Earth to Earth: A Night of Music and Solidarity at EartH Hackney
London came together to raise funds for Gaza and Sudan.
Photo: Ugly by Katie Riley
On Saturday, EartH Hackney hosted Earth to Earth, a sold-out fundraiser bringing together some of London’s most exciting emerging artists in support of Gaza and Sudan. The night, organised in collaboration with War Child UK and Bathtime Sounds, channelled the capital’s DIY music energy into something urgent and outward-looking: collective care.
Opening the night, Aga Ujma’s harp set felt almost meditative: a quiet, grounding introduction that held the room in stillness. That calm gave way to the expansive, immersive world of Skydaddy, the moniker of London-born Lebanese/Grenadian songwriter-producer Rachid Fakhre. He has released two mini-albums through his own label, Bathtime Sounds, as well as albums of his former project, Spang Sisters. His shows are often themed and vinyl-heavy, exploring genres such as folk, psychedelia, rocksteady, avant-garde pop, blue-eyed soul and MPB. For this set, Skydaddy performed as a six-piece, drifting between piano, guitar and harmonica, while contrabassoon, tuba and flute wove through arrangements that felt both orchestral and intimate.
Ugly followed with a completely different energy: vibrant, chaotic in the best way, and genuinely fun. Jasmine Miller-Sauchella brought a magnetic presence to the stage, at one point running into the audience to dance, collapsing the distance between performer and crowd.
Next to Die stood out as a highlight, its live vocal loops folding seamlessly into synth textures. Often compared to The Mars Volta, Everything Everything and Adult Jazz, Ugly’s sound sits somewhere between technical precision and playful unpredictability — something that felt fully realised in their live set. The performance was loose, alive and deeply engaging, a reminder that experimentation can be as joyful as it is complex.
Across the lineup, the night showcased the depth and experimentation of London’s independent scene, but what made Earth to Earth resonate was its sense of purpose. Fundraiser gigs like this sit in a lineage of music responding to crisis, but they mark a shift away from the spectacle of events like Live Aid. Where those large-scale concerts often simplified complex politics, community-led nights like this feel more immediate and accountable. Less about grand gestures, more about collective action. The impact might be smaller in scale, but it’s rooted in something tangible: people in a room, choosing to show up and contribute.
More than just a gig, Earth to Earth felt like a moment where music and solidarity met without pretence — a reminder that even at a local level, culture can still mobilise, connect, and care.
All photos by Katie Riley.
