Riding the Storm: Elles Bailey's Epic Oxford Performance
see full gallery of shots at the bottom
Opening the night was the fantastic Demi Marriner. If you're a follower of mine, you’ll know I've been watching Demi for years, probably the same amount of time as Elles, as I first caught them both in 2018. Demi played a mix of songs from her current album and forthcoming project, *The Things We Didn’t Say*. 35-40 minutes of pure brilliance and banter from Demi: "I'm on a double shift, so I'm on the water and squirrel joke..." One to be heard live! She's supporting Elles on all dates of the tour.
A quick 15-minute break, and it's on to the main set from Elles herself. Fifteen minutes is the perfect break time to reset the stage. The title track opened the set, just sounding perfect live. Enjoy The Ride The band invites us to sit back, buckle up, and enjoy the ride—it felt like both an invitation and a promise of the musical journey ahead. You could feel the energy in the room; the place was packed out to the rafters!
Transitioning into **"Leave the Light On,"** the energy in the room was so high at that moment. "To the place we call our own" resonated deeply, touching on themes of finding sanctuary amid chaos. This track sounded incredible live, and now it's time to slow it down for a moment.
A fine moment came when Bailey took to the piano for **"Ballad of Broken Dreams."** Her vocal delivery was nothing short of a masterclass. I have to say, this track sounds just as good live as on the recording. She’s taking us on a ride for sure.
Shifting gears, **"1972"** brought a funky, lighter atmosphere to the venue, and the energy from the crowd was electric. They were loving every minute of this show, with its groovy bassline and vibe that showcased Bailey's versatility and ability to effortlessly blend different musical styles.
Perhaps the most poignant performance of the night was **"Silhouette in a Sunset."** The pure tone of Elles' vocals was stunning live, and the story of this song felt even more poignant in person—definitely a highlight.
Now it's on to the fan-chosen section that was voted for on her socials, and tonight we got not one but two songs. She mentioned last night she got told off for not playing one of them—**"Hell or High Water"** and **"Medicine Man,"** both classics from *The Road I Call Home* album, still sounding epic live.
Next, it's back to album tracks, and it's **"Love Yourself,"** another upbeat number that was incredible live with the band. The energy in the room was sky-high again.
Back to the piano for Elles, and **"Let It Burn"** was another highlight, with harmonies on point and a standout electric guitar solo halfway through—just outstanding. Bailey's vocal runs were exceptional, conveying both the pain and liberation found in letting go.
**"The Game"** came next from the previous album *Shining in the Half Light*, another high-energy song and massive fan favorite live. Elles teased the crowd, saying it was the last song, but we got two more!
**"If This Is Love"** resonated deeply with the audience, showcasing Elles Bailey's exceptional talent for blending soulful vocals with meaningful storytelling.
The last track of the night, **"Riding Out the Storm,"** had hands held high—it’s always good to end on a high, right? The crowd was buzzing from that set as Elles left the stage to loud cheering, calling her back for one last song.
She delivered a soulful rendition of **"Turn Off the News."** The stripped-down arrangement highlighted her vocal prowess. What a track to hear live! It was co-written with another artist, and it’s just as stunning live as on the recording, probably even more so.
A quick poll from the audience: "Who's not seen me live before?" Quite a lot of hands went up, with a heckle, "I've seen you live!" She responded, "Be calm, I'm getting to that," followed by, "Who’s seen me before?" Many hands went up, especially in Oxford, a city she’s visited quite a few times. She joked about being a radio presenter and how some may have taken a chance on seeing her live because of the Planet Rock radio show, with the heckle, "Don’t give it up!" Elles joked, "It's the only job I've ever had, and I get paid monthly!"
**"Sunshine City"** ended the night on an upbeat note, the perfect track to close the show. Cue Demi and a magical vocal solo, massive high energy to end.
What a set! Elles Bailey has a rare gift for making her personal stories feel universal. Her Oxford show was a testament to her artistry and the power of music to inspire and bring people together. For those who have yet to experience her live, it's a ride well worth taking.
I've purposely not gone too deep into this review, as I'll be reviewing the London or Bristol shows in depth—they're set to be two of Elles’ biggest shows ever, and I don't want to spoil the moments. Think of this as a teaser review! The way she has crafted the set on this tour works so well, bringing you along for the ride, up and down, while still fitting in fan favorites. As she joked in her set, "It's hard when you have so much music and have to pick the songs, but she got it spot on."
Just waiting for the day she’s doing a Bruce Springsteen and playing 3-hour-plus shows to 10,000 people! It's incredible to see the growth of Elles musically, getting more raw and emotional, giving her all on stage. She’s found her sound live—it’s more than just a live show; it’s an experience. Exactly why I'm doing at least 5 of the shows. If you can get to one of the forthcoming dates, I highly recommend seeing her live. I've been along for the ride since 2018 and will continue to be in the future.
See below for full set of photo shots
**This is the set list:**
- ENJOY THE RIDE
- LEAVE THE LIGHT ON
- BALLAD OF BROKEN DREAMS
- 1972
- SILHOUETTE IN A SUNSET
- HELL OR HIGH WATER
- MEDICINE MAN
- LOVE YOURSELF
- TRUTH AIN'T GONNA SAVE US
- LET IT BURN
- THE GAME
- IF THIS IS LOVE
- RIDING OUT THE STORM
**++ ENCORE ++**
- TURN OFF THE NEWS
- SUNSHINE CITY
