Liang Lawrence at EartH Hackney: An Intimate Night on the Theatre Stage

Watching Liang Lawrence perform at EartH Hackney, it was striking how easily she made the Theatre stage feel personal. Vintage carpets and standing lamps gave the space a lived-in warmth, softening the size of the room. With just a drummer and guitarist beside her, the setup felt intimate and unfussy - more like being welcomed into her space than watching from a distance.

Opening the night was Annika Kilkenny, whose stripped-back set of voice and guitar set a tender tone. Her songs were sincere and well-suited to a room that encouraged listening.

By the time Liang Lawrence stepped out, the audience was ready to be drawn in. She opened with tracks from her new EP, it’s a funny thing, and even surprised the crowd with a cover of Sabrina Carpenter’s Taste. Her bandmates gave the songs a textured warmth, leaving space for her voice to linger.

Between songs, Liang was charmingly talkative, punctuating the set with stories, small jokes, and asides that made the audience laugh. It’s rare to see someone so comfortable on stage yet so grounded.

I also met and chatted with her dress designer, Tegan Astani, who has created all of Liang’s tour outfits. Her designs are flowy and danceable, perfectly allowing Liang to have fun on stage. It’s impressive to know that Tegan is still a student at London College of Fashion - her work already carries confidence and elegance.

Older tracks, including Unposted Letters, were met with soft cheers of recognition. Hearing them live, reimagined through her trio, revealed how much her sound has matured: still deeply emotional, but more sure of its stillness.

By the end of the night, EartH Hackney felt smaller - not physically, but emotionally. Liang Lawrence managed to fold the room in on itself.

Photography by Katie Riley