Elles Bailey live at The Caves, Edinburgh.
It has been a few years since Elles Bailley played Edinburgh in her own right although she was here last year as the opening act for Don McLean. Swapping the grand elegance of The Usher Hall for the underground intimacy of The Caves, she has drawn a sell-out crowd despite being far from a well-known name. Whatever has drawn the audience here tonight – possibly a combination of word-of-mouth reputation, three highly-enjoyable albums and a strong, engaging Youtube presence – there is a perceptible buzz in the air as the Rolling Stones’ It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll (But I Like It) hits the PA and Elles and her band take the stage and barrel into opener The Game. 
How do you classify Elles’ music? She mixes rock, soul, blues and Americana with a solid down-to-earth attitude true to her Bristolian roots. Her voice, warm and husky but still silky smooth, is a serendipitous result of a serious bout of bacterial pneumonia at the age of three. A great voice needs good material and fortunately, Elles is also a talented songwriter, relying on her original material for the majority of the set. She’s showcasing her latest album Shining In The Half Light with the accompaniment of a cracking backup band including long-term guitarist Joe Wilkins whose skillful mix of rhythm and lead licks are a pleasure to watch (and hear).
After an opening salvo of up-tempo rockers, Elles settles down on the front edge of the stage and slows things down a bit with Spinning Stopped, her response to her world-changing as a result of motherhood. It’s a lovely moment.
Elle’s own material is complemented by a well-chosen couple of covers. A bouncy, joyful version of John Martyn’s Over The Hill is buoyed up by Johnny Henderson’s vintage-style Hammond organ tones. Johnny’s keyboards also lead out an anthemic, gospelly take on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Long As I Can See The Light.
Back with Elles’ own songs, Medicine Man takes no prisoners as she hits back at a former music industry associate; mess with Elles at your peril. Help Somebody is a full-scale Muscle Shoals workout. A goosebump-inducing version of Mary Gauthier’s Mercy Now sends us home in the knowledge that we have witnessed something special. 
The following months will see a tour of Europe followed by the summer festival circuit. That word-of-mouth reputation’s just going to build and build. I see big things coming for Elles Bailey.
John Scott
