January: a quiet month? Not in Nottingham. This week the city stays busy as ever, with nationally loved bands playing shows and smaller gigs taking place at local venues. If you're suffering from January blues there's bound to be something here that will banish them...
Biffy Clyro
When: Mon 12 January
Where: Motorpoint Arena
How much: From £51
Celebrating the release of their tenth studio album Futique, Scottish alt rock trio Biffy Clyro are embarking on a UK and Ireland tour in 2026. They don’t have too many venues lined up but luckily Nottingham Arena is one, and it promises to be a spectacular backdrop for the band’s famously anthemic sound. Support comes from US hardcore group The Armed and well-loved UK punk-rockers Soft Play. This will be a truly biblical Monday night for any guitar music zealots out there.
La Traviata
When: Wed 14 January
Where: The Arc Cinema
How much: £17.95
The Royal Opera presents a new adaptation of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata, directed by Richard Eyre. The story follows Parisian courtesan Violetta and the downturn of her love story with Alfredo Germont, while also featuring some of the most famous melodies in opera history. Midway through January, Beeston’s Arc Cinema are screening it in their comfy facilities, promising an evening of music that’s good for the soul and, usefully, zero straining of your eyes to see what’s on a stage.
Dry Cleaning
When: Thu 15 January
Where: Metronome
How much: From £16
Dry Cleaning are a post-punk quartet whose songs consist of surrealist spoken word poems delivered by vocalist Florence Shaw over Joy Division-tinged guitar pieces. This month they’re celebrating the release of their third studio album Secret Love, with a set of outstore shows, one of which is in Notts, before they embark on a big US and Europe tour. Word is, in the press, that this new album is a particularly interesting one too – diversifying the band’s style and evoking the creeping paranoia of the early 80s.
Plastic Circus, Stone Black Witches and Green Grango
Where: Liquid Light Brewery
When: Friday 16 January
How much: Free entry
This should be a very fun one - LeftLion's Sneinton Market neighbours Liquid Light Brewery are hosting a live music night, featuring three bands who operate in a psychedelic rock space, tinged with shoegaze. On the line-up are three local acts: Plastic Circus, Stone Black Witches and Green Grango. Their performances will be accompanied by some captivating live projections, with craft beer and Da Vinci's pizza served all night - a pretty perfect Saturday evening combination, we'd venture to say.
The Ruin
When: Fri 16 January
Where: New Art Exchange
How much: Free (booking required)
The Ruin is a live performance piece created by artist Simeon Barclay, and sees him perform poetry about 80s and 90s northern England over live horns and percussion, played by James Larter and Isaac Shieh. Barclay developed the work over the course of a year, in collaboration with The Roberts Institute of Art which is a non profit arts organisation based in London. This performance also coincides with his exhibition In Place of Fear, exhibited at NAE until 24 January.
Hello Thor presents…
When: Sat 17 January
Where: By Our Hands We Make Our Way
How much: £7.70
At LeftLion we’re big fans of our Sneinton Market neighbour By Our Hands We Make Our Way – a woodworking studio that doubles as a music and arts venue. The space has a cosy atmosphere – perfect for winter evenings – and this month will be a great chance to experience it, as indie label Hello Thor showcases three performances. On the lineup are an “astral folk” songwriter from Bristol called boci, Notts-based, ambient-folk, multi-instrumentalist Ben McElroy, and experimental musician Sophie Barkerwood, who performs under her latest moniker Strange Loop.
Cast
When: Sun 18 January
Where: Rock City
How much: From £40.38
Cast are one of the most iconic bands of the 90s, who got a lot of momentum alongside Britpop bands like Pulp and Blur, before splitting up in 2002 and reforming again in 2010. Cited as inspiration by Oasis’ Gallagher brothers, and known for their electrifying stage presence, this is your chance to see them, as they celebrate thirty years of their debut album All Change. If you’re a 90s kid, in reality or at heart, and your January calendar is in need of some energy, then what more could you ask for than this?
WWE Live: Road to Royal Rumble
When: Sun 18 January
Where: Motorpoint Arena
How much: From £65.40
WWE’s Europe-wide Road to Royal Rumble tour arrives in Notts this week for an evening of top-class, action-packed entertainment. Wrestling fans in Notts will be able to catch some of the sport’s biggest names live, including the current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, six time world champion Seth Rollins, and ‘Money in the Bank’ winner Tiffany Stratton, amongst many others. Nottingham, Newcastle, and London are the only England dates for this tour, so this really is a once in a blue moon opportunity.
Remember to check out our events listings for more things to do this week.
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