Concert Review Vana, The Lady in Red, with Redhook, Deadlands and Chandler Leighton at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, MN

If your concert doesn’t include badass women in rock and metal, fake blood, a mosh pit stuffed

animal heist, and trading cards being launched into a crowd of screaming fans…what are you

even doing? Vana’s stop at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, MN for her first ever headline tour

definitely checked all those boxes. With supporting acts Redhook, Deadlands, and Chandler

Leighton, it was truly one of my personal favorite concerts I have attended this year.

Australia natives Redhook had the responsibility of opening the night, and they did not waste a

single second easing into it. They came out full swing, and their set was loud, theatrical, and just

the right amount of spontaneous chaos. Midway through, their vocalist, Emmy Mack,

disappeared briefly, only to come back out in a blood-soaked dress with fake blood pouring from

her mouth, and it was glorious. I went in knowing a handful of Redhook’s songs and enjoy their

music, but seeing them live pushed me into full fan territory. They didn't just sound fantastic but are amazing performers.

Deadlands was one I had been especially looking forward to, mostly because I’ve followed their

vocalist Kasey on TikTok since early on in the band’s journey. Seeing it all translate to a live

setting felt very full-circle, and they delivered a fantastic performance. Kasey is an absolute

powerhouse of a vocalist. The scream range? Insane. The clean vocals? Just as strong, and the

whole time she just made it look so effortless. I also got to meet Kasey after the show, who, for

the record, is incredibly sweet, was a really nice bonus. Overall, the band put on an incredible

set.

Chandler Leighton was probably my biggest wildcard going into the night, mostly because I

wasn’t super familiar with her music beforehand. That changed pretty quickly. Her set brought a

ton of energy, and what stood out most was how natural everything felt on stage, especially the

chemistry between Chandler and her bassist Aubrey. It gave the performance an extra spark

that made it really fun to watch. The crowd was energetic and engaged in the full set, and I

definitely walked away a fan as well.

By the time Vana hit the stage, the room was already buzzing and hyped up, but she somehow

managed to push it even further. This was my first time seeing her live after following her for a

while online, and she did not disappoint. Her vocals were strong, and honestly even better than

studio. The transition between her clean vocals and screams were perfect and effortless.

And in Vana fashion, it's not a Vana show without some games. At one point, her brother (who

had been working merch) ran straight into the pit holding a stuffed squirrel, and whoever

managed to grab it got a free t-shirt. Later, she threw a pack of Magic: The Gathering cards into

the audience, and the person who caught it (shoutout to Finn) got brought on stage to open the

packs with her before tossing the cards back into the crowd. Completely random. Completely

perfect.

What made it all work wasn’t just the novelty; it was the fact that it felt genuine. Vana isn’t just

performing for the crowd, she’s actively creating these shared moments with her fans, and it

makes a huge difference. It blends the professionalism of her performances, while still being

relatable and personable.

Overall Thoughts

From start to finish, this show had no dead spots and no drop in energy. Just four artists fully

owning the stage and putting their heart into every moment. More than anything, though, this

night felt like a reminder of how important it is to show up and support women in rock and metal.

This wasn’t a “gimmick” lineup. It was a genuinely stacked bill filled with artists who are actively

pushing the genre forward. The talent is there. The energy is there. What matters now is making

sure, that support continues to match it.