Elles Bailey

Elles Bailey is an English blues roots, rock singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has recorded five studio albums, including her debut album Wildfire in 2017, Road I Call Home in 2019, Shining in the Half Light in 2022, Beneath the Neon Glow in 2024 and Can't Take My Story Away in 2026.

Bailey has won several awards for her work. She is also a presenter on Planet Rock Radio with her own weekly show.

In 2024, Bailey released her highest charting album to date when Beneath the Neon Glow peaked at number 12 in the UK Albums Chart, number 4 in the Official Scottish Chart and reached number 1 on the Official Jazz and Blues Albums Chart and number 2 on Official Americana Albums Chart.

Her 2022 studio album Shining in the Half Light produced by Dan Weller reached 42 on the UK Albums Chart, reached number 1 on the Official Jazz and Blues Albums Chart and number 2 on the Official Americana Albums Chart. In January 2023, The Official Charts Company announced that Shining in the Half Light had reached number 39 out of the top 40 best selling albums in the Official Americana Albums Chart in 2022.

On tour, apart from her own headline appearances, Bailey has provided the opening act for Jools Holland, Don McLean, Van Morrison, Eric Gales, Mike Farris, the Kris Barras Band and King King.

In June 2025, Bailey supported Rag'n'Bone Man on selected dates of his UK summer tour, including an appearance at Llangollen Pavilion on 27 June 2025, where they performed together on stage on the song "Anywhere Away from Here". Bailey sang the vocal part originally recorded by Pink on Rag'n'Bone Man's album Life by Misadventure.

Early life and career Elles Bailey was born in Bristol, England. At the age of three she was hospitalised as a result of contracting viral and bacterial pneumonia, which meant that she had to breathe through a tube for 17 days. The result was she emerged with a husky deep voice, which shocked her parents and necessitated further examination to ensure that no serious damage had occurred. She was introduced to music via her father's record collection; mostly Chess Records' blues and rock and roll discs. The band toured and became noted for its powerful performances at gigs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bailey gave out a series of livestream recordings of her versions of others' recorded music. The resultant studio album, Ain't Nothing But, received a nomination for 'Blues Album of the Year' at the 2021 UK Blues Awards, where she was named 'Artist of the Year' for the second consecutive year. It was released on 25 February 2022. Due to the logistics surrounding the recording processes, Bailey listened to the album's final mixes while in hospital awaiting to give birth. To add to the difficulties, Bailey herself caught COVID-19 only weeks after the album's launch date.

In February 2024, Bailey announced her signing to Cooking Vinyl for her new album due later that year. She released her fourth studio album, Beneath the Neon Glow, on 9 August 2024.

Chart positions and awards In 2020, "Little Piece of Heaven" taken from her 2019 studio album, Road I Call Home (co-written with Bobby Wood and Dan Auerbach), gained the 'UK Song of the Year' title at the 2020 Americana Music Honors & Awards.

Shining in the Half Light reached number 42 in the UK Albums Chart, peaked at number 1 in the Official Jazz and Blues Albums Chart and number 2 in the Official Americana Albums Chart. It peaked at number four in the UK Independent Albums Chart, having been number one on the UK Independent Album Breakers Chart.

At the 2023 UK Blues Awards, Bailey was given three accolades for 'Artist of the Year', 'Vocalist of the Year', and 'Album of the Year'. Her third such triumph as 'Artist of the Year' (2020, 2021, and 2023), means that she is not eligible to win that award again, but instead was inducted into the UK Blues Hall of Fame.

Bailey has won a number of awards within the UK Americana scene including in 2022 'Live Artist of the Year' and also 'Artist of the Year'. In 2023 she was awarded with 'Live Artist of the Year' and appeared on stage performing at the UK Americana Music Honors & Awards.

Her live album, Live at the Fire Station, was released on 15 March 2024. Beneath the Neon Glow peaked in the UK Albums Chart at number 12. This was preceded in August by her appearance on Joe Bonamassa's Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Cruise.

She has previously provided guest support on tours by Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Walter Trout, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Mike Farris, the Kris Barras Band and King King. Bailey also performed at the 2021 Cheltenham Music Festival.

In June 2025, Bailey supported Rag'n'Bone Man on selected dates of his UK tour, including an appearance at Llangollen Pavilion on 27 June 2025, where they performed together on stage on the song "Anywhere Away from Here". Bailey sang the vocal part originally recorded by Pink on Rag'n'Bone Man's album, Life by Misadventure.

On 29 June 2024, Bailey performed on the Avalon Stage at the Glastonbury Festival.

Discography Albums Year Title Record label 2017 Wildfire Outlaw Music 2019 Road I Call Home Outlaw Music 2019 Blacktop Companion (CD only album) Outlaw Music 2020 Ain't Nothing But (live album) Outlaw Music 2022 Shining in the Half Light Outlaw Music 2024 Live at the Fire Station Outlaw Music 2024 Beneath the Neon Glow Cooking Vinyl 2026 Can’t Take My Story Away Cooking Vinyl