What's On in Nottingham

Nottingham Beyond Van Gogh — Motorpoint Arena is transformed into something extraordinary as Beyond Van Gogh wraps you in floor-to-ceiling projections of the master's brushstrokes, pulling you inside Starry Night and Sunflowers like you have never experienced before. With entry slots running from 10:00am right through to 6:00pm, you can choose a time that suits your day — morning light or a late-afternoon treat. Prices are listed on the website, so check ahead and book your slot before they fill up.

BBQ & Blues — Red Dog Saloon is already one of Nottingham's most beloved spots for big flavours and bigger sounds, and their BBQ and Blues night at 6:30pm is the kind of Friday evening that feels like a holiday in itself. Expect slow-cooked smoke, cold drinks, and live blues guitar that loosens the shoulders after a long week. Tickets range from free up to £60 depending on your package, so there is a way in for everyone.

Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical — One of the most celebrated and inventive British musicals in recent memory arrives at Theatre Royal Nottingham for a 7:30pm curtain, and if you have not caught this wildly clever show yet, tonight is your moment. Based on the jaw-dropping true story of a Second World War deception operation, it is funny, moving, and utterly unlike anything else on stage right now. Check the Theatre Royal website for tickets — and go in knowing as little as possible, because the surprises are half the joy.

Bieber Live | Binks Yard — Binks Yard hosts a full-scale Justin Bieber tribute experience from 6:30pm, and whether you are a devoted fan or just someone who cannot resist belting out Baby, this promises to be an enormously fun Friday night out. Tickets are priced between £10 and £30, making it a cracking-value evening in one of Nottingham's most atmospheric venues. Expect the big hits, big energy, and a crowd that is absolutely here for it.

The Mystery Train Riders - Live @ Billy's — For something a little more intimate and wonderfully unpretentious, The Mystery Train Riders take the stage at Billy Bootleggers from 8:00pm for a live set that will cost you no more than £2 — genuinely one of the city's great bargains. Billy's has that brilliant dive-bar warmth that makes every gig feel like a secret worth knowing about, and a band called The Mystery Train Riders sounds like exactly the kind of thing you will still be talking about on Saturday morning. Rock up, order a drink, and let the music do the rest.

Black Parade - 00's Emo Anthems — When the clock strikes 11:00pm, Billy Bootleggers Bar becomes a cathedral of eyeliner and catharsis as Black Parade delivers a full night of noughties emo anthems — think My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and everything that soundtracked your teenage bedroom walls. At just £6 on the door, it is a wildly good-value late-night plunge into nostalgia, and the crowd will absolutely know every word. Dust off your skinny jeans and come ready to scream.