Tag: Elles Bailey

Elles Bailey – at Sound Knowedge, Marlborough

by Ben Niamor

A first outing on Saturday to Sound Knowledge for Devizes favourite Elles Bailey, whose latest album dropped Friday, and this mini tour of a handful of record stores gave us a rare intimate opportunity to enjoy an artist who’s enormous growth and success has her playing a frequently different kind of larger venue, than the small venues I first saw her in some years ago now…

Indeed she had played Cropredy the day before, and Glastonbury earlier this year..! I will be honest here, I am a fan.. have been for years. She has always surrounded herself with the most amazing musicians and today was no exception, Joe Wilkins and Demi Marriner, both close friends of hers and co writers and conspirators in the new album, and it showed, the happy ease with which they delivered the meaningful verses of a selection of fine songs from the new album, a real treat.

I already loved 1972, a stand out song partly I confess owing to my having watched the video many times.. that was shot in and around Devizes by some other incredible musicians and creatives, many of us are more than familiar with… the gorgeous humans over at Growvision.. aka Robin and Greta of Beaux Gris Gris fame. It’s a fantastic video even if you weren’t a D Town native like me.

The song is about a time without mobile phones, and all the trappings of life we think we can’t survive without though most of civilisations history has done…

Another favourite for me, as Elles does open retrospective and human warmth and truth better than most… Leave the light on – An open love letter to her husband . An open hearted reflection on how she can live her dreams, and if as the inspiration for this song dictates she arrives home late, her home will provide all the welcome and support imaginable, literally a light left on, like a home fire burning.

There’s a theme in Elles entire being, certainly all my interactions with her, a real appreciation and gratitude for all life’s opportunities, the love and support of everyone.. the record buyer and fan, of her amazing team and family.. the whole journey.

Perhaps that’s a marker, a lesson for many less wholesome people in todays music industry..? Be real and treat everyone with love and appreciation and karma will underpin your own growth..? Certainly seems to have worked here.

Anyhow, I digress… the album was gonna be called Silhouette Under a Sunset, originally… Silhouette in a Sunset – a great new song about souls who you feel have known each other before we have met in this lifetime… such is the immediate warmth or common ground.

Turn off the news – talks of being grateful for being able to lose ourselves in books, records, etc… a guilt of being able to escape the world at are worst.. summarised in being able to turn off the e-news, which of course sometimes many find they cannot.

Another truthful reflection on life.. Truth ain’t gonna save us – When you have to call the end of a relationship… the truth and conflicts of life’s harder moments.. written with Matt Owens beloved of SK of course in his own right..

Of course all this very real subject matter is wrapped in such gorgeous music, and lighter moments that it connects you with the truth and reflection that makes much of Elles music resonate so strongly with us the listener.

I talked to some new listeners exposed by this local opportunity and hardcore fans alike in the throng, and many with shirts declaring admiration for Elles and other contemporaries… We are fortunate locally we have the incredible Sound Knowledge, and many great venues… we are considered very well in this area for the love and support of it all.

To quote something Elles shared.. “ “There’s no destination.. only dreams to realise” Of course store appearance limited coloured vinyl and deluxe albums were flying out the door.. check out the album and catch Elles on tour, join the ride. Thankyou once again to Elles and Sound Knowledge for all they do.

What else is occurring?

Rooks; New Single From M3G

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward “E”) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

No Need for Medicine Men – Elles Bailey Will Lift Your Spirit

Elles Bailey at The Corn Exchange, Devizes; part of Devizes Arts Festival.

By Ben Niamor. Images by Andy Fawthrop 

Elles Bailey made a welcomed return to Devizes this week, her sixth appearance in town by my count since local luthier and at that time promoter Mirko Pangrazzi booked this emerging talent some years ago now. Elles was great then, but has grown hugely as an artist, partly through being so fiercely independent and keeping things on her own terms….. 

This visit for the Arts Festival saw an appreciative crowd, many enjoying Elles live for the first time, packed into a blissfully air conditioned Corn Exchange on blisteringly hot summer school night. 

A multiple award winning artist, Elles always surrounds herself with the finest musicians in one of the hardest working live touring bands in the genre.Among them Joe Wilkins, on guitar, a long time friend and collaborator, co-writing with Elles on tracks like Riding Out the Storm in the set here. The wealth of touring translates into a cohesive, relaxed band supporting Elles’ trademark stage presence and flare. 

A great mix of songs in this set from across her albums and some heartfelt selections of covers from her inspirations. Mixing Muscle Shoals, Medicine Man, What’s the Matter With You and more with her fantastic song writing, with covers of some of the incredible characters of her inspiration, such as Levon Helms – When I Go Away (particularly well suited to Elles’ distinctive vocal sound if you listen to the original). 

For me personally, a sensational cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s – Long as I Can See the Light. Elles’ explained she cannot remember a time in her life when she didn’t know and love their music, fuelled just, as in my case, by an upbringing with a father who’s huge record collection was full of these kinds of incredible records. Truly made the hair on my neck stand up to hear her belt this out, sublime. 

In penning Cheats and Liars, a song about and fuelled by the rage at our so-called chancellor of the time, back in the COVID darkness of October 2020… when asked what struggling people in arts and music occupations should do? He quipped ‘they should retrain and find other jobs’. Thank you for the excellent song that prompted Mr Sunak. 

Thankfully, lovers of arts and music like myself were worrying that might actually happen through necessity to some degree, at the time buying merch, etc. If we were in a better position and talking to artists etc, letting them know they were loved and supported and meant so much to us.. I had pushed much of this to the back of my mind as we got back to gigs etc. and thankfully lost very little of what I feared, the scenes coming back to life as they did in the end.

I am hard pushed to think of a better example of a journey followed, for many in the audience have been on the journey with Elles, and many others and look forward to a lifetime of continuing to do so.  A good artist can do that, remind us of bad times and lift us into good times.

You will have probably realised already I am something of a fan, a true lady of the blues and one so connected with her fans how could you not?!

Thank you Elles and band, and the wonderful arts festival for putting this superb gig on, in walking distance for us. 

We are lucky to call this place home…..

Elles Bailey Website

One Of Us; New Single From Lady Nade

Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Lade’s latest offering of soulful pop. It’s timelessly cool and…

Large Unlicensed Music Event Alert!

On the first day of advent, a time of peace and joy to the world et al, Devizes Police report on a “large unlicenced music…

Winter Festival/Christmas/Whatever!

This is why I love you, my readers, see?! At the beginning of the week I put out an article highlighting DOCA’s Winter Festival, and…

Devizes Winter Festival This Friday and More!

Who’s ready for walking in the winter wonderland?! Devizes sets to magically transform into a winter wonderland this Friday when The Winter Festival and Lantern…