Elles Bailey's Stripped Back Album Launch Event

Review: Elles Bailey – Instore Performance

Rough Trade West, London (January 16^th, 2026)

Reviewer / Photographer – Paul Dubbelman

To mark the release of her new album ‘Can’t Take My Story Away‘, Elles Bailey kicked off a twelve-date record store tour in the most fitting way possible: stripped back, up close, and utterly human. The opening stop at Rough Trade West on January 16^thfelt less like a gig and more like being welcomed into a shared moment between artist and fans.

Rough Trade West may be the oldest and smallest shop in the chain, but on Friday evening it was bursting at the seams, with 40–50 fans wedged between record racks after queueing patiently well before doors opened. By 5.30pm, as Bailey emerged with longtime collaborator Demi Marriner, the chatter dissolved into a reverent hush. Bailey perched casually on the sales counter, Marriner armed with just an acoustic guitar (and a capo), and the tone was set: no microphones, no amps, no artifice. Just two voices, one guitar, and songs that mattered.

Opening with the album’s title track, Bailey immediately drew the room in. This was followed — rules cheerfully ignored — by current single ‘Growing Roots‘, fresh from being Radio 2’s most-played song the previous week. A momentary stumble at the start only made it more charming, quickly turning into a room-wide singalong that transformed the tiny shop into an impromptu choir.

Between songs, Bailey spoke candidly about the making of the album, its long gestation, and the calm she felt this time around, buoyed by the support of her Cooking Vinyl team. ‘Constant Need to Keep Going‘ revealed a different character in this bare setting, its original country sway resurfacing beneath the album’s more melancholic polish.

Emotion ran high during ‘Better Days‘, introduced with reflections on the late Matt Long and the way the music community rallied around him and his family. In such an intimate space, its refrain — better days will come our way — landed with quiet but powerful reassurance. Bailey continued her openness while discussing mental health, intrusive thoughts, and the inspiration behind ‘Tightrope‘, highlighting her support for the Music Minds Matter charity, which is also benefiting from sales of NFC-enabled merch offering downloads of the deluxe album.

A surprise appearance for previously unheard track ‘Best Believe‘ delighted the crowd, before the set closed with ‘Take a Step Back‘. But the evening didn’t end there. Bailey stayed to meet every single fan, chatting, signing, and smiling — often greeting people by name — reinforcing exactly why her connection with her audience runs so deep.

Small shows like this become treasured memories, and this one will linger. Warm, husky vocals, clear chemistry with Marriner, and an atmosphere of genuine joy made Rough Trade West the perfect launchpad for an album that feels deeply personal — and a reminder that sometimes the quietest gigs speak the loudest.