Elles Bailey w/ Morganway at KK’s Steelmill, Wolverhampton.

The first time I saw Elles Bailey was at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival last year and alongside well established performers like Joanne Shaw Taylor Elles stood out as an exceptional talent. So, it goes without question that I was looking forward to a second helping of this up and coming blues star.

Before Elles took her turn on stage we had two thirds of Morganway, with SJ Mortimer appearing alongside Callum and Keiran Morgan with Nicole Terry also along for the ride. This was one of SJ’s first performances since breaking her arm (which was still in a sling) so props to her for seeing this gig through. In a very nice touch, the band were introduced onto the stage by Elles herself and they were given a more than warm welcome to the Steelmill. Their stripped back version of Country-Folk-Rock didn’t phase the audience one bit, some of whom weren’t sure what to expect.

What started as a fairly ‘thin-on-the-ground’ audience soon changed to one that was much more cosy in the Steelmill’s auditorium. The band get going with My Love Ain’t Gonna Save You, and SJ’s vocals just sing out at you (sic). The twin guitars with the fiddle make for an interesting sound but one that perfectly fits the bands country-folk-rock vibe.

Half way through the set the band introduced a slightly stripped back version of their new single, World Stopped Running, this ahead of the new album due for release in May.

You can watch the video for this song here:

A thoughtful cover of Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know got us towards the end of a truly excellent set which was brought to a close by the aptly titled Hurricane in which SJ’s gritty vocals, once again, took over.

The venue had been ‘upgraded’ from a smaller room to the main room, and that upgrade seemed to be entirely justified because as Elles and her band came on to the stage to the Rolling Stones’ It’s Only Rock and Roll there was little room to move.

In her ‘glitterball’ dress, Elles marched around, commanding the stage, while the light reflected off her like mini laser beams. It also turned out to be a night of oddities with her having to clean blood (from an unknown source apparently) from her keyboard and later admitting to be a bit of a snorter too when she heard someone (Phil Archer allegedly) in the audience snort loudly while laughing! Who knew?

The large majority of songs tonight were taken from her latest album, Shining in the Half Light, the Deluxe Edition of which was due for release a few days after this show. This new and ‘improved’ version incudes songs not heard on the standard release. Alongside Elles we had the highly rated and very talented Demi Marriner, a fine singer in her own right, so tonight should be something very special indeed.

The Game gets us underway and is a cracking Americana opener which had the crowd moving immediately. Elles’ voice is rich and powerful ahead of the distorted guitar.

A rather battered looking tambourine makes its stage debut for Stones, another slice of comfortable Americana which has Joe Wilkins playing some nice slide guitar.

A very soulful version of Perfect Storm, one of her earliest songs, shut the crowd up as they soaked up every note sung by Elles and Demi. It was during this song, with Elles at her keyboard, that the bloody finger mystery emerged. After playing a few notes she stopped to give the blood-tinged keys a quick wipe down and a slightly embarrassed, not to mention bemused, explanation to the crowd before carrying on.

The title track to Shining in the Half Light is next. The vocals are outstanding and so strong that this song could be presented a capella with no loss of quality whatsoever; a fabulous song and a well-deserved title track.

Every now and then Elles would have a chat with the audience between songs and the run up to Cheats and Liars gave her the opportunity of explain how or why this song came about. Was it about past partners and ex’s? No, it was about ‘corrupt’ politicians in the opening months of the COVID pandemic!

Hole in my Pocket starts out as a decadently rich blues tune but ends in a frenzy of blues-rock as the guitars and keyboard go into overdrive to see the song out – I think the change of tempo surprised most of the audience – in a good way of course.

Her rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s As Long as I Can See The Light slowed things down a bit and had the audience light up the venue with a sprinkling of phone lights.

She sees the set out with another soulful blues number in Riding out the Storm before a short break and onto the encores; first up another cover, Mary Gauthier’s Mercy Now and this followed by the upbeat finale, Sunshine City.

A lot has been said about young Ms. Bailey, all good I should say, and after tonight’s performance every word is justified in full. A star of the future? No, she’s already a star and alongside artists such as Joanne Shaw Taylor, Chantel McGregor, Emma Wilson and Rebecca Downes the future of British Blues appears to be in very safe hands.

Words & images: Reg Richardson (Rock Stars Rising)