The very popular and effervescent Elles Bailey & her band rocked up to the Guiting Music Festival in Gloucestershire as part of a double headline with Errol Linton.
The multi award winning Blues and Americana artist came to the event with her full band who were – Elles Bailey (vocals), Joe Wilkins (guitar), Demi Marriner (backing vocals and acoustic guitar), Mathew Waer (bass), Jonny Henderson (bass & backing vocals) and Gary Kroll (drums).
The show kicked off with ‘The Game’ which is a great funky number to get the crowd going, before segueing into ‘Stones’ which is a great slice of Americana with excellent slide guitar work from Joe.
Elles has worked with Tamara Stewart and the Tasmania, Australia born and now Nashville, USA artist was at the gig as she is performing in the UK. The next song ‘This is the Love’ was one of these songs which guitarist Joe Wilkins also co-wrote which is on the new album ‘Beneath the Neon Glow’, which is released in early August 2024.
With her voice not at 100% due to a throat infection (though it was difficult to hear the difference) she enlisted the audience to join in on the next number ‘Help Somebody’, some of whom were on their feet dancing.
With the new album release imminent some of these new songs were slotted into the setlist including ‘Leave the Light On’, Enjoy the Ride’ and the period number ‘1972’ with its great video with VW van and flared trousers and kaftans.
Elles was pleased that her Dad (and Mum) were at the gig with Dad modelling one of Elles new T-Shirts and as Elles explained ‘My Dad used to be in Folk and then Rock bands, including playing at Guiting Village Hall, and a very young me used to go too which is where I got the music bug’
A couple of songs had their debut at the festival including ‘Love Yourself’ written by Elles & Joe along with a song written 5 years ago ‘Ballad of a Broken Dream’ which Elles didn’t think was good enough but was convinced otherwise by feedback from Demi & Joe.
The set encore was the apt song ‘Sunshine City’ with great vocals from Demi to finish before a standing ovation and queues to talk to Elles afterwards.
