My friend Stanley Middleton, novelist and neighbour, died 10 years ago, a week short of his 90th birthday. This year his widow Margaret, who remained a dear friend, followed him, aged 95. Despite his working class roots and strong connection to the city (born in Bulwell, he moved two miles to Sherwood after publishing a couple of novels and stayed for the rest of his life), Stanley doesn’t get as much acclaim as some.Perhaps that’s because he set most of his 45 novels in a fictional version of Nottingham, calling it Beechnall, which critics occasionally assumed was in the Potteries. He wasn’t interested, never getting an agent, turning down an OBE, not for a moment considering moving to London. He liked to write, and he…

This is an extended version of a review I wrote for the Nottingham Post for the paper published on July 27th, 2019. A month ago, Sir Ian turned 80. To celebrate, the Burnley-born actor began a tour of British theatres from his long career. 80 dates at 80 is no mean feat (he’s just added 80 more in the West End), but there’s a kicker. He isn’t making a penny. All proceeds go to the charities of the theatres he’s performing in. Sir Ian’s two nights here will net £50,000 for the Playhouse Shine and 50:50 appeals, bringing in young people who, as Sir Ian points out, would otherwise not be able to come and widening the theatre’s participation work. If you think that kind…

Sir Rod likes Nottingham Arena. He visited twice in 2016. Tonight’s a one-off indoor show warming up for a massive stadium tour. This might not be the 250 capacity Boat Club he started out at, but the arena’s the most intimate space you’re likely to see him in this century. You know what to expect with Rod, who always plays his biggest songs, but there are often surprises. This is ‘his biggest ever UK tour’ (19 shows as compared to 16 when I first saw him with The Faces, in 1973, albeit spread over two sections) How many acts do that at the age of 74? The opener, minor hit Infatuation, is an odd choice, but gets the groove going. Young Turks takes things up…

Across the country, venues keep closing. Less than a year after The Maze hosted their 20th anniversary celebrations, this is Cosmic American Music’s final show here. The much-loved big room with the intimate stage and terrible ladies’ loos closes its doors in June, unable to turn a profit. There are other places, sure, but none can replace its atmosphere, much loved by visiting US acts. The corner stage offers great sightlines and sweet, sweet sound throughout. Opening act Rick Shea plays to a packed crowd (over thirty ‘walk ins’, unheard of, especially on a bank holiday weekend) in classic songwriter, story-telling mode. A rugged veteran with a rich voice (and occasional yodel) he’s a quintessential Cosmic American act. The highlight of the former Dave Alvin…