Gig Review: Lau’s Birthday Party - RIP Magic, Legss, Hank, Lou YWA

The second instalment of Laura Pacifici’s curated gig nights shines a spotlight on the diverse talent within London’s vibrant music scene.

RIP Magic performing at Lau’s Birthday Party, 29/03/2025

As the days grow longer and the promise of summer looms on the horizon, excitement is brewing within London’s live music circuit. It’s the season for festivals in the park, stacked all-dayers at your favourite local venue, and an undeniable buzz in the air. With gigs popping up left and right, the city is spoiled for choice. But one event that’s on our radar as a must-see is Lau’s Birthday Party. 

Lau’s Birthday Party began as just that, a 24th birthday party for Laura Pacifici, Independent Promoter and Curator for The George Tavern. Having been involved with putting on shows at the iconic venue since 2023, Laura leaned into her talent for curating stellar line-ups and decided to take it a step further by creating her own brand. Now, Lau’s Birthday Party is a series of regular events – all in the interest of giving back to a community that welcomed her with open arms. 

“What inspired me to start this series is the trust that The George gave me when I had just moved to London from Rome. They let me put on my first gig when I had no prior experience, and that kind of opportunity meant everything. Now, I want to give back to the scene in the same way — offering artists their first shot and creating a space where they can start something new,” Laura shares with us, painting a clear picture of her commitment to being at the centre of a rapidly evolving scene. 

The first “Birthday Party” of the year took place in early March as an all-dayer spanning nine hours. It featured a number of up-and-coming bands with C Turtle revealed as a secret headliner, and it proved to be a standout event that you can read about here. The tone was set, Lau’s Birthday Party offered a fun, fresh energy that we were interested in exploring further. 

The second instalment of Lau’s Birthday Party came towards the end of March, with an ambitious, albeit shorter line-up. The night kicked off with Lou YWA, an industrial rap force that made waves throughout the room. Notably it was his first live performance, and he engaged the audience with his unimpeded, brooding verses and chunky experimental-ambient soundscapes.

Lou YWA performing at Lau’s Birthday Party, 29/03/2025

Keeping things exciting, an unexpected performance from London four-piece Hank followed. Switching up the sound palette, their coarse, atmospheric alt-rock sound slotted in for a nice contrast. It seemed to be the perfect set-up for Legss – who embodied both the experimental and guitar-scuzz tinged components of the night. With their technical arrangements and occasionally satirical lyricism, they were a unique addition which infused the night with character. Not to mention, they previewed new music, holding the attention of attendees until highly anticipated headliner RIP Magic took the stage. 

Hank performing at Lau’s Birthday Party, 29/03/2025

Legss performing at Lau’s Birthday Party, 29/03/2025

RIP Magic, the scathing electronic duo composed of Marco Pini – also a member of Sorry – and Felix Bayley-Higgins have generated a stir based upon their live performances alone, earning them spots at a number of lauded festivals this summer including Green Man, Wide Awake and End Of The Road. With caustic textures and a brash delivery that seemed to fill every space, you could get a sense of the transfixing quality which has led the pair to spiral into recognition. On the whole, it was a night of great variety, shining a spotlight on diverse talent within a vibrant scene.

Picking up momentum, Lau’s Birthday Party has great potential to become a mainstay. Having recently expanded to Shoreditch’s beloved Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes with performances from South London hyperpop purveyor Aki Oke and Tuske (later revealed as Tommy Barlow), what started as one party is growing to be appreciated by both new artists and music lovers alike. The next chapter of Lau’s Birthday Party will return to The George Tavern on 10th June in collaboration with Sad Machine Records, headlined by Baggio with support from Kevin! and Toby Evans Jesra. It looks like it’s shaping up to be another unforgettable night.