Elles Bailey pays tribute to Matt Long with new single
Elles Bailey has released her new single “Better Days,” the latest preview of her forthcoming album Can’t Take My Story Away, due January 16 on Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music. The track arrives after a sold-out, intimate first-look performance at Rough Trade in Bristol earlier this month.
“Better Days” is a heartfelt tribute to Bailey’s late friend, guitarist Matt Long. The soulful, blues driven song was written by Long before his passing. “‘Better Days’ carries such a beautiful truth, that hope is never far away. Singing it feels like a privilege, and a way to celebrate the life and music of my late friend,” Bailey shared. “We emerged onto the UK blues scene around the same time, crossing paths at festivals and on tour. It kinda felt like we were climbing this wild musical ladder together and then he got diagnosed with cancer. When he passed, his parents showed me ‘Better Days’ and I recorded a version with my dear friends The Cinelli Brothers as part of the Tribute Album to Matt, With A Little Help From My Friends. I loved the song so much I wanted it to be a part of this album story too, so I recorded another version when we were tracking for this record.”
Produced by Luke Potashnick, Can’t Take My Story Away was recorded with a lineup of musicians separate from Bailey’s touring band. The album’s eleven tracks reflect a decade of songwriting and a three year recording period, offering what Bailey describes as an honest and vulnerable look into her life.
While the studio players differ from her regular live group, Bailey’s longtime touring band will reunite for all upcoming performances. She will support the album with UK and EU dates throughout February and March 2026. Before the tour begins, Bailey will mark the album’s release with a run of stripped-back acoustic instore appearances across the UK in January.
Bailey continues to earn attention across the roots and blues scene. She was named Live Act of the Year at the UK Americana Awards 2024 and won Album of the Year, Vocalist of the Year and Broadcaster of the Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards.
Instore Shows
January
Fri 16: London, Rough Trade West
Sat 17: Oxford, Truck
Sat 17: Leamington Spa, Temperance
Sun 18: Leeds, Vinyl Whistle
Sun 18: Liverpool, Jacaranda
Mon 19: Bury, Wax and Beans
Tue 20: Nottingham, Rough Trade
Wed 21: Southampton, Vinilo
Wed 21: Brighton, Resident
Thu 22: Marlborough, St Peters Church
Headline Tour
February
Fri 20: Stuttgart, Im Wizemann
Sat 21: Munich, Ampere
Sun 22: Nuremberg, Hirsch
Mon 23: Aschaffenburg, Colas Saal
March
Thu 19: London, Islington Assembly Hall
Fri 20: Warwick, Arts Centre
Sat 21: Bristol, Electric
Tue 24: Manchester, Band on the Wall
Wed 25: Glasgow, St Luke’s
Thu 26: Gateshead, Glasshouse 2
Fri 27: Holmfirth, Picturedrome
