You’ve played pretty much every venue in town. What’s your fave?

Stav: Stealth last Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, we forgot to ask for our money after.

Chris: It was Christmas. We were fucked!

Ian: We love the Rescue Rooms, but we’re cursed there. Last time we played there the drum kit wasn’t lashed down properly. It nearly walked to the bar for a pint at one point…

Stav: The Social’s a home from home for us. Killer audience, great venue, and we drink there anyway. Rock City for A Drop In The Ocean was also very special.

Chris: You can’t go anywhere without someone commenting on it.

If we go anywhere near Flares, some girl will always say “Is that real?” and then try to rip your scalp off.

Chris: Just to be on the same stage that Bowie and all those people have played on was a privilege. Like everyone else, we wanted to chip in to the Tsunami appeal, but we were skint. So the best thing we could do was make a racket.

Stav: But we wouldn’t be in a band if we didn’t want to be noticed.

So who are you rating in Hood Town at the moment?

Chris: The Hellset Orchestra look like they’ve just come out of a time machine after robbing a music shop of all their maddest instruments, but it works perfectly. No guitars.

Ian: Left Of The Dealer. We’ve played with them a few times and they get better and better. Really funky and tight, and they’re great songwriters.

So, Ian…why haven’t you got an Afro yet?

Ian: I’ve been trying! I’ve been eating my crusts, but it’s just not happening.

Is taking your shirts off onstage for practical reasons, or just poncing about?

Chris: If you ever got on stage and jumped about like an idiot for 45 minutes, you’d want to take your shirt off as well.

One of your new songs is about Whycliffe, isn’t it?

Stav: He got chewed up and spat out by the record industry. I used to feel really sad when I saw him, and thought “Yeah, that could be me in a few years if I go down the wrong road”. I used to buy food for him, until he asked me why.

After that he never looked at me in the same way again. It’s more of an anti-crack song, if anything.

So who’s that bloke who does an encore with you every now and then?

Chris: He’s The K, goddamnit!

Ian: It makes us feel a bit animal, to be honest.

Chris: But then again, we supported Doctor Feelgood at Mansfield and the audience was full of middle-aged miners…so the shirts stayed on.

So what’s the most Rock n’ Roll thing you’ve ever done?

Stav: One of our mates stole a bus, and we went on a random excursion round Nottingham. It even broke down at one point, and we had to hotwire it and give it a push.

Stav: He’s a good friend and a great musician. He’s got a fantastic voice.

Chris: He was the first person who believed in us and told us we had the potential. And he’s been there, done that, and knows his shit backwards.

Finally…who’s your personal Magic Hero?

Chris: Paul Daniels.

Ian: George Clinton.

Stav: Jimi Hendrix.

Stav: If you want to get your hair like this, readers, don’t cut it, and then get up in the morning and just go out. For two years.

Chris: When the trams started running, I tried to get a kroggy all the way to Hucknall. But a copper put me in a chokehold and told me not to be so stupid.

Chris: Shit, can I change mine?

No. Chris: Oh.

Magic Heroes play LeftLion Presents at Malt Cross on Friday 29th July

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Poker Faces Once a three-pronged acoustic guitar attack with a Mansfield-like disregard for electricity, Left of The Dealer have beefed up their membership (and as a result their sound) as of late. words: Alex Kocan. photos: Kevin Lake The three original members are Tommy G (vocals), Jakey B (guitar, backing vocals) and Russ (rhythm guitar, backing vocals). In the last few months they have been joined

by Adam (bass) and Saimon (drums).

Together the five of them look good, singing and playing their instruments whilst displaying precocious songwriting ability.

These traits have marked them out as one of the freshest and promising new bands in the city. We cornered them in the Trip to Jerusalem for a chat about cover versions, the Wonder Stuff and Damian Rice beatboxing...

You were recently described on the LeftLion forum as ‘the best boyband in Nottingham’. What do you think to that?

(Everyone laughs) Siamon: Really? Were we?

Amazing!

Tommy G: Our music is about nice sounds and harmonies.

The harmony thing is probably where the boyband thing comes from. I guess we write music which is a little bit crossover. It’s accessible.

Anyone can appreciate it no

matter what they’re into.

We’re also all good looking chaps as well.

How did the band come about?

Russ: It was originally me and Jake. Then we met Tommy in Bar Humbug. He had a golden voice and we needed him in the band. After that we spent three years writing and singing in kitchens.

You used to be a threepiece until recently.

What’s that done to your music?

Russ: As the rhythm guitarist I can do a little less work. I don’t have to make up for the lack of drums anymore. I can just ring out a chord and the drums and bass carry it on. I can also concentrate more on the songwriting.

What’s the name Left of the Dealer about?

Tommy G: Left of the Dealer is about poker really. But it’s also about passing a spliff to the left once you’ve rolled it.

Do you still do cover versions?

Tommy G: Yep, we do. We

want to learn more covers.

People love to hear stuff they know the words to. But our focus is on our own stuff. Our songs are accessible to all, that’s what it’s always been about for us.

How do you write the lyrics for your songs?

I understand that you are big fans of Wonder Stuff singer and LeftLion contributor Miles Hunt...

Russ: When I was about ten my sister was heavily into the Wonder Stuff. It was the lyrics and the songwriting that hit me.

Tommy G: I write about my emotions. To write an emotional song you have to be in the moment. I also sometimes just write interesting words that sound nice.

Tommy G: The lyrics are really inspired.

Jakey B: We have a really strict filter regarding lyrics.

Songs need to be about something.

What have been your best and worst gigs to date?

Russ: What music is about for me is trying to convey emotions and feelings that you cannot when talking to someone normally. It’s nice when people hear it and think ‘Oh my god that’s what he’s feeling’. For me, that’s what music is all about.

Who are your other favourite Nottingham bands?

Jakey B: The Magic Heroes.

Adam: Computerman. They’re just fantastic.

Russ: He’s really aware, he writes about real things. We’ve covered a song called Manna from Heaven that he wrote.

Tommy G: Definitely Stealth!

It was our first time with the new line up. That was our tightest gig. The PA system was good and my voice sounded crystal clear. It was the most people we’ve played in front of and we supported our good friends The Magic Heroes on that night as well.

The LeftLion Presents Malt Cross gig last year was really good too!

Adam: I’d say it was Stealth.

We’d literally had three practices and Saimon had picked up everything. Due to his amazing technical ability,

he picked up every drum part in about four days.

Jakey B: My worst gig was with my old band in 1999. One person stayed for one song... and that was my dad! Yeah, even my dad left after one song!

Who are your musical influences?

Jakey B: John Martin, Pink Floyd, Genesis.

Russ: I’d go with Pink Floyd again, not to copy Jake, Nick Drake, Miles Hunt. I think Miles is one of the greatest songwriters ever.

Adam: Me and Saimon are really into Root. But I also like stuff like Chili Peppers and Jamiroquai. I sort of grew up on that stuff.

Tommy G: I grew up listening to Motown, my mum’s really into that. Also I like listening to funk. I think I’ve got a bit of funk in my writing as well. We’re all into hiphop separately. Also Damien Rice definitely. He can rap!

Russ: He actually does beatbox!

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11

words: Jared Wilson illustration: Michael White

Since their incarnation at the beginning of last year, The Hellset Orchestra have led a merry danse macabre through the live music scene in Nottingham. First viewings of them have been met with a mix of surprise and awe from happy yet slightly bewildered crowds.

There are seven in the orchestra in total; Nadia Malik and Daniel Oliver (violins), the dandylike Jason Thacker (sax), Amy Nicholson (cello), Adam Sharrocks (drums), Daniel Frazer (bass) and Michael Wetherburn (singer/ organist/top-hatted overlord).

Whoever you are and whatever you’re into, there is sure to be something that attracts you about this seemingly odd collection of musicians when they descend on the stage. At first you wonder what is going to happen. Then, when they start playing, you realise this really is a band that makes music unlike anything you’ve ever heard before...

How did you decide to start the Hellset Orchestra?

Michael: I was playing guitar in a band, but I wanted to use my piano playing background. The initial plan was to have a band with a keyboard, bass and drums in an Eels/Ben Folds style mould.

Then we invited a group of friends along and after our first practice together we realised everyone brought a different element.

Dan F: We played our first gig in February 2004 at Bunkers Hill. It felt a bit unrehearsed, but when we went through it just seemed to totally click.

You’ve done quite a lot since then...

music lessons. You can’t teach people how to rock!!

Michael: It feels like that! When we played A Drop In The Ocean at Rock City it was almost a year to the day after it began. It’s always been a personal goal to play upstairs at Rock City.

Which other local bands are you feeling?

How would you describe your music?

Dan O: I’d describe it as dramatic prog.

Michael: If I was pushed I’d say we are neo-disco power prog!

Nadia: People see me coming in with my violin at work and ask me what kind of music I play. I just tell them that it’s theatrical pop rock type stuff.

Is it true that you’re all from classical music backgrounds?

Dan O: I don’t really like to be described as that. I think that there is something quite boring about classical musicians who pretend to be in rock groups.

We’re doing this because it’s what we want to do, not for any other reason.

Michael: If you say that we’re ‘classically trained’ then that probably just means we had

Michael: Punish The Atom. I like their theatrical nature and it’s obvious that they have thought about their performance. I also really like a band called Lords, which is two guitarists and a drummer from Notts, playing heavy dirty blues. I’m really into Legion of Doom as well, if King Arthur’s knights were in a metal band, they’d sound like them.

Nadia: I’m a fan of the Magic Heroes. I really like their afros.

Dan O: I’m in another band called Master with a ukulele, a banjo and a clarinet. It has a contrasting relationship with Hellset, but both bands are about performance rather than just music.

What do you do when you’re not in the Orchestra?

Dan O: I make performance art in a collective called Aunty Nazi. It’s quite intense, audience participation stuff.

Nadia: I design underwear for Cortaulds textiles, which is a job I love. I’m also training to do a half marathon at the moment.

Dan F: I do all the design and the website for the band. I’m also doing some freelance filming for an art project at the moment, and some other websites.

Michael: Away from Hellset, I’ve been working on a symphony that might be based around the twelve labours of Herakles. As for the other members, Adam was born to drum. He just ‘is drums’.

Dan O: Amy does a lot of performance stuff too. She works for a company called Reckless Sleepers and does her own thing under the banner of Shrug. Jason makes music, both on his own and with another band. He’s recorded about thirty solo albums by now, which you can probably only hear if you go around to his house.

What’s coming up for you over the next few months…

Michael: This summer we’re playing in Germany at a festival called Das Fest. We played a showcase at Rescue Rooms and were asked to play at the festival.

It’s our first gig outside of Britain.

about 4.30pm on the main stage on Saturday afternoon. It’s rumoured that other bands on the bill include Slayer, the Stranglers and the Chemical Brothers.

There’s also a human beatbox guy from Nottingham called Petebox.

Michael: We’re also playing the TMF Rock Festival in Essex in August which we’re all excited about.

Will there be an album soon?

Michael: We’ve just about finished working on our debut mini-album entitled ‘Greetings From The Great Humongous’, which will be out this summer.

It’s going to have six tracks on it and an enhanced section with two music videos.

Dan F: We’ve got the album launch at the Rescue Rooms on Saturday 2nd July. We’ll put on a few other bands and probably do some kind of deal where you get cheaper entry if you wear a cape, monocle or some other item of Victoriana. www.thehellsetorchestra.co.uk

Dan F: It’s part of a scheme from the council to get better links with the city of Karlsruhe in Germany, with which Nottingham is twinned. We’re playing at

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Born Lippy Gob Squad are an innovative performance company who originate from Nottingham but also include members from Germany. Their shows make use of video technology and involve a lot of audience interaction. words: Adrian Baghat We would describe it as a live film. There are four performers who set off round the city with video cameras an hour before the audience arrives. Our mission is to save Nottingham from anonymity and banality by giving it a supreme moment of beauty through a screen kiss between a member of the public and the hero, who is one of the performers. Other performers have to find a willing member of the public, publicise the event and find a location for it. We all meet up at the location and, if casting has found somebody, then we have this screen kiss and the film is a romance. If they haven’t, then it becomes a tragedy. We all go back to the theatre and film the audience who are waiting to go in. Then we stop the cameras, rewind the tapes and show the four films simultaneously on four video projectors, totally uncut and raw. Of course, it’s strange for us because we’re watching our own film.

Recently, Gob Squad have returned to the city with two productions as part of the nottdance05 festival. Room Service took place in the Park Plaza Hotel where the audience watched and interacted with four frustrated commercial travellers spending another lonely night in stark hotel rooms. They also performed Super Night Shot by taking cameras around the city and involving the public in making a ‘live film’ which was then shown to the theatre audience. I spoke with Sarah Thom, performer and an original member of the Gob Squad about their antics in Nottingham.

Can you tell me a bit about how the Gob Squad started?

Some of us were on the Contemporary Arts Course at Nottingham Trent University and got together for a show at Glastonbury. We’d met some of the German members through a university exchange programme and together formed Gob Squad.

We stayed on in Nottingham for a long time but then we were invited to be artists in residence in Berlin so now we have bases in both cities.

The night I saw Room Service, about an hour after you started two comically drunk girls turned up in little black dresses and dominated the audience interaction. A lot of people thought they were stooges. Were they friends of yours?

No, absolutely not! It’s funny, we had no idea what they looked like or who they were. Some of my friends were in the audience and afterwards they were asking us ‘Who were those girls?’ I wonder if they’d just wandered into it. They weren’t typical theatre audience members and apparently one of them had to be escorted off the premises for being too drunk.

You’ve performed this play in many different places. Do different cities give a different reaction?

I don’t generalise about it. Some people would say that people are more reserved in Germany, but it varies night by night. If you get two people like those girls in the audience, that changes the whole evening. It depends whether the audience want to invest, they get the show they deserve. The Friday night show in Nottingham was one of the most interactive that we have had. I think it might be because in Nottingham there is a real history for this stuff. The Contemporary Arts course has been really amazing. It has been going for ten years and there has always been an audience for it.

You take the piss out of the soullessness of hotels where all

the rooms are the same. What do the staff think of you doing this in their hotel?

We tell it like it is. People who work in hotels know all the rooms look the same and they know there are people there who are lonely and isolated. I always love it because you go into a hotel like that and first of all the staff are a little guarded, but by the time we leave they are really friendly.

At Park Plaza people from the bar came and watched it and the security staff absolutely loved it.

One in particular was talking to us at the end and said he’d never seen anything like it. Some people would never go to a play and definitely not an experimental performance so it’s great to make contact like that.

When I saw Room Service, Simon was asked to do naked cartwheels by the audience.

What’s the strangest thing a performer has been asked to do?

Nottingham was the first place we’d been asked to do nudity and Simon was asked to be naked all three nights. It’s very hard to shock us because when we were rehearsing we were making up all sorts of things. We all thought me being asked to give birth in the bath was a good one.

I remember in Zagreb, there was a really young audience of arts students and, right from the beginning, they started phoning the room until we had to abandon the structure and just go with it and let them take the lead.

That was probably the craziest performance!

How would you describe Super Night Shot?

Are you saying anything about reality television with your productions?

The idea of voyeurism and who is watching who has always been a big question in the study of performance art. The question was around before reality TV and before we started as well.

I would say that reality TV took inspiration from performance art and created Big Brother rather than the other way around. Like everyone, I was fascinated by the concept of Big Brother at first but I quickly found that I wanted more interaction. www.gobsquad.com Read reviews of Room Service and Super Night Shot at www.leftlion.co.uk/theatre

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The Death Knell

Of A Far From Glorious Career... words: Howell Lovell illustration: Rob White There was a time on British television when the talent show was an integral part of British Saturday night. By the nineties, however, the talent show format of pulling hopeful musicians, comics and magicians from clubs, pubs and holiday camps and giving them a crack on the telly was all but dead and about to be put finally to rest by a new generation of Pop Idol and Fame Academy. Before it snuffed it there was one last hurrah in the mid-nineties, Jonathan Ross’ Big, Big Talent Show.

Sadly I was on it. I had been playing saxophone in various cheesy bands for quite a while (five years or more) and it was beginning to wear thin. I was not quite happy about the progression of my career. At first it had all gone pretty much to plan. I spent three years at Music College and then joined my first pro band. Only a Blues Brothers tribute band but everyone has to start somewhere. I remember being thrilled after playing my first gig, a nightclub in Wakefield one wet Wednesday night. It was a shithole. There were bloodstains on the wall of the dressing room and, more bizarrely, Tom O’ Connor had scrawled an offensive message above the fireplace.

The next few years were spent mercilessly flogging the world of cabaret. Up and down the country in rented transits, playing working men’s clubs, dodgy nightclubs, caravan parks, weddings, student balls. This was supposed to have been only the first rung on the ladder to fame, but soon I was stuck. I thought a couple of years learning the ropes, paying my dues, then the call would come from UB40 or Sting needing a sax player and before long I would own an island in the Caribbean. If not Sting or UB40, at least Chumba bloody Wumba.

While others were soaring, I was stuck in cabaret hell. I played a holiday camp in King’s Lynn whose pre-show entertainment consisted of a sweaty middleaged man wearing a plastic chicken suit, entertaining aggressive ten year olds. I played a solo lying on my back kicking my feet in the air like a dying fly, whilst children laughed at me.

It wasn’t fair. I was an artist. I demanded to be taken seriously.

I left the Blues Brothers tribute band, just before their moment of glory appearing on the 100th edition of Noel’s House Party

(along with June Whitfield, Eddie Kidd and Frank Bruno). I was now playing with a cheesy rock’n’roll outfit from Mansfield.

My first gig was on New Years Eve at a Mecca bingo hall. After that, things went downhill. Rock and roll clubs in dingy working men’s clubs, jive clubs, where the audience were solely intent on dancing and didn’t even acknowledge your presence, Elvis weekenders at Pontins and holiday parks in North Wales. The average age of the crowd was about 55. I found the only way to survive was to view it with a detached irony, whilst drinking heavily and smoking enough dope to tranquillise an elephant.

Introspection, I found, was best avoided.

I was getting desperate, but finally the call came. We had our big chance. We secured a place on prime time Saturday night telly. Jonathan Ross’ Big Big Talent Show. This was it!

The first obstacle occurred during rehearsal. We had to go through our number a few times while the crew timed the piece and worked out camera shots etc.

The problem was our drummer, a balding middle aged Italian, who had tremendous difficulty keeping a steady tempo. What would start at a brisk yet relaxed beat would, by the end of the song, have reached an almost manic speed and intensity. By the fifth attempt, he was pouring with sweat. In

the end they gave up and decided to trust luck. We retired to the pub ready for the recording the next day.

Sometimes I despise London.

The pub we went to had a band playing. It soon became deflatingly obvious that they were better than we were.

They managed to finish their numbers at about the same pace they had started them for one. I started to get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. A little voice kept telling me that this experience was going to prove the humiliating final nail in my career, impossible to ever live down. Up until then, most of my friends had never seen the band and so I could retain a shred of dignity and pretence. Now I was going on national telly, this would be blown to pieces along with my credibility. But it was too late, I had to do it, I was desperate.

By the next morning, we had picked ourselves up and were psychologically ready. We had met and heard the competition and weren’t that impressed. There was a sour woman from South Wales who obviously thought she was something special, a really bad, but friendly illusionist couple and a gangly comedienne from the black country whose act involved playing comedy clarinet.

I was starting to feel a little more confident, this was my ticket out of this life. Did Sting watch The Big Big Talent Show?

Then, in the middle of the sour cow’s rehearsal, Charlotte Church made her television debut and I knew we were fucked. Then a podgy kid, she was doing a little guest spot as she happened to be the Welsh singer’s niece. Looking about nine, she filled the studio with this huge, angelic voice. To make matters worse, her Aunt’s song, which had sounded pretty unimpressive when backed by a guitar, now had the benefit of being accompanied by the BBC studio band, which rather filled it out. We were next and our sound seemed even tinnier than usual.

Come show time and we had changed into our showaddywaddy style zoot suits, made especially for the occasion. They were huge in a putrid shade of yellow. Jonathan Ross introduced us and we were away. About half way through I had to run to the front of the stage and get down on my knees to play a raunchy solo. Although only about two and a half minutes long, the song seemed to last about 2 and a half hours. Finally thank God, it was over.

I knew we hadn’t won and needed a drink badly. We hightailed it to the bar and necked a couple of lagers. Having downed two pints in ten minutes I felt a little uninhibited. All of the acts were lined up on stage to receive the verdict. I was on the end of the line nearest to Jonathan and his sidekick,

Gary Bushell who were sat in armchairs. Their conversation went something like this: “So Gary, what did you think of the Wock and Wollers?”

“Dated Jonathan, very dated.

They made a big mistake doing a non-original number.”

“But they did an original number” “Oh fuck, we’ll have to do that again” “Cut!” Take two.

“So Gary, what did you think of the Wock and Wollers?”

“Dated Jonathan, very dated.

They made a big mistake doing an original number” I was outraged and started to mouth obscenities at him. He carried on mercilessly slagging us off while we stood there with desperate forced smiles for the camera. The worst thing was everything he was saying was true. We were crap and everybody knew it. But being told this by Gary Bushell was somehow hard to take.

The woman from the black country with the clarinet won. We went back to where we belonged. I have never seen the programme and never want to.

Showbusiness. Fuck it. illustration: Rob White www.thearthole.co.uk

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If you were born around these parts, chances are that at some point you will have sampled the delights (?) of the nearest coastline to Nottingham, the much fabled party town of Skegness in Lincolnshire. From fish and chips, toxic beaches, penny machines and the Jolly Fisherman, LeftLion takes a look at the cult of beach holidays in the East Midlands and...

twelve things that were skill about skeggy� 1. Your Mam buying you clothes months in advance …that you can’t wear until you go on holiday, in order to convince other people that you’re not fleabags.

How twisted was that? I remember when I was six, and I had to spend three whole months staring at an absolutely skill Kung Fu pants and vest set in the drawer that I was not allowed to wear. It was agonising.

Naturally, as soon as you get to Skeg, every youth from Notts is wearing the same clothes, making it look like there’s only one shop in the whole of town. Honestly, you tell people in the South about things like this and they’re convinced you’re taking the piss.

2. The journey there …which was a yearly novelty in itself. Remember, in those days Dads never drove you to school, and Mams weren’t allowed to drive. Ever. Sadly, there were no Playstations and tellies attached to the seats, your Dad won’t let you open the window, he hasn’t got one of them things that hang off the back bumper to stop car sickness, you’re wedged up against a suitcase and your sister on the back seat, Dad’s put on his Elvis tape and you’re sitting there knowing he’s going to start roaring when Old Shep comes on (because he always does), and you’re starting to get that familiar catch down the back of your throat that means in about three minutes, you’re going to be puking your ring into a Co-Op bag while your Dad gently says “Fucking kids…you can stay at your bastard Nana’s next year”.

On the upside, there is nothing more cosmopolitan that hearing Radio Trent fade out and Radio Lincolnshire fade in.

That’s when you know you’re on your holiday.

3. The caravan.

This is how fucked up Nottingham Mams and Dads are; they spend the whole year moaning about ‘gyppos’ diddling t h e m

at Goose Fair and parking up on nearby wasteground, and how do they spend their time off work? By living like them. I bet proper Romanies don’t decorate their caravans with mank won off the prize bingo, though. I’m also pretty convinced they have better sanitary facilities than a piss-bucket shared by three generations in the middle of the night. Still, when you’re a kid, caravans are ace, and miles better than B&Bs, which only posh people from West Bridgford stay in. You wonder why houses don’t have fold-up beds too. It’s always so dignified, how the people who have just moved out have left enough tea bags in the pot for a proper mash.

4. Children’s rooms in pubs.

This must be the best thing about Skeggy by far. Normally, going to the pub with your family meant sitting in the car for two hours with the occasional bag of crisps and a Coke with a straw in it, playing Mastermind with your sister and seeing if there were any wank mags i n your Dad’s toolbox. Not in Skeg, though, you had a whole room to yourself, which usually contained a bust Air Hockey table, some kind of animal ride with an ‘Out Of Order’ sign and a Space Invader cabinet with some other game in it. That was broke.

Still, it was an invaluable introduction to pub etiquette, as you sat on your Dad’s knee while he said ‘Quick, while landlord’s not looking’ and tipped half a pint of Shippos down the front of your best shirt. Obviously, the spirit of the Children’s Room lives on in all inner-city Nottingham pubs, especially in Bulwell.

5. Meeting people from Sheffield.

This was a rather special thrill on its own. Skegness wasn’t only occupied by Nottinghamians during the summer (even though you were bound to see at least two kids from your school while you were there). Mansfield, Derby and Leicester also represented, but it seemed like every steel mill in Sheffield had decamped to the coast. You couldn’t understand a word they were saying, they all had basin cuts, they were built like brick shithouses, and they always wanted to give you bone-crushing handshakes.

Especially the women.

6. The beach.

The innocent time when you were proud to say you got crabs while you were on holiday. Finding the spot where you buried 10p last year,

only to find there’s a JCB digger there. Sitting on a manky donkey for a bit. Going in the sea. Once. Never doing it again. Your dog going mental and drinking gallons of seawater, only for him to piss it out his arse while you’re trying to chat some girl up.

7. Eating fish and chips twice a day for a week.

I’m sorry, but I’ve been to Blackpool and the chips there were rubbish. Skegness has the best chippies in the world, and I’ll fight anyone who dares say otherwise.

That street in Skeg known as Chip Shop Alley, I could just stand there all day and inhale its delightfully pungent aromas. If you don’t put on at least two stone while you’re there, you’ve had a shit holiday.

8. Amusement arcades.

Once upon a time, before the Atari 2600 came out and Nottingham didn’t have the kind of place where Zammo first got into scag, you’ll remember Skeggy was the place to get your low-tech interactive jollies.

The absolute highlight of the week for me was legging it into an arcade and seeing what I was going to spunk the contents of my piggy bank on that year. I bet I still have my name on a Sheriff Nintendo cabinet in the storeroom of a chip shop near the prom. Your Mam would always moan about you should be getting some fresh air, but seeing as she lived in the Prize Bingo next door ramming in 10p after 10p, she was talking out her arse.

9. Going to Butlins for the day.

We went to Skeggy Butlins one year. It was bob. The only thing about it I can remember is being able to stick my hand through the hole in the wall under my bed and shake hands with the lad next door. Much better to go in for the day, have a go on everything (which you could do in a day, in any case), and piss off out again.

10. The Cockle Man. The bloke in the white coat who used to go round the pubs and clubs at night with a big basket of things in Mr Kipling trays, who used to get your grandparents all excited while they were watching someone who came in 4th during an episode of New Faces murdering the oeuvre of Neil Diamond. You look at these things now and think that Chinese lads died for something that looks like a tumour, that you have to put loads of vinegar on so

you can eat ‘em without wretching.

Actually, I swear blind I saw a Cockle Man on Pelham Street the other night, but I might have been hallucinating.

11. Finding some suitable tat for your Nana.

Now it’s getting near the end of the week, you’ve got to make sure your Nana gets some return on the investment she stuck in your piggy bank, or she’ll have a face like a smacked arse until Christmas.

What bounty there was to choose from: Hunks of rock artfully moulded to look like a full English breakfast, coasters with photos of people in ‘Frankie Say’ T-Shirts playing crazy golf or postcards that gave you an erection even though you didn’t quite know why!

Sadly, the numerous tack shops in Skeg have moved with the times and the grandparent market has been completely marginalised. Last time I went, one could purchase a set of Rasta garden gnomes, who were all sucking on enormous spliffs, an indoor skull fountain, a garden ornament of two fists adorned with sovereign rings, giving the finger and a dildo on sale for a quid. If I had bought my nana any of those items, I would have been cut out of her will.

12. Going home.

A bit like getting there, only with more vomiting.

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words: Al Needham

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Out&About

BARS/GYMS/RESTAURANTS/SHOPS

In a newish regular feature, LeftLion whips out the credit card and wallows in the retail wonderland that is Nottingham. Our correspondent, looking nervously at the unopened Barclaycard bill on the mantlepiece, is Cristina Chapman.

GYM: HOLMES PLACE Oh how the other half live.

Holmes Place is awash with money. Well that’s what the collection of Porsche, Mazdas, Mercedes and Audis in the car park would have you believe. But don’t let that put you off!

This is a great place to work out. The quality of the equipment, expert class instructors and seriously fit personal trainers lay testimony to this, but if you need more proof, just look at the members.

Although on the surface this place appears to be just about image, Holmes Place members are passionate about sport and fitness and want a quality, convenient environment to practice in. Most of them are finely toned and are very committed to their sport, be that swimming, track, cycling, body pump, circuits or yoga.

Which brings us to Danielle Feurtado, one of the best yoga teachers in town. An expert in Astanga, Danielle will astound you with her flexibility and fitness levels, but always makes a beginner feel at home.

Her classes take place in a dedicated space for holistic activities, which also include Hatha yoga, tai chi and pilates.

The gym also has a ladies-only section, a large open-plan floor for the machines and weights, a large area for stretching and two dancehalls for classes. The changing rooms are spacious, clean

and well planned, with a sauna and steam room around the shower area.

The showers lead neatly through to the swimming area which, though not the largest we have seen, is a calming place to do lengths (strictly no diving though).

This gym itself has everything you could want and is an all-round winner.

In fact, if anything is going to stop you from enjoying it, it will be the prices.

Sometimes, budgets just won’t justify or allow the £62 a month (peak) or £53 per month (off-peak) membership fees. If you are tempted, get down there by the end of June, because until then they are waiving the equally steep £120 joining fee.

Holmes Place, London Road, Nottingham, 0115 388 4747. www.holmesplace.com

RESTAURANT: BLUU Bluu celebrated its fourth birthday in May, with a special £35-a-head seven-course menu, free cocktail hour and party. For the night, the restaurant designed a menu that would show off Britain’s adoption of world cuisine while using as many local ingredients as possible.

The first course was asparagus veloute with truffle oil. These delicious drips of velvet were cheekily served in an espresso cup. I’d like to think this was the chef’s poetic nod to dining etiquette, stimulating the tastebuds with a thimble of delicate veloute. On the other hand, it could just have been a cheap way of serving asparagus soup.

There were more delights to come with a full-bodied beef carpaccio. The beef was reared locally, very tender but a little insipid. However, the strong rocket and tangy Parmesan provided the kick it needed for a rounded taste.

They followed this with a creative lemon and ciroc vodka granita. Poured over finely crushed ice and lemon, it was surprisingly pleasant way to clean the palette.

The main course was a little disappointing given the standard of the previous dishes. Salmon is always a satisfying meal, but it has to be really special to stand out from your own cooking. However, the crème brulee, chocolate sorbet, truffles and coffee that followed would delight any dessert

enthusiast.

The icing on the cake? An inspired iced Johnnie Walker Gold chaser. The tipple is aimed at people who like drinking whisky at ice temperature, but who don’t want to dilute the purity of the taste.

Bluu is great for a complete dinnerto-club night out with friends, but if you’re a couple with an occasion to celebrate, it might not be special or intimate enough. Hamming the meal up with their jazz lounge tunes, Notts band Mood Indigo took the place from its usual cool atmosphere to a warmer, rosy hue throughout. Their appearance was also the launch of Bluu’s new Wednesday jazz nights.

Bluu, 5 Broadway, Hockley, Nottingham, 0115 950 5359. www.bluu.co.uk

BAR: BROWNES Brownes bar by day is a relaxed and civilized affair, with a good range of beers and refreshing cocktails to mull over as you meet your mates.

The interior is contemporary yet comfortable with high ceilings and dark wooden floorboards. A large sepia photograph adorns the wall behind the bar and gives the place the likeable feel of a smoky New Orleans jazz joint.

Their lunch menu offers everything from speciality sausages with mash and gravy, to a good choice of salads, pasta dishes and sandwiches. All of these are priced between five and nine pounds and are served fresh from the open kitchen. The evening menu serves an eclectic mix of world tapas, including bang bang chicken (£3.60) and falafels with pitta (£3.20). It’s well worth ordering several of these. Two or three each among a few of you offers a varied and tasty selection. Dessert has a homely feel with sticky toffee pudding and chocolate cake like your mum makes.

SHOP: GENERAL STORE

At night Brownes becomes much more lively with DJs, loud music and usually a good amount of flesh on display. The bar is really geared towards an upbeat atmosphere and herein lies its schizophrenic nature.

Whether you’re after a banging night out or simply a feast of bangers and mash, this place is always an option.

Brownes Bar & Kitchen, 17-19 Goosegate, Nottingham NG1 1FE, 0115 958 0188

General Store is a discreet little shop on Mansfield Road, the type you could walk by a hundred times without ever realising the delights inside. Once in, however, it’s guaranteed that you’ll spend a few minutes browsing through their selection of quality intercontinental teas, coffees and chocolates.

From the delicious and refreshing Sencha Sakura (green tea with cherry blossom) to a range of guest chocolates from Lindt and Sprengli, the place is packed full of ideas for unusual presents for friends or treats for yourself. The selection of ground coffees and beans is particularly worth of investigation and store owner, Graham Knight is always pleased to let you sample a few before you decide upon your purchase.

If you’re too lazy to make the trip into Sherwood, you can even browse a range of goods on their website, order online

and get a delivery to your door. The customer service is excellent and their passion for what they do guarantees you a quality flavour. In truth the place is really anything but a ‘general store’.

General Store, 570 Mansfield Road.

Sherwood NG5 2FS, 0115 969 2300 www.periodlife.com

www.leftlion.co.uk/issue5

Notts New Charidee

COMING TO A CITY CENTRE NEAR YOU...

Oxfam Books & Music, 12 Central Avenue, West Bridgford. 0115 982 6951

Start as you mean to go on?

West Bridgford has a few stereotypes attached to it, but a top Nottingham shopping destination is not one of them (unless you are looking for that revived market town feel). Out of a local charity shop culture, however, a little gem has been cut in the Oxfam Books and Music Shop.

This is an Aladdin’s cave of paperback writers, coffee table works and non-fiction.

In a relatively small space Oxfam has crammed a remarkable collection - all from local public donations. In fact, the shop has just taken delivery of 300 vinyl records, all in tip-top condition.

Upstairs, you can flick through vinyl, CD and music scores as though you were in Selectadisc. There’s a listening post for 33s and 45s and a stereo in the corner for tapes and CDs. Staff have unearthed a gramophone that volunteer Marjorie will play when she comes in on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

Unlike the usual charity shop book and music frenzy, everything is categorised, alphabetised and ordered. A librarian’s dream maybe, but it makes it easy to find out if they have that elusive book or album you have been searching for.

This is a cute new addition to the Mansfield Road choice of fayre and deserves patronage. Opened just a few weeks ago, the owners provide an interesting, if not bemusing, selection of European and Indian cuisine. If a Malabar Jhinga curry doesn’t take your fancy, and you couldn’t stomach another plate of spaghetti or Hungarian goulash, then how does Lobster Thermidor grab you?

Believe it or not though, even with such an eclectic mix of food, the two dishes we tried were lovingly prepared, professionally served, tasty and cheap. That’s pretty good going in our experience of chance visits. So a thumbs up for this small, familyrun enterprise. We hope it does well and continues to provide the personable service it has started out with.

Deva, 19 Mansfield Road, Nottingham.

As good as a rest?

Notts Landing #2: Woodthorpe Park Way, way back in the day, When snow fell heavy And schooling gave way to play, John Ketley would wag a finger and say: No unnecessary driving today! …Yeah, well, bollocks John, I aint staying in Calverton!

In search of the ultimate sledging thrill, I’ll get mum’s car up Georges Hill, I’m gonna get to Woody Park And when I get there I shall lark About like a world champion Cos’ Woody Park’s the place for fun.

If ever a twelve-year-old had a legitimate excuse for ‘twocking’ a car and attempting to make his way, in the most hazardous conditions, along one of the most undulating, meandering roads in Nottinghamshire, then that would have been it.

My father must be held at least partly responsible for my seasonal delinquency, a condition which still affects me today and has, thus far, caused me to miss three

17

job interviews, tens of days’ work and so much time in education as to prohibit my ever following a career in academia.

A strict man, who tried to instil a strong work ethic in his children, often behaving as if we were his employees rather than his offspring, dad was blissfully and tragically unaware that all of his hard work was instantly undone the very first time he took me to my own personal Mecca of playing, Woodthorpe Park, where the big boys sledge.

Shell Oil, the Tories, or whoever you blame for the lack of white play stuff of wintertime, have failed to knock Woody Park off its perch. Proving itself once and for all as the number one Notts venue for energetic dossing, it has excelled in recent summers as a Frisbee-playing arena and an unrivalled headers and volleys spot.

Sprinkle my ashes there, anywhere downwind of the dog shit bin.

Jem Shaw

Normally we wouldn’t celebrate the demise of an outdoor pursuit shop, where hours can be spent planning and equipping for the next boarding, camping, biking or climbing trip. Especially not when the staff were so useful and would indulge you by listening to stories of the time you reached G-force on your ten-year-old GT down a 90degree gradient in the Austrian Alps etc.

But the good news for girls is that it’s been replaced by a Molton Brown shop.

Expensive, luxurious toiletries that you would normally only get your hands on if you were a) misbehaving in Harrods, b) on a work jolly, being put up in a spanking hotel or c) going out with a member of the Henley Regatta set. Is Nottingham the new London?

Molton Brown, 21 St Peters Gate, Nottingham.

Gotham Gallery The Manhattan Gallery has one of the most visible positions in the Flying Horse Walk, but it still takes most people years to actually step inside the place. This is a shame, given that it has one of the best collections of 20th and 21st century art outside London.

The owner, Rosemary Pearson, is a New Yorker who originally came to Britain after falling in love with a Nottingham man.

Having spent pretty much her whole life in art galleries she decided to open one herself. “There was nothing like this in the UK at the time,” she says. Thirteen years on, it is still going strong, showcasing the work of contemporary local artists.

They have hundreds of catalogues of 20th century prints and serigraphs to browse.

The collection includes photography, pop art, oils on canvas and prints. They also sell greetings cards and offer a picture framing service. If you haven’t made it down those stairs yet, make a mental note to go next time you are passing. Saturday 11 June could be a perfect opportunity as the gallery is holding an auction.

Manhattan Gallery 8 Flying Horse Walk, Nottingham, 0115 941 8916

The new black?

This label can go either way. It is either hijacked by the haircut 100 crew working in every high-street shop in the city or, worn sparingly, it keeps its 1970s tennis retro integrity and becomes a choice item in your wardrobe. However you choose to buy Fred Perry, the shop is worth a visit.

For the girls, there are tennis dresses, skirts and t-shirts to bag, in pastel yellows and pinks, bottle greens and royal blues. There’s a fine range of stripy tank tops and polo shirts to be had too. For the boys, the zip-ups come in every colour, as do the polo shirts. There are also bags, shoes, belts, hats and shirts. But remember the green dress code, stop, look and listen to your inner style guru.

Fred Perry, 48 – 50 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham.

There’s a place in every city where you just want to be.

Whether you want to people-watch or think about the good times, everyone’s place is different. Each issue, a member of the LeftLion crew explains the spot they like best…

Nottingham Voices Things People have said

on the leftlion forum Best Beer Gardens In Town

listings...

Just Joking...

Darrel Martin has been running Just The Tonic comedy club on Sunday nights for a decade now.

In that time he’s had acts like Ricky Gervais, Peter Kay, Jo Brand, Ross Noble Fashion Café, although you have to sit on a slope! and Johnny Vegas through The Castle’s really nice as well. There’s a great roof his doors, entertaining terrace out the back of the Sir John Borlaise. sundaygirl Nottingham punters.

There are a couple of cool bars near the Cornerhouse, in the bit between the cinema and the Works (although you have to shuffle along after each drink to catch the sun). The Peacock in Lenton has an outside bit, as does the Three Wheatsheaves on Derby Rd (complete with a tree house swingy-thing). dlex

The Lion in Basford! Superb beer and wicked beer garden. One of Nottingham’s best kept secrets! Don’t tell anybody! Saltwater is surprisingly amazing and will be even better during the summer, expensive but certainly impressive.

Pete Spectrum The Lion is great, apart from squealing tram wheels...

I like the Canalhouse but it tends to get a bit towny.

Fellows Morton Clayton. They both give a good view of young scrotes coming out of court after being caught apple scrumping.

SisterSledgehammer Bar Humbug is coolio, nice little courtyard ting.

Worst is the Grovesnor, unless you wanna sit in a car park on Mansfield Road. theonelikethe The Dragon in the city centre has a nice, rather unique (think Adobe and Mondrian) terrace… kayonbee

Nottingham’s Best Noises The knock of the pizza delivery bloke!

Barnze

The Sherriff shouting “Grrrr” as Robin Hood runs off with his bag of tax money to redistribute to the impoverished citizens. mrgeesbigcircus The grinding, rumbling Booonnnnnnnggggggg of the tram as you turn onto Noel Street from Asda and see the signs in all the front windows saying ‘The tram bell has made my life a living hell!’ floydy How’s about the sound of Notts Chief of Police Steve Green shirking his responsibilities?

BassRooster The deafening sound of ruffling shell suits emanating from St Ann’s.

Pisces J The A-Block at the city ground.

onthebridge

The man standing outside the Victoria Centre at 7:45am every day handing out the Metro saying “Good Morning... Good Morning... Good Morning...”

He just keeps on saying it, exactly the same way, every day. He’s the best of the Metro people. sundaygirl The sound of the Garvey when you get to the top of the stairs.

El Chupacabra

make your voice heard

www.leftlion.co.uk/forum

comedy/clubs/theatre/live music/exhibitions

Also a successful comedian in his own right, Martin was a finalist in the 1997 Daily Telegraph Awards where, in his words, “I fucked it up”. Since then he has supported Johnny Vegas and Ed Byrne on national tour and also runs the

annual Big Value Comedy Show at the Edinburgh festival. We caught up with him to see what makes him laugh…

Take us back to those early days at JTT. As a former English teacher, how did you end up doing this..?

I always loved comedy. English teaching was not a choice. I fell into it by being one of those people that fell out of university in the early 90s when there was a recession on.

Before that I was a cellar man and glass collector at Venus. I’d got into comedy clubs whilst in Birmingham and came to Nottingham and found there was a gap. I wanted to see it here so I started a club. It was the lack of opportunity that pushed me towards it...

Tell us about the Tsunami benefit gig you did. I heard it raised a lot of money for charity.

Yes! We raised loads. It was reduced a little when we realised that the tax man still wanted his share, but it was a cracking night.

Daniel Kitson was his usual silly self. We also had Men in Coats, Toby Foster and a load of other acts. We had a bloke turn up to help, who turned out to be a contortionist, so we let him go on.

Bizarre. It was a great night and I’d like to thank the hotels and shops that provided raffle prizes.

It must be hard for an independent comedy club competing against a national chain like Jongleurs?

It is a bit annoying when you try to promote and people say ‘is that Jongleurs?’ Especially when Just the Tonic has been bringing the likes of Johnny Vegas, Ross Noble, Daniel Kitson, Jimmy Carr, Peter Kay, Al Murray and loads of others to the city. It is quite difficult to promote in Nottingham, especially now they’ve clamped down on flypostering. I think that affected a lot of smaller promoters. The real difference is that Just the Tonic is run for the love of comedy.

Who are the best acts you’ve had at the club over the last decade?

My favourite will always be Johnny Vegas. His early live performances were legendary. When he’s back gigging (which is coming about soon) and he gets back in his stride, we should be in for some more nuttiness. Sean Lock is my favourite scripted comedian, Ross Noble is great. Daniel Kitson. Rich Hall, Al Murray, Dylan Moran, Alan Davies, Lee Hurst, Phil Kay, Jo Brand. Not Mark Lamarr.

words: Jared Wilson photos: Kevin Lake If you could get any comedian, live or dead, at JTT who would it be?

I’d like to have been able to get Steve Martin when he was funny.

At the moment I’d love to be able to book Chris Rock. I keep trying for Eddie Izzard and got very close to a preview for his last tour. I reckon we’ll have him next time (get on our email list). Maybe also Tommy Cooper, Peter Cook or Spike Milligan.

What opportunities do you provide for local comedians in the Notts area?

We have an open spot that anyone can come along to give it a go.

That’s on our usual Sunday night.

I tried running a new act night a few years ago, but it was difficult to get an audience and the same faces kept turning up to do the slots. There wasn’t enough local talent to keep the gig interesting so I dropped it. I might have another bash if enough people are interested though…

Who are the best upcoming local acts in Nottingham?

Matt Forde was always good, but he stopped for a while. Pete Bennett is very funny. Jamie Mathison is a regular on the circuit and then of course there’s Darrell Martin (I’ve supported Johnny Vegas on tour don’t you know).

What’s your idea of a good night out in Nottingham?

I’ve got kids and am boring now.

I do like a bit of drinking, bowling, laughing, dancing in a drunken fashion to a bit of Northern Soul in the Social. As I tend to do gigs around the country I’ve lost touch with Nottingham nightlife a bit.

I realised I was old when I was walking from Wagamamas through town and refused to go through the city centre. I get a bit nervous when I see big gangs of lads all shouting their heads off. Most people are OK, even when they are drunk, but it just takes one dickhead in a group to make violence erupt. I hate dickheads What stuff have you got coming up this summer?

We’ve got a load of events at Nottingham Castle. You can see Daniel Kitson, Rob Newman, John Hegley, Men in Coats, Will Smith and more. We’ve also got the usual Sunday night madness at Cabaret! www.justthetonic.com

listings...

comedy/live music/clubs/exhibitions thu 23/06

Period of June/July Comedy

thu 02/06

Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8 - £15 Times: 7pm Brian Higgins, Eddy Brimson, Noel Britten, Mandy Knight Runs Until: 4/6

sun 10/07

Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8 + Simon B Cotter, Brendan Riley, Ian Coppinger, Brendon Burns Runs Until: 25/6

Period of June/July Live Music

wed 01/06

sun 26/06

sun 05/06

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Phil Nichol, Glenn Wool

thu 09/06 Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8 - £15 Times: 7pm Michael Legge, Craig Campbell, Brendan Dempsey, JoJo Smith

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Jason Manfred, Al Pitcher

thu 30/06 Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8 Roger D, Harry Denford, Sean Collins, Rudi Lickwood Runs Until: 2/7

fri 01/07

The Keith Barret Show - Live Venue: Playhouse Price: £14.50 Times: 8pm Runs Until: 11/7 Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Craig Campbell, Wil Hodgson

thu 14/07 Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8+ Mickey Hutton, Ninia Benjamin, Junior Simpson, Jim Tavare Runs Until: 16/7

fri 10/06

Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £13 - £15 Times: 7pm Michael Legge, Toby Foster, Craig Campbell, Brendan Dempsey Runs Until: 11/6

sun 17/07

sun 12/06

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Richard Herring, Nige

thu 21/07 Just The Tonic Venue: The Castle Price: £11 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show John Hegley (above)

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Sarah Kendall (above), Rob Rouse

sat 02/07 Just The Tonic Venue: The Castle Price: £11 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Men In Coats, Will Smith, Nige

tue 14/06

Get a Grip Venue: The Social Price: £2 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm Bethany, Gary Bell, Rob and Skatz, Damion Larkin, John Wallace, Paul Howard, Austin Caruthers Compere Spiky Mike

sun 03/07

sun 24/07 Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Will Smith, Die Clattershenkenfietermaus

Just The Tonic Venue: The Castle Price: £11 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Daniel Kitson

Just The Tonic Venue: The Castle Price: £11 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Rob Newman

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £9 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Daniel Kitson

thu 28/07

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Dave Fulton, Dan Nightingale (above)

Hinterland Venue: Junktion 7 Hinterland, Dangerlust, ThisIsTheWayTheWorldEnds OPM Venue: Rock City Price: £8 adv Times: 7.30 pm The Five O’Clock Heroes Venue: The Social Price: £5 Computerman Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £3 Computerman, Kingsize, The Fakers, The Ambassadors, London Road plus special guests, Hot Club Night DJs Alabama 3 Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £12.50 adv

thu 02/06

One Toy Soldier Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £4 (NUS) Times: 8.30pm - 12am One Toy Soldier, The Attika State Chalk Four, Stickers For Kids

tue 26/07

wed 27/07

Jongleurs thu 16/06 Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8+ Ian Moore, Kevin McCarthy, Keith Dover Runs Until: 18/6

sun 19/06

Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8+ Alex Boardman, Otiz Cannelloni, John Moloney, Johnny Candon Runs Until: 23/7

Yngwie Malmsteen Venue: Rock City With support from Shenker

Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8+ Tony Gerrard, Trevor Crook, Martin Davis, Gavin Webster Runs Until: 30/7

3 Ring Circus fri 03/06 Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm - 12am 3 Ring Circus, Lo-Ego, Alex McEwan Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late Dalek Venue: Price: Times:

The Social £7 adv 7pm - 10pm

Castle Bartok Style: Opera Venue: Royal Centre

sat 03/06

sun 31/07

thu 07/07

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £8 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Phil Kay (above), Andy Zaltzman, John Oliver

Jongleurs Venue: Jongleurs Price: £8+ Windsor, Craig Hill, Gordon Southern, Steve Hughes Runs Until: 9/7

Just The Tonic Venue: Cabaret Price: £7 (NUS) Times: 7pm Doors, 8.30pm Show Andrew Maxwell, Danny Bhoy

Vixen Venue: Rock City Price: £12.50 adv Times: 7pm Vixen, Dante Fox, plus support

listings...

comedy/live music/clubs/theatre/exhibitions Open Hand Venue: Rock City Price: £5

Period Of June/July Live Music

sat 04/06

wed 08/06

Teratoma Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £1 Times: 8.30pm - 12am Teratoma, The Rise Of Jupiter

thu 09/06 Enjoy The Ride Venue: Malt Cross Cafe Bar Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm - 11pm A crazy collection of quality acts, prepare to be amused, astonished, educated and above all entertained.

Bandsoc BOTB Presents Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm - 12am Swound, Dragonflies Draw Flames, Panda Flipside, Metro Joe

The Rolling Clones Unplugged Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late The Chinese Stars Venue: Cabaret Price: £4 adv £5 otd Funeral For A Friend Venue: Rock City

mon 06/06 tue 07/06

Ozric Tentacles Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £12.50 adv.

Damn You! Presents Venue: Bunkers Hill Inn Price: £4 adv £5 otd Times: 8.30pm A Hawk And A Hacksaw, Jones Of Colorado Underoath Venue: Rock City Price: £7.50 Times: 7 pm A Scarlet Ace Venue: Rock City Price: £5 With support from Enter Shikari

wed 08/06

Kevin Mark Trail Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £7 adv Rescheduled Show

Brian McFadden Venue: Royal Centre Price: £21.50 Brian has now split from both his family and Westlife. Come and see his one man ‘crap’ show.

wed 15/06 Opera North - Nabucco Venue: Royal Centre Price: £12 - £28.50

fri 10/06

Elton John Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £32.50 Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late Spear Of Destiny Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am

sat 11/06 Eels Venue: Price: Times:

Royal Centre £15 7.30pm

thu 16/06

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £14 adv

fri 17/06

One Night of Elvis Venue: Royal Centre Price: £15.50 - £16.50 The King is in the building.

sat 18/06

Black Mountain Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv Times: 7pm - 10pm

The Queers Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £6 adv £7 otd Times: 9pm - 1am The Queers, Dead By Gun, The Atoms

The Rolling Clones Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

sun 19/06

Flogging Molly Venue: Rock City Price: £10 adv Times: 7.30pm

Styx Venue: Price: Times:

Rock City £17.50 7.30pm

Rock City

mon 20/06

tue 21/06

Summer XS Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £13.50 + bf Daniel Bedingfield, Rooster, Lucie Silvas

Once In A Lifetime Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £36.50 adv The Ponys Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv

wed 22/06 Jimmy Eat World Venue: Rock City

mon 13/06

sat 25/06

Showstoppers Concert Venue: Nottingham Arts Theatre Price: £7 Times: 7pm

Guitar Gangsters Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £5 Times: 9pm - 1am Guitar Gangsters, Paul Carter, Resistance 77

Commuter And The Last Pedestrians Venue: Moog Price: £2 Times: 8pm - 12am

Gods Chosen Dealers Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £5 Times: 9pm - 1am Insision Venue:

The Mutts Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £5 adv

The Fab 4 Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

The Robert Cray Band Venue: Royal Centre Price: £22.50

Maria McKee Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £13.50 adv Times: 7pm - 10.15

65 Days Of Static Venue: Rock City Price: £5 adv Times: 8.30pm

sun 12/06

LeftLion Presents.. The beavers, rats, crabs and wizards night.

Venue: Malt Cross Cafe Bar Price: Free Times: 7.30pm - 11pm The Henry Road And Friends...

The Nutron Stars,We Show Up On Radar Foremost Clothing (new vids/support) DJ Rattomatic, The Pete Box Metemphychosis (Films, lights, effects)

Patty Griffin Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £13 adv

Southbank Bar Free 8pm - late

Jeff Klein Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv Marc Carrol

The Funky Way Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

The Dead Pets Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 06/23/2005 The Dead Pets, Kirkz

fri 24/06

Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

Truth Venue: Price: Times:

thu 23/06

Deck Cheese Package Venue: Rock City Price: £5 adv Times: 7.30pm Vanilla Pod, Phinius Gage, Route 215

Cut Copy Venue: The Social Price: £4 Cut Copy, The Presets

Dealmaker Records Showcase Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am Usual top-quality HipHop and Breakbeat from Nottingham’s finest HipHop label and party collective

Tori Amos Venue: Royal Centre Price: £25

05/06

Trashcan Sinatras Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £8 adv

Days Of Worth Venue: Rock City Price: £3

Missy Higgins Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £7 adv Times: 7 pm - 10.15 pm

sun Hazy Malaze Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £10 adv Featuring Neal Casal and Jeff Hill (Rufus Wainwright Band)

tue 14/06

Rock City £9 7.30 pm

Walking Concert Venue: Stone Price: £8 Times: 7.30pm

The Ramonas Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am The Ramonas, The Smears, Two Day Rule

The Mae Shi Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv Times: 7pm - 10pm mon 14/02 The Mae Shi, Rapider Than Horsepower, Tera:Tora

Vader Venue: Price: Times:

Public Display Of Affection Venue: The Old Angel Public Display Of Affection, The Dodgems Culprit, Black Lodge, Valhalla, Chicago Green Octavepussy Venue: Moog Price: £4 Times: 8pm - 12am Live P-Funk band from Holland, first time in Nottingham, Their new album feaures members of the JB’s and Parliament / Funkadelic

Carl Stanley’s Funky Family Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late Pillowtalk Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am

sun 26/06

Sage Francis Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £7.50 adv Times: 7pm - 10.15pm With support from Grand Buffet Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

listings...

comedy/live music/clubs/theatre/exhibitions sun 26/06

Dark Salvation 3 Venue: Rock City Price: £7 adv £8 otd Times: 3pm - 11pm All dayer Dark salvation Gothic Alternative festival (Basement room) Pro-jekt, Avoidance of Doubt, Sinnergod, Moriarti and the sith, Lupine, Neon zoo Andy Williams Venue: Royal Centre Price: £27.50 - £30

mon 27/06

Bleeding Through Venue: Rock City Price: £10 adv Times: 7.30 pm Kokolo Venue: Moog Price: £2 Times: 8pm - 12am The return of the awesome New York Afro-funk band fresh from Glastonbury!

Nuclear Assult Venue: Rock City Price: £12 adv Times: 7.30pm Blue Venue: Price: Times:

tue 28/06

Nottingham Arena £25 7pm

El Viaje Misterioso de Kevlua Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am

The Selecter Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am The Selecter, Gazebo

Stars in Their Eyes Venue: Royal Centre Price: £15.50 - £17

Double Cross Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am Double Cross, Deadline

Mistys Big Adventure Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv

Adequate Venue: Price: Times:

The Rescue Rooms £9.50 adv 7 Rock City £6 adv 7.30 pm

thu 30/06

Fastlane Venue: Rock City Price: £5 adv Times: 7.30pm Fastlane, Echofreddy

The Lovers Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am

Finch Venue: Price: Times:

Leaves Venue: Price:

Rock City £11.50 7pm

sun 03/07

tue 05/07

thu 07/07

fri 08/07

The Richie Muir Band Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late INME Venue: Price: Times:

Rock City £7.50 7.30pm

Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

tue 26/07

thu 14/07

Dead Souls Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am Juan Maclean Venue: The Social Price: £5 David Gilmour Girls

Editors Venue: Price:

fri 15/07

Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

Michelle Shocked Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £15 adv Times: 7pm

Illuminatus Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am Illuminatus, Humanity, Panic Cell

Roll Out The Barrel Venue: Royal Centre Price: £10

wed 27/07

thu 28/07

Howards Alias Venue: Rock City Price: £6 Times: 7 pm The Filaments, Sonic Boom Six, Grown At Home Junktion 7 8.30pm

The Rocks Venue: The Social Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

mon 18/07

wed 20/07

Battle Of The Bands Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm

thu 21/07 The Friction Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm Josh Rouse Band Venue: Rock City Price: £14 adv

The Yards Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv

Team Venue: Times:

Midnight Configuration Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm Big Track Presents Venue: The Social Price: £1 Times: 8pm - 12am The Henry Road

The Social £7

Battle Of The Bands Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm

Outcryfire / Evil Scarecrow Venue: Rock City Price: £5

sat 09/07

Mat Andasun Band Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am

tue 12/07

Sticky Morales Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late Ten Piece funk and soul band

Hellset Orchestra Album Launch Venue: The Rescue Rooms Nottinghams most bizzare and eccentric rockers have finally got into the studio and are about to release their tunes on the unsuspecting and the faithfull...

Check out their interviewon page 11.

We’ll Meet Again Venue: Royal Centre Price: £7.50

Jackson United Venue: Rock City My Awsome Compilation

sat 23/07

sun 24/07

sat 16/07

fri 01/07

Kings of Leon Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £18.50

Rock City £9 adv 7pm

The Vibrators Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am

The Social £5 adv

A Is For Ape Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £3.50 adv Times: 8.30pm - 12am A Is For Ape, Chuck, Crazy Fire Yellas, Wagstaffe

sun 10/07

mon 11/07

Insomnium Venue: Rock City Price: £8.50 Times: 6pm

Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

Rilo Kiley Venue: The Social Price: £8 adv Times: 7.30pm

Unsane Venue: Price: Times:

HeadHungLow Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm - 1am

fri 22/07

wed 13/07

Battle Of The Bands Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm

Amos Lee Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £8 adv

The Fab 4 Venue: The Social Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

Swimming Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 9pm

Battle Of The Bands Venue: Junktion 7 Times: 8.30pm

Lee Band Southbank Bar Free 8pm - late

The Dead 60’s Venue: The Rescue Rooms Price: £7 adv Kooks

sat 09/07

Dance Disaster Movement Venue: The Social

Chill in the park Venue: The Arboretum Price: Free Times: 1pm - 5pm

Chromeo Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv

wed 29/06

sat 02/07

Enjoy The Ride Venue: Malt Cross Cafe Bar Price: £3 Times: 8.30pm - 11pm A crazy collection of quality acts, prepare to be amused, astonished, educated and above all entertained.

The Barry Venue: Price: Times:

Beyond All Reason Venue: Rock City Price: £4 Les Georges Leningrad Venue: The Social Price: £4 The Show Is Rainbow

Roy De Wired Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

The Rolling Clones Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

M.I.A Venue: Price:

fri 01/07

fri 22/07

fri 29/07

sat 30/07 Carl Stanley’s Funky Family Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late Teenage Casket Company Venue: Junktion 7 Price: £6 Times: 8.30pm - 12am Teenage Casket Company, Silverjet The Wild Roses, Headrush

The Fab 4 Venue: Southbank Bar Price: Free Times: 8pm - late

sun 31/07

listings...

comedy/live music/clubs/theatre/exhibitions fri 03/06

Period Of June/July Clubs

thu 02/06

Basement Boogaloo Style: Funktastic Venue: Bar None Price: Free Times: 10pm - late With residents Nick Shaw & Ed Cotton

Rappers Delight Style: HipHop Venue: The Social Price: £3 - £4 Times: 10pm - 2am Cappo, Karizma, Fever and Squigley on four decks, open mics.

Location Venue: Price: Times:

Camouflage Style: Hiphop, Breaks Venue: Stealth Price: £6 adv Times: 10pm - 2.30am Melle Mel & Scorpio (Furious 5), Evil Ed & Konny Kon, Plan B, Foz, Camo Residents Samyouwell presents ‘Freeks’ Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am

sat 11/06 Oceana £5 b4 11pm £6 after (NUS) 10pm - 2.30am

Firefly Style: Techno Venue: Dogma Price: £3 Times: 9pm - 2am DJ Extreme Highness Style: Venue: Price: Times:

sat 04/06

fri 10/06

Pure Filth Style: Techno, DnB, Funky House Venue: BluePrint Price: £6 Times: 10pm - late Rowland The Bastard, Darc March Filth Residents, Agent Smith & Suspect1, Planar & Fijjitt, Paul Murphy, Ed Cotton Go Go Venue: Price: Times:

SoundSystem Reggae, Roots BluePrint £5 10pm - late

fri 03/06

Moog Free 8pm - 12am

Firefly Style: Techno, Breaks Venue: The Ballroom Price: £15 adv £17 otd Times: 10pm - 6am Orbital DJ set, Phil Hartnol, Jon Carter, Technasia - Charles Siegling, Erol Alkan, Stereo 8 (fingerlickin), Thrash Jelly (Jeet & Max Cooper on 6 dex), Tantrum

sun 05/06

Psycle Style: Venue: Price: Times: Vision: VJ: Decor:

Dollop Style: HipHop, Breaks, Electronica Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am Sound Alliance, Koda cola, Left Of The Dealer (check out the interview on page 9), Phil Mcsposure, D’Lex, The Steakhouse Spam Venue: Junktion 7 Price: Free VinylJacks plays ¡S.P.A.M! Sixties - Soul, Pop, Psyche, And Mod Focus Style: DnB, Funky House Venue: BluePrint Price: £6 (NUS) Times: 10pm - late Muffler - two hour set (Moving Shadow / Urban Takeover), Smyla (Pure Filth), Disfunktion & Jaydan (Propaganda Recordings), Kronic (Cutz Recordingz ) Timmy Hands (Funktion), J.B (Cutz Recordings), Dizasta, Agent Orange OBI 1, Mc’s G1, Carasel & Sinna, Anger, Koop, Panda, JBMC, AEM Soundsystem Deep House, Tech House and Breaks

KRS1 & Rahzel Style: HipHop You Don’t Stop Venue: Rock City Price: £15 Times: 7.30 pm

wed 08/06 Highness Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Psychedelic Trance BluePrint £5 10pm - late Metem Psychosis Siricom Visual Services Aunty Audry, The Techno Hippy and friends

City Of Dog Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am Nightmare Style: Goth, Industrial, Cyber Venue: Spiders

sun 12/06 Only Luv DJ’s Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 12pm - 12am Escapade Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am Quality cult films and wild visuals shown on the big screen. DJackal and Ligres hosting (spinning deep house and smooth grooves)

tue 14/06 El Viaje Misterioso de Kevlua Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am

thu 16/06

Reggae & Roots Moog Free 8pm - 12am

Sell Out Venue: Times:

Supersystem Venue: The Social Price: £5 adv

Demo Venue: BluePrint Price: £5 Times: 7.30pm - 3am Charity night with all profits going towards a different charity each month.

Accoustic room, bands room, DJ Room and a chillout cafe - Always roadblock, always a wicked vibe.

Behind the Groove Venue: Moog Price: £2 Times: 8pm - 12am NYC Underground disco, edits and house from the Basement Boogaloo crew Nick ‘Shaky’ Shaw & Ed Cotton.

mon 13/06

Spectrum Style: Breaks Venue: Stealth Price: £14 adv Times: 10pm - 6am Timo Maas (3 Hour Set), General Midi (TCR/Kilowatt), Hexadecimal, Pete Jordan, Breakfastaz, Friendly (Fat!), Phantom Beats (Plastic Raygun), Mike Hogan (Breakspoll), Quantic Soul Orchestra (Live), Dave Boultbee, DJ S1’s Farewell Gig with DJ S1, Mr Hill and Dom Rafferty

sat 18/06

Spiders 9pm - 2am

The Wake Style: Deathrock, Old School Goth Venue: Spiders Trickster Venue: Price: Times:

sun 19/06 Moog £2 8pm - 12am

Full Metal Racket Venue: Spiders Times: 9pm - 2am Spanjj Venue: Price: Times:

fri 24/06 Moog Free 8pm - 12am

Detonate Style: DnB, HipHop, Breaks Venue: Stealth Price: £10 Times: 10pm - 4am Nickey Blackmarket, Bass Line Smith, Transit Mafia, Santero, Detail

sat 25/06

Bob’s Dynamic Style: DnBnTing Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am Moocha presents wig-out acid jungle, elektro-dancehall and ting The Late Lounge Venue: NG1 Price: £4 b4 11pm £7 after Times: 10pm - 5am

sun 26/06

fri 17/06

Pink Flamingos Style: Rock, Seventies, Eighties Venue: Spiders Sleazy RnR, Electro Clash, 70’s - 80’s,

thu 09/06 Jesse James Style: Rock, Indy, Alternative Venue: Rock City Price: £6 adv Times: 7.30pm Harder and Faster Style: DnB Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am With Stealthy One and guests

thu 23/06

Only Luv DJ’s Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 12pm - 12am Product Style: Breaks, Tech House, Electronica Venue: Stealth Price: £6 adv - £7 door Dylan Rhymes (lot 49 / kingsize), Little Mike (phrunky / casa del soul), David Josephs (spundae / godskitchen usa), Rez, Iain Mac, Freeman Kombination Funk Style: Dirty DnB, Techno, Breaks Venue: BluePrint Price: £5 Times: 10 pm - 3.30 am Skitty (Metalheadz, Renegade Hardware) Ben Fawce (Mindrush), Cipher (Disgusting Funk), Lowkey (Brutal), Mark Jacobs, Macp, Mr Seavers & Friends

George Be Tall...

Venue: Moog Price: Free Times: 8pm - 12am

wed 29/06

thu 30/06

Funktion Style: Drum and Bass Venue: Synergy Price: Free Times: 9pm - 2am Random Guy, Timmy Hands, Jest-r, The Weasalman

listings...

comedy/live music/clubs/theatre/exhibitions wed 13/07

Period Of June/July

Pink Flamingos Style: Rock, Seventies, Eighties Venue: Spiders Sleazy RnR, Electro Clash, 70’s - 80’s,

Clubs Location Venue: Price: Times:

fri 01/07

Basement Boogaloo Style: Funktastic Venue: Bar None Price: Free Times: 10pm - late With residents Nick Shaw & Ed Cotton Spectrum Style: Breaks Venue: Stealth Times: 10pm - 4am Adam Freeland Focus Style: Venue: Price: Times:

fri 15/07

Oceana £5 b4 11pm £6 after (NUS) 10pm - 2.30am

DnB, Funky House BluePrint £6 (NUS) 10pm - 3am

Kombination Funk Style: Dirty DnB, Techno Venue: BluePrint Price: £5 Times: 10pm - late Demo Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Sy & Seduction Present Uproar - Colossus Style: Hardcore, Gabba, Oldschool Venue: Nottingham Arena Price: £25 Times: 9pm - 6am Seduction, Sy & Unknown, Hixxy, Sharkey Vs CLSM Maximum Impact Live Showcase, Scott Brown, Breeze & Styles, Producer Vs Drokz, Scorpio Vs Clarkee, M-Zone & Vortex, Stu Allen, Ratty, Dougal & MC Magika, DJ Sy, Nicky Blackmarket, Vibes & LiveLee, MC’s Storm, Whizzkid, Rude, Ribbz, Squidgy B, Impact, Magika, Energy, Connie and more!!! Rave O’clock!

thu 07/07 Pumped Venue: Times:

Spiders 10pm - 2am

Psycle Style: Venue: Price: Times: Vision: VJ: Decor:

SoundSystem Dub, Reggae, Roots BluePrint £5 10pm - late

sat 09/07 Psychedelic Trance BluePrint £5 10pm - late Metem Psychosis Siricom Visual Services Aunty Audry, The Techno Hippy and friends

sun 10/07

Nightmare Style: Goth, Industrial, Cyber Venue: Spiders

Audio Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Funk, Soul, Disco Snug £5 (£3 b4 10.30pm) (NUS) 10pm - 3am

Atomic Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Eighties, Nineties The Cookie Club £4 (NUS) 10.30pm - 2am

saturdays

Band, Accoustic, DJ’s & Chillout BluePrint £5 10pm - late

The Wake Style: Deathrock, Old School Goth Venue: Spiders

fri 22/07

Detonate Style: DnB, HipHop Venue: Stealth Price: £10 Times: 10pm - 4am Andy C (2 hour set)

sat 30/07 Funktion Style: Drum and Bass Venue: Synergy Price: Free Times: 9pm - 2am Random Guy, Jest-r, Timmy Hands, The Weasalman

sat 30/07 The Late Lounge Venue: NG1 Price: £4 b4 11pm £7 after Times: 10pm - 5am

Weeklies Tiger Style Style: Breaks Venue: Stone Price: Free Times: 9pm - 1am Pete Jordan, Future Proof

fridays

The One and Only Style: Rock Venue: Spiders The one and only Friday rock night If it rocks, its on.

Highness Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Booty Bassline House Style: House, Deep House Venue: The Edge Price: £7 Times: 10pm - late

sat 16/07

sat 02/07 Pure Filth Style: Techno, DnB, Funky House Venue: BluePrint Price: £6 Times: 10pm - late Jerome Hill, Filth Residents, Agent Smith & Suspect-1, Planar & Fijjitt, Tom Smokescreen, Paul Murphy, Ed Cotton

fridays

Soul Buggin with DJ Beane Style: Funk, Jazz, Disco Venue: Bar Humbug Price: Free Times: 8pm - 1am Salt Style: HipHop, House, Breaks Venue: Dogma Price: Free Times: til 2am Funky Breakbeat for the dancefloor laced with HipHop, House and Latin flavours.

Love Shack Style: Eighties Venue: Rock City Price: £4 adv £5 otd Times: 9.30pm - 2am Fridays @ The Market Bar Style: Breaks, House, Disco Venue: The Market Bar Price: £4 (NUS) Times: 9pm - 3am With Residents Santero, Lorrie and Ian Tatham

Stealth vs Rescued Venue: Stealth Price: Free b4 10.15pm £5 after Times: 5pm - 4am Two Clubs, Three Bars, Two Patios, One Cinema, One Price. Bonza!

Saturdays Style: Funky House Venue: The Market Bar Price: £5 Times: 9pm - 2.30am With Residents: Dean Marriott, Matt Tolfrey, Griff, Damian Wells Stylus Style: Funky House, Funk Venue: Snug Price: £3 - £6 Times: 10pm - 3am ‘An eclectic mix spanning soulful house, hip hop, RnB, soul/funk, Drum & Bass, peppered with old school and party classics’ Platinum Style: Venue: Price: Times:

House, Breaks The Edge £5 10pm - late

Rise and Shine / Funk U Style: Indy, Alternative Venue: The Cookie Club Price: £5 (NUS) Times: 10.30pm - 2am The clubs long running indie night continues with access to Funk U in the price.

Distortion Style: Venue: Price: Times:

tuesdays Style: Disco, RnB Venue: The Market Bar Price: £4 (NUS) Times: 9pm - 2.30am Matt Tolfrey and DJ Ellis

wednesdays Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Alternative, Rock, Pop The Cookie Club £2.50 (NUS) 10.30pm - 2am

thursdays Thursdays Style: Funk, HipHop Venue: Market Bar Price: £4 Times: 9pm - 2.30am With Resident DJ Santero Up the Junction Style: Sixties Venue: The Cookie Club Price: £2.50 (NUS) Times: 10.30pm - 2am Tuned Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Indy, Alternative, Pop Rock City £4 / £3.50 (NUS) 8.30pm - 2am

Nu World Style: Venue: Price: Times:

HipHop, Funk Malt Cross Cafe Bar Free 7pm - 11pm

Mirrorball Style: Venue: Price: Times:

RnB, Disco, Funk Snug £3 - £4 (NUS) 10pm - 3am

Dogmatic Style: Venue: Price: Times:

HipHop, Drum and Bass Dogma Various 10pm - 2am

Club NME Style: Venue: Price: Times:

Indy, Rock, Alternative Stealth £2 / £3 / £4 10pm - 2am

Rock, Indy, Alternative Rock City £5 (NUS) 9pm - 2.30am

sundays

Out To Lunch Style: Jazz Venue: Dogma Price: Free Times: Afternoon Less of a club night and more of an experience. Sunday jazz and beats to ease away the night before.

Sunday Bounce Style: RnB, Bashment Venue: The Edge Price: £3 Times: 10pm - 1am

mondays Chillin at Home Style: Relaxed Venue: Your Yard Times: After work till late Wont cost you a lot, depends what you have for ya dinner and the price of a mention. Probably the easiest night to plan for.

Nottingham Live Music Festival 18 June, 9 July, 30 July, 20 August

The Nottingham Live Music Festival is a series of four one day music and arts events, which aim to deliver a fresh approach to festivals in the inner city. It will be showcasing some of Nottingham’s most creative local bands, artists, storytellers and performing artists in the green and sunny setting of the Arboretum Park.

Each day has a different line up of local bands to suit different tastes. The festival has been set up by a group of local people as a creative platform for the local arts and music scene, providing an opportunity for local people to come together and see what a vibrant array of artistic talent there is within their own community.

Line up details will be announced on www.leftlion.co.uk For more information visit: www.nottslivemusicfest.com

listings...

comedy/live music/clubs/theatre/exhibitions sun 12/06

Period of June / July

Theatre

sat 02/06

Black Drop Venue: Canalhouse Price: £1 Times: 7.30pm

Exhibitions tue 05/07

tue 31/05

Linda Marlowe Presents Mortal Ladies Possessed Venue: Lakeside Price: £10 / £7 (NUS) Times: 8pm

Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £22.50 Runs Until: 4/6

fri 03/06

fri 03/06

tue 12/07 mon 18/07

Hebeas Corpus Venue: Nottingham Arts Theatre Price: £5.50 - £7 Times: 7.30pm

By Alan Bennett Runs Until: 18/6

tue 14/06 An Inspector Calls Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £20 JB Priestly’s Classic Thriller Runs Until: 18/6

Spirit of Frieendship Qawwali Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £15 Times: 7.30pm

The Who’s Tommy Venue: Royal Centre Runs Until: 11/6

mon 06/06

mon 20/06 The York Realist Venue: Lace Market Theatre Written by Peter Gill Directed by Malcolm Wilson Runs Until: 25/6 One For The Road Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £14 Runs Until: 25/6

Midnight Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £14.50 Times: various Runs Until:16/7

Window 05: - Sheila Ravnkilde Date: 23/3 - 7/9 Venue: Angel Row Gallery Price: Free

mon 18/07 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Venue: Lace Market Theatre Written by Tom Stoppard Directed by Sharon Moir Runs Until: 23/7

mon 20/06

The Lives Venue: Price: Times:

of Orson Welles Lakeside £10 / £7 8pm

thu 21/07 A Night At The Musicals Venue: Royal Centre Price: £13 - £14

fri 22/07

sat 25/06 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Venue: Nottingham Castle Price: £12

fri 01/07 Children Of The Crown Venue: Playhouse Price: £12 Runs Until: 16/7

Darkin Ensemble Present Venue: Lakeside Price: £10 / £7 (NUS) Times: 8pm Darkin Ensemble’s distinctive style is a merging of choreography and new writing. They create dance that combines the dynamism of the body and the poetry of words, stretching the boundary between theatre and dance.

fri 01/07

sat 02/06 Tractor Tom Venue: Royal Centre Price: £9

This Is A Test - James Ireland Date: 21/5 - 9/7 Venue: Angel Row Gallery Price: Free University Summer Exhibition Date: 11/6 - 25/6 Venue: Lakeside Price: Free Times: All Day

Andrew Wright Date: 2/7 - 14/8 Venue: Lakeside Price: Free

London Studio Centre’s Intoto Dance Venue: Lakeside Price: £7 / £5 (NUS) Times: 8pm

Motion House Venue: Lakeside Price: £10 / £7 (NUS) Times: 8pm

Gawu 16/4 - 5/6 Lakeside Free

Field Of Arrows Date: 23/6 - 25/6 Venue: Broadway

fri 24/06

tue 07/06

El Antsui: Date: Venue: Price:

tue 19/07

Romeo and Juliet Venue: Nottingham Castle Price: £12

Black Drop Style: Spoken Word Venue: Canalhouse Price: £1 Times: 7.30pm

In Notts 2/4 - 15/6 Lakeside Free

The Canturbury Tales Venue: Nottingham Castle Price: £13 - £15 Runs Until:23/7

thu 23/06

Ghulam Ali Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £15 Times: 7.30pm

Lawrence Date: Venue: Price:

mon 18/07

fri 17/06

Old Big ‘Ead in the Spirit Of The Man Venue: Playhouse Price: £6 - £22 Times: 7.45pm Brian Clough Takes To The Stage Cloughie takes to the stage in this locally written and produced show. Old Big ‘Ead is, played by former The Bill actor Colin Tarrant (above).

Runs Until:25/6

fri 08/07

The Wiggles Venue: Royal Centre Price: £10

Fawn Again Venue: Playhouse Price: £14.50 Times: 8pm The Wiz Venue: Nottingham Arts Theatre Price: £10.50 Times: 7pm, Matinee Sat: 2pm Runs Until:4/6

Period of June / July

Postman Pat Venue: Royal Centre Price: £9.50

mon 25/07 Classic Thrillers Season Suddenly At Home Venue: Royal Centre Price: £8 - £14 Runs Until: 30/07

To get your gig listed here get it entered on the website www.leftlion.co.uk info@leftlion.co.uk

Liliane Lijn - Works 1959-80 Date: 2/7 - 21/8 Venue: Lakeside Price: Free Times: All Day Lijn is an exponent of kinetic art and has featured in numerous group exhibitions in Britain, Europe and Japan.

This exhibition offers a chance to see a collection of her work stretching over twenty years.

Day to Day Data Date: 20/7 - 7/9 Venue: Angel Row Gallery Price: Free Curated by Ellie Harrison

25

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www.leftlion.co.uk/issue5



This issue all of the answers are names of roads in and around NG1. If you manage to decipher them email your answers to nottsword@leftlion.co.uk to claim a special mystery prize!

Across 2 The medium lives on it (6,4) 5 Allen Brady loses fifty in the confusion (5,4) 7 How his royal highness moves (5,4) 8 Is it a street or a B road (5,6) 11 That slime bridge? (11,4) 14 A sustained argument on this street (4,4) 16 Where old G. Smith lives (7,6) 18 Sounds like a reward for her royal highness (5,6) 20 Great tiles here! (6,4) 21 Where age goes to oddly (5,4) 22 Where you will face the ultimate test (2,6,4) 24 You might expect to see races here (9,6) 25 Behind the centre of the same name (8,6)

Down 1 Climb to it to buy an animal (5,6,4) 3 Where less important MP’s reside (5,10,6) 4 Many a colour lives here (7,6) 6 Sits on top of 2 across (6,8) 9 Reach piglet here (7,4) 10 Left in a coin on this road (5,6) 11 Go here to draw a boy? (8) 12 Where the bard lives? (11,6) 13 Is this street out of it? (4,8) 15 Robin hood follows it to find his sweetheart (4,6,3) 17 There’s a city on this street! (6,6) 19 Can Allen live here? (5,6) 23 On which live chickens, geese, ducks etc (7)

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26

www.leftlion.co.uk/issue5

Aries (March 20 - April 20)

Libra (September 23 - October 23)

In the last days, three important things are going to happen. Man is going to escape the five sensory trap, society and big business as we know it is going to burn and your numbers are going to come up on the national lottery. Unfortunately, by that time Camelot will be bankrupt and money will be worthless. Tough break, kid…

Your favourite football team recently got relegated. Boo hoo hoo! I’d cry for you if I wasn’t a real man. Instead I suggest that you get up off your arse and either get behind your team properly, or stop being such a big girl, get over it and find something else to do on Saturdays. Are you serious about relegation? I don’t Doughty it…

Taurus (April 20 - May 21)

Scorpio (October 23 - November 23)

Nobody’s there when you get home, You’re renting movies on your own, My photo’s on your bedroom wall, You sit there waiting for my call, You sad bast you need to die, Go outside and eat a pie, Straighten your head and fix up good, ‘cos Jimmy Saville says you should!

Dead men don’t wear plaid. The American actor Steve Martin taught me that on the set of a 1982 film (the title of which I can’t remember). I asked him at the time if it was true that he had two brains. He looked at me with a maniacal grin. He had cerebrospinal fluid coming out of the corners of his mouth and said nothing.

Gemini (May 21 - June 21)

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 22)

If you get captured by the Feds on your latest mission, make sure you are prepared for the inkblot test. Rorschach was a tricky fellow and you need to be sharp. The test is supposed to be projective. If they ask you to talk, you can see pretty faces and happy clouds in the mix. Whatever happens, don’t mention the horrific sea of blood!

Your life force is passing away one minute at a time. A human who lives for seventy five years will experience thirty six million, eight hundred and seventeen thousand, eight hundred and forty five minutes in their time on earth. Life’s too short to waste them trying to predict the future. Enjoy the sunshine while you can!

Cancer (June 21 - July 23)

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)

Frogs, snails and puppy dogs tails will only keep for so long without causing a stink.

The neighbours want answers and the secrets of how Contrary Mary’s garden grows are about to be revealed. The Flowers of Truth can be equally beautiful and dangerous.

Protect yourself against hayfever.

It’s been a busy week. By the time Friday comes around you can be forgiven for thinking that it’s another cold Tuesday night, spent surrounded by a gang of people who want to know if you have a pen they can borrow. The hallucinations will continue until Saturday evening...

Leo (July 23 - August 23)

Aquarius (January 20 - February 19)

Just after reading eight dustjackets, will I like standing on nails? Is something right on groove, ever respectfully meaning even after nightmares? Not assuming the hard afro nutter makes ill lepers leap, ever revolutionary. I stand talking on ornately. Confused?

You will be…

June twenty-ninth. I gotta get in shape. Too much sitting has ruined my body. Too much abuse has gone on for too long. From now on there will be fifty push-ups each morning. There will be no more pills, no more bad food, no more destroyers of my body.

From now on will be total organization. Every muscle must be tight!

Virgo (August 23 - September 23) You think you’re bad, Russell Grant? I could take you on any time. I’d grab you by your fuzzy hair and swing you around the room until your head snaps off your fat shoulders.

If you bring Mystic Meg along, we’ll set the dogs on her and then play fetch with her bones. Justin Toper? I can top you any day of the week blood…

Grate Misstakes in Cultural Histroy

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) Some people might think you’re strange, but I think you’re pretty cool. Your ‘can do’ ethos and your love of woolly beanies has taken you this far in the world, so why bother changing now? Instead you should chill your boots and focus on the summer of fun that lies ahead. Strawberry Mivvi suckers are the must have item of the season.

Nottingham City Council

Annual Cost (£ millions) Wastage of Cost (%) Banana Spendage (%)

#05: August 1824, William Buckland discovers dinosaur fones beneath the Earth’s crust

352 42 0.001

Chimp With A Typewrite

Annual Cost (£ millions) Wastage of Cost (%) Banana Spendage (%)

Fez/Tin Cup Rating

0

Fez/Tin Cup Rating

Governing Ability (Out of 10)

5

10) Governing Ability (Out of

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0.001 0 89 9 3