A Night Painted Red: Vana and the
Ladies in Red Take Over Hangar 1819
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS MURGA
On April 21 at Hangar 1819 in Greensboro , the fourth show for the Lady in Red Tour proved why it was one of the strongest all-female-fronted lineups in rock this year.
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS MURGA
Kicking off the night was RedHook and their very own “Lady in Red,” Emmy Mack, who made the trip all the way from Sydney, Australia. RedHook launched the show with pure energy, immediately hitting the crowd hard. Emmy’s stage presence was impossible to ignore performing part of the set in a straight jacket before later returning as a zombie during “Dead Walk.” She even jumped into the crowd during “Bad Decisions,” hyping everyone up and proving it was definitely no bad decision at all.
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS MURGA
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS MURGA
Following RedHook, Deadlands took the stage, and that’s when Hangar 1819 erupted into complete chaos. Kasey Karlsen’s voice cut straight through the venue, and the crowd instantly lost their minds. Crowd surfers flew overhead, mosh pits opened up, and walls of death formed across the floor—there wasn’t a single person standing still during Deadlands’ set.
PHOTO BY NICHOLAS MURGA
Due to issues with Cloudyfield’s visa, her replacement Chandler Leighton stepped in and completely shifted the tone of the night. Chandler performed with raw emotion, singing from her heart and pulling from real-life experiences. It had been a long time since she had released music, but her newest song, “Waiting for You to Heal,” struck a deep chord with the audience. A few watery eyes could be seen in the crowd, and even her guitarist could be seen tearing up during the performance.
Lastly, ending the night was the Lady in Red herself, Vana. Vana stormed onto the stage opening with “Pray,” instantly commanding the room with a dark and haunting energy that fit the entire theme of the tour perfectly. The moment she stepped under the red lights, the crowd erupted, singing along from the very first note. Her stage presence was captivating Confident, theatrical, and intense making it impossible to look away.
PHOTO BY MANNY CABRAL
Throughout the set, Vana balanced heavy vocals with emotional vulnerability, creating a performance that felt both powerful and personal. Songs like “BEG!” and “BAD BITCH” brought explosive energy, with the crowd screaming every lyric back at her, while the darker, more emotional moments showed the depth behind her artistry. She moved effortlessly across the stage, feeding off the crowd’s energy and giving it right back.
Vana’s set wasn’t just a performance—it felt like a full experience. Along with the dark, theatrical energy she brought to the stage, she made sure the crowd felt like part of the show. She had fun moments involving the audience, even pulling out magic cards on stage and creating a chaotic but hilarious interaction that had everyone laughing. She also brought some family into the mix—during one breakdown, Vana told the crowd to grab the bottle from her brother in the pit, creating one of the funniest and most memorable moments of the night.
The production added even more to the experience, with deep red lighting washing over the venue and creating the perfect atmosphere for her set. Every song felt like part of a larger story, building the identity of the “Lady in Red” from start to finish. By the final song, the crowd was completely locked in, making it clear that Vana wasn’t just closing the show—she owned it.
PHOTO BY MANNY CABRAL
GALLERY I
BY MANNY CABRAL
BY MANNY CABRAL
GALLERY II
BY NICHOLAS MURGA
BY NICHOLAS MURGA
