Making her headlining tour debut, Vana brought The Lady in Red Tour to Chicago’s Bottom Lounge on May 1st. Backed by a stacked female-led lineup featuring RedHook, Deadlands, and Chandler Leighton, the night was a full showcase of modern heavy music, female led, talent from top to bottom.
For those unfamiliar, Vana, who self-describes her sound as “Pretty Metal,” has been steadily exploding over the last few years. The New Zealand artist has built a loyal following through both her music and constant Twitch streaming presence, giving fans exactly what they’ve been asking for: more Vana. With nearly a million monthly Spotify listeners and a recent signing to Sumerian Records, it feels like she’s only getting started, and hopefully making even more appearances stateside soon.
By the time Vana hit the stage, the sold out crowd had already been fully warmed up by the night’s heavy openers. Dressed in her signature goth-inspired style, she immediately looked the part of a seasoned metal frontwoman. Having now seen her perform three times, the biggest thing that stands out is just how consistent she is live. From her stage presence and vocal control to her aesthetic and crowd interaction, every part of the performance feels polished without losing authenticity.
Opening with her breakout single “Pray,” Vana wasted no time bringing the room back to life. What makes her performances so enjoyable is how unapologetically herself she is on stage. Whether she’s pulling Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering cards between songs, shredding on a SpongeBob-themed guitar, or leaning into the chaotic energy by getting the crowd to bark on command, nothing about the performance feels forced. It’s chaotic, interactive, theatrical, and most importantly, fun.
The set also featured fan favorites like “Serpentine,” “Harlequin!,” and “BITE BACK,” before closing with arguably her two biggest tracks, “BEG!” and “Clandestine.”
If The Lady in Red Tour proved anything, it’s that Vana is more than ready for the spotlight as a headliner. Missing this tour would’ve been a mistake. Check out her remaining dates HERE.
GALLERY: VANA at Bottom Lounge in Chicago, Illinois (May 1, 2026)
VANA
RedHook
Deadlands
Chandler Leighton
