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Following a sold-out intimate first look at her new album at Rough Trade in Bristol earlier this month, Elles Bailey has released new single ‘Better Days’. The track is the latest to be taken from her new album Can’t Take My Story Away, which comes January 16th on Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music. Listen to ‘Better Days’ HERE & watch the official video above.
A moving tribute to Elles’ late friend, Matt Long, the soulful, blues-driven track was written by Matt before he sadly passed away. “‘Better Days’ carries such a beautiful truth, that hope is never far away. Singing it feels like a privilege, and a way to celebrate the life and music of my late friend,” Elles says of the track. “We emerged onto the UK blues scene around the same time, crossing paths at festivals and on tour. It kinda felt like we were climbing this wild musical ladder together and then he got diagnosed with cancer. When he passed, his parents showed me ‘Better Days’ and I recorded a version with my dear friends The Cinelli Brothers as part of the Tribute Album to Matt ‘With A Little Help From My Friends.’ I loved the song so much I wanted it to be a part of this album story too – so I recorded another version when we were tracking for this record.”
Produced by Luke Potashnick and recorded with a stellar lineup of musicians separate from her live band, the eleven tracks of Can’t Take My Story Away tie together to form the album Elles has been destined to make. An honest and vulnerable glimpse into Elles’ story, the record was created over a three year period, using songs whose origins can be traced back almost 10 years, Can’t Take My Story Away is Elles’ life placed carefully together to form a dazzling, kaleidoscopic story.
While this album marks a departure from Elles’ previous work and was recorded with new musicians, her long-standing touring band will return for all the live performances. They will head out on a run of UK and EU dates through February and March 2026 to support the record.
Elles will also celebrate the release of the album with a run of stripped back, acoustic instores through January. More info HERE.
Elles Bailey plays the following UK & EU dates:
Instore Shows:
January
Fri 16th London, Rough Trade West
Sat 17th Oxford, Truck
Sat 17th Leamington Spa, Temperance
Sun 18th Leeds, Vinyl Whistle
Sun 18th Liverpool, Jacaranda
Mon 19th Bury, Wax & Beans
Tue 20th Nottingham, Rough Trade
Wed 21st Southampton, Vinilo
Wed 21st Brighton, Resident
Thu 22nd Marlborough, St Peters Church
Headline Tour:
February
Fri 20th Stuttgart, Im Wizemann
Sat 21st Munich, Ampere
Sun 22nd Nuremberg, Hirsch
Mon 23rd Aschaffenburg, Colas-Saal
March
Thu 19th London, Islington Assembly Hall
Fri 20th Warwick, Arts Centre
Sat 21st Bristol, Electric
Tue 24th Manchester, Band on the Wall
Wed 25th Glasgow, St Luke’s
Thu 26th Gateshead, Glasshouse 2
Fri 27th Holmfirth, Picturedrome
With Can’t Take My Story Away Elles cements herself as one of the most exciting talents in the UK. Picking up acclaim and accolades along the way, she was crowned Live Act of the Year at the UK Americana Awards 2024, as well as Album of the Year, Vocalist of the Year and Broadcaster Of The Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards. With an already prolific career under her belt the story is far from over and we have many chapters to come.
Elles Bailey online, HERE
Photo credits – Rob Blackham/Blackham Images
