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“My most recent albums felt very much like they were snapshots in time,” Bailey explains. “Once your debut is out, the ball starts rolling, so those records were made very quickly, released and toured.” By contrast, Can’t Take My Story Away was created over a three-year period, using songs whose origins can be traced back almost 10 years. “There’s definitely an empowerment to this record,” she says. “I feel like that has actually evolved since I first started making it – as though I was a different person.” Bailey had found herself in a dark place when the embers of the album started to burn. “It’s been a real journey to love myself, to feel comfortable in my own skin,” she reveals. “It all started when I was in a really low spot, and then the most recent recording session, I realised I felt like a totally different person.” We hear this newfound confidence on the single “Growing Roots”, with its shimmer and sway in the instrumentation, and Bailey’s voice landing clear and strong: “I love it when the wind blows wild/ And the sun it sets the sky on fire/ And I can barely keep myself from running out on everyone else.” “It’s a classic love song, in a sense,” Bailey says of “Growing Roots”. Indeed, there’s a romance to her tale of being loved for her wild heart, not in spite of it. “It’s taken me a long time to settle down, because I’m always on the road thinking about the next thing,” she says. “This was inspired when I was feeling burnt out from tours, and thinking, ‘Wow, it might be nice to stay at home for a bit before the next adventure.’” In “Blessed”, we find evidence of how Bailey is able to tie each song to one another with perfect cohesion. Inspired by the experience of being loved for “exactly who you are”, it is a resplendent work of elegant, gliding strings and delicate guitar-picking. “The quiet madness of midnight,” she sings, “Have all the stars lost their shine?/ Yours is the song to talk me back down from the edge/ When nothing seems right.” Born from a writing session with her longtime collaborator Ash Tucker and finished with producer Luke Potashnick, its steady evolution reflects how Bailey herself has grown both in confidence and in artistry. The industry has frequently singled Bailey out for her unique take on Americana. She was crowned Live Act of the Year at the UK Americana Awards 2024, as well as Vocalist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards, also in 2024. Her third album, 2022’s Shining in the Half Light, topped the Official Jazz and Blues Albums Chart while also hitting No 4 in the UK Independent Albums Chart. Meanwhile her fourth album, Beneath the Neon Glow – which peaked at No 12 on the UK Official Albums Chart – received rave reviews for its raw and candid songwriting, as well Bailey’s “outstanding” vocals that “effortlessly traversed the highs and lows”. Fellow artists have recognised her talent, too, resulting in opening spots for the likes of Van Morrison, Jools Holland and Rag’n’Bone Man – the latter with whom she also joined for a duet of his hit single “Anywhere Away From Here”. Fans would likely be stunned, then, to learn that Bailey has had to overcome feelings of imposter syndrome more than once. It was this which led to new song “Angel”, an irresistible nod to blues and Motown complete with jubilant brass section. Here, Bailey channels the spirit of Janis Joplin with her husky growl, like cigar smoke curling above a glass of whiskey. “It was originally written as a ballad with Aaron Lee Tasjan (Yola), whilst I was in that low spot in 2023, a depression caused in part by losing my voice and fearing I’d done some serious damage to it,” she recalls. But in early 2025 she stumbled on these old lyrics and sang and recorded a completely new melody, what she felt in the moment, then sent it to her producer Luke Potashnick (Paloma Faith, Robbie Williams, Katie Melua). “This record is, at its heart, a true collaboration with Luke who has poured countless hours into shaping and refining these songs with me,” she says. “Over the three years we’ve spent bringing this record to life, I’ve learned so much from Luke – his patience, his vision, and his deep care for songcraft have truly left a lasting mark on me musically.” Take the title track, “Can’t Take My Story Away”. Originally written with Dan Bettridge, it ended up in Postasnick’s hands when Bailey was looking for tracks that could work for the album. “We agonised over it and worked on those themes of empowerment, and stepping away from relationships that try to control you. Because even in the pain of walking away, there’s freedom, too,” she says. The song raises a glass, even to the times when it didn’t work out, and is all the more uplifting for it. Elles saves space for a moving
tribute to a late friend, Matt Long, the singer, guitarist and
songwriter for the award-winning band Catfish. Matt tragically
passed away in October last year, 18 months after being
diagnosed with bowel cancer. He and Bailey emerged onto the UK
blues scene around the same time, crossing paths at festivals
and on tour. “It felt like we were climbing this wild musical
ladder together,” she said, “and then he got diagnosed with
cancer.” During that time the whole community came together to
help raise funds for his treatment. When he died, his parents
showed her a song he’d written, “Better Days”. The making of this record was a wonderfully natural process for Bailey, represented in “Constant Need to Keep Going”, in which the drums spill onto the bass and guitar, into the percussion, like the flow of a river. “It feels very live, very airy,” she suggests. “It’s very much been led by the players in the room, what their gut feeling is they should do.” One such person was the renowned producer and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Johns (Paul McCartney, Michael Kiwanuka, Laura Marling), who asked Bailey how she envisioned the track, more like a classic country song in the style it has been written or something else? : ‘I threw the question back at him and Ethan started gently jamming on the kit and the band just fell in with him so organically and it ended up being this quite melancholic, reflective sound, which feels very real.” Authenticity is at the core of everything Bailey does. From the stoicism of “Dandelions”, about the collective resilience of humanity, to “Tightrope”, about her profound experiences of mental health. Closer “Starling” is a poignant, stripped-back piano number inspired by the death of a close friend. Can’t Take My Story Away is more than a snapshot of a moment in time – it’s the pieces of Bailey’s life, placed carefully together to form a dazzling, kaleidoscopic story.
Maybe you found the band because of virtuosic guitar playing? Maybe you came for the tent revival style live show? The reasons that brought you here could be extensive, but the reasons that keep bringing people back are HEART. Real, from the heart, music made by people who love music. The Sacramento Bee said, “It’s a group with boundless stockpiles of heart to spare — it cascades throughout every slip-n-slide vintage blues/soul ditty they tear through and croon in every show they play, and they always leave a little behind. The front porch is the church, the church is the dance hall and the dance hall is the river bank — your knees will fail you by the time you figure it all out.” Often called, "the greatest front-porch blues band in the world" the Big Damn Band is led by Reverend Peyton, who is considered to be the premier finger pickers playing today. Rev has earned a reputation as both a singularly compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy, country blues styles that captured his imagination early in life and inspired him and his band to make pilgrimages to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Accompanied by Rev’s wife, the washboard virtuoso, Washboard Breezy Peyton, and kept on time by the deep rhythms of Jacob “The Snakob” Powell, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band will leave you clapping, stomping, and singing along every handmade show across the world. Their new record “Honeysuckle” was produced and recorded by Reverend Peyton and mixed by six time Grammy winner Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White). The record features many special guests including gospel music group The McCrary Sisters on the song “Manger”, Blues Music Hall of Famer and Grammy nominated harmonica player Billy Branch who plays on the Blind Lemon Jefferson song “Nell (Prison Cell Blues)”, Grammy award winning and IBMA's 10-time Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland plays on "Freeborn Man" and Colton Crawford from The Dead South plays banjo on "The Good Die Young" "This record is a bit of a return to my roots, a very personal mix of old and new songs that shaped me or that I’m currently shaping. It’s the most acoustic record we’ve made in years, vintage microphones, vintage guitars, vintage recording gear, and alot of me and my national guitar. There is a smattering of Big Damn Band thrown into the mix to spice things up, and a short list of legends that I’ve always dreamed of collaborating with", said Reverend Peyton
The Billy Walton Band grew out of this rich musical heritage, and found its groove when Billy connected with bassist William Paris. Their efforts met with immediate interest from the fertile British Blues scene, leading to multiple successful tours across Europe and eastern United States. They have a solid, dedicated fan base which is growing quickly. In addition to blues rock fans, the jamband scene has also embraced the band – hungry for their high energy live shows.
On his latest album, Bring it on Home, Wilde’s hard-edged harmonica steals the spotlight from the traditional rock guitar, with a sound that owes as much to Jimmy Page or Ritchie Blackmore as it does to Sonny Boy Williamson or Little Walter. Wilde says he's inspired by artists like Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. “I’m interested in the creative, unconventional way that Morello approaches his instrument. I’m always looking to make new interesting sounds with the harmonica too, pushing its boundaries, trying to change people’s perception of it.”
An Alice Armstrong show promises a soulful, genre-busting performance packed with world class musicianship and wry British repartee. Her personal and provocative content is heavily infused with soul, blues, funk, rock and jazz, and is served with an enigmatic performance reminiscent of the likes of B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin and Tina Turner (with a touch of Maria Callas), leaving the awed audience laughing, crying and tapping their feet in equal measure.
An experienced producer and noted talent on both keyboards and guitar, Greg’s artistry is inspired by the timeless work of Steely Dan, Randy Newman, Little Feat, Ray Charles, Booker T., and Dr. John. Hailing from an accomplished West End theatre background, Greg captivates audiences with his animated Hammond organ solos, deeply expressive songwriting and soulful vocal ability. His unique fusion of genres and outstanding musicianship set him apart from the rest, laying the path for a very exciting career ahead for this admirable world-touring performer. For fans who appreciate quality music, Greg Coulson is an artist who never disappoints.
He was also part of Earl Thomas’ A Capella quartet on the twice Grammy nominated American singer’s 'The Gospel According...' touring shows. Now, with the Greig Taylor Band, featuring former Marainne Faithful and Big Dish guitarist Brian McFie, Kenneth Clark (keys), Nelson McFarlane (bass) and Taylor’s right-hand band man over the years, former John Martyn and Big Dish drummer Dave Cantwell, the group have established themselves as one of the UK's finest blues acts, as evidenced by their 2023 album 'The Light' which was nominated as 'album of the year' and followed up by more recent acclaimed EP release 'Big Dawg Blues'. The band are currently recording their second album, Greig Taylor's SIXTH studio record, to be released in 2026.
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| SOLID ENTERTAINMENTS Presents... CARLISLE BLUES FESTIVAL |
There’s
a steeliness that courses through Elles Bailey’s latest album,
Can’t Take My Story Away. Fiercely independent, the British
singer-songwriter has been steadily honing her craft for the
better part of a decade. Her magnificent voice – instantly
recognisable, full of grit – weaves stories of resilience and
survival, of hope and new beginnings. In her music, we find
liberation as she picks at the threads of human connection,
carefully unravelling the truths we might not have realised
about ourselves. 
The
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band has performed in 38 countries
and 48 states. They have been featured in Rolling Stone
Magazine, Living Blues, Elmore, donned the cover of Vintage
Guitar Magazine, have been #1 on the Billboard, iTunes and
Sirius XM Blues Charts and have been nominated for three Blues
Music Awards by the Blues Foundation in Memphis. The
Indianapolis Star listed Reverend Peyton as one of the top 25
Hoosier musicians of all time.
Billy
Walton is an accomplished guitar master from the vibrant New
Jersey Shore music scene. He earned his stripes in the rock &
roll trenches, playing lead guitar for many years with Jersey
icon, Southside Johnny. He has also shared the stage with music
legends; Little Steven, Gary US Bonds and Steven Tyler, to name
a few.
Will
Wilde has taken the harmonica way beyond its blues roots since
he first emerged on the music scene in 2010. Always pushing
forward, evolving and redefining his sound, Wilde is now ready
to take the rock world by storm. 
An
International touring band with a 10 year portfolio of festival,
theatre and club gigs throughout Europe, Scandinavia and the UK.
Greg
Coulson is a British musical powerhouse - an expressive
singer-songwriter and dynamic performer who blends soul and
classic rock with the groove of blues, funk and jazz. Known for
his mesmerising stage presence and unique sound, Greg has
quickly established himself as one of the UK’s most exciting and
versatile musicians.
Emma
Wilson is a truly exceptional Vocalist & Songwriter. Described
as “The New Star of British Rhythm & Blues” by ‘The Blues
Magazine, Winner of ‘Emerging Blues Artist of the Year’ at the
UK Blues Awards 2022 & Grammy Longlisted 2024 for her single
“What Kind Of Love” (featuring the legendary soul Singer Don
Bryant) Emma evokes the great singers of the STAX era whilst
always being her own woman, she’s a modern English artist
heavily influenced by the classic RnB sound of the USA keeping
the heart of the blues threaded through her music. When she
recorded “Hoochie Coochie Mama” for her Internationally
acclaimed 2023 album “Memphis Calling” – Hi Rhythm Section
pianist Archie ‘Hubbie’ Turner exclaimed “She’s not from
Middlesbrough, She’s from Mississippi!”. Emma’s 2025 release “A
Spoonful of Willie Dixon” recorded Live with her superb British
based Touring Band – Mark Barrett (Drums), Ian Leese (Bass)
Bennett Holland (Piano) & Nik Svarc (Guitar) show they are a
tight, vibrant and visceral band which Emma fronts with dynamism
and charm - audiences love her inclusive fabulous concerts. Emma
is signed to the Phillips owned Memphis “Select-O-Hits” for
International distribution and represented by legendary
Publicist Frank Roszak. See her live! You won’t regret it.
Zoë
Schwarz Blue Commotion