FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
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  • 2022 Reviews
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    • Toby Lee - Icons Vol.1
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    • Various Artists - Revolt Into Style 1979
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    • Dave Bainbridge - To The Far Away
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    • The Mentulls - Recipe For Change
    • Plush - Plush
    • Wayward Sons - Even Up the Score
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    • Steve Hackett - Surrender Of Silence
    • Sweet Crisis - Tricks On My Mind
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    • The Damn Truth - Now Or Nowhere
    • Dennis DeYoung - 26 East Vol 2
    • Mark Lettieri - Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol 2
    • Reach - The Promise Of a LIfe
    • Jane Getter Premonition - Anomalia
    • Mason Hill - Against The Wall
    • Lyle Workman - Uncommon Measures
    • Robert Berry - 3.2 : Third Impression
    • Lifesigns - Altitude
    • Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - Songs For The Apocalypse
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    • King King - Maverick
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    • Fish - Weltschmerz
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    • Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee & Other Moments of Clarity
    • Toby and the Whole Truth - Ignorance is Bliss (25th Anniversary Edition)
    • Everyday Heroes - A Tale of Sin & Sorrow
    • Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Last Light on the Highway
    • Pat Metheny - From This Place
    • Anchor Lane - Casino
  • Selected 2023 Gig Reviews...
    • The Wilson Brothers - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
  • Selected 2022 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender - Troon
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Paul McCartney - Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury 2022
    • Daryl Hall - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Eric Gales - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Selected 2021 Gig Reviews...
    • Sweet - The Garage, Glasgow
    • The Damn Truth - Now Or Nowhere Record Release Experiment Live
    • Anchor Lane - Lockdown Live, DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Laurence Jones - Live From Camden, Powerhaus, London
    • Joe Bonamassa - Austin City Limits, Live Stream
    • Todd Rundgren - Clearly Human Virtual Tour, "Pittsburgh"
  • Selected 2020 Gig Reviews...
    • Jared James Nichols - Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Oscar Cordoba Band - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes Band - The Ice Box, Glasgow
    • Ben Poole Trio - Room 2, Glasgow
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Aristocrats - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Fat Suit - Drygate, Glasgow
    • Francis Dunnery's It Bites - St Lukes, Glasgow
  • Selected 2019 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender IV - Troon
    • Hawkwind - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Opeth - SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice 'N' Sleazy Glasgow
    • Anchor Lane - G2, Glasgow
    • Stray - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Danny Bryant - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Talon - Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
    • Lifesigns - Smiles of Musical Travel
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 3 - featuring Rattlesnake Tattoo, Prestwick
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe Glasgow
    • Pete Way Band - Customs House Hotel, Greenock
    • Raintown and Katee Kross - Village Theatre, East Kilbride
    • Danny Vaughn - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • NR Rocks 2019 - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest 2019
    • Cheap Trick - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • The Blind Lemon Gators - Tolboth, Stirling
  • Muirsical Conversations...
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  • FabricationsHQ Q&As With...
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    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
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Shining in The Caves Light
Elles Bailey – The Caves, Edinburgh, 16th March 2023
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Travelling into Edinburgh to see multi UK Blues & UK Americana award winning songstress Elles Bailey for, remarkably, the first time, this reviewer was reflecting, through her smoky vocal style, songwriting talents and albums such as the critically accliamed Shining In The Half Light, how exceptional an artist she is.

That said there is always that little part of your brain that brings on the trepidation that a live performance won’t match up.
Fair to say that is not the case with Elles Bailey and her band.

Special mention first however to support act, Morganway.
The Caves audience were treated to a more stripped back version of the Americana rock/ country band for this performance (singer SJ Mortimer and guitarist Kieran Morgan performing as a duo as opposed to the full six-piece) but either way this is a quality act (no strangers to awards themselves, the band won Best Group at the 2021 British Country Music Awards; they also performed at Country2Country London this year).
The duo delivered a thoroughly enjoyable and impressive set, which acted as a great advertisement for the uninitiated who have not seen or heard the band.  

For Elles Bailey’s spring 2023 UK tour the focus was on latest album, the aforementioned and critically acclaimed Shining in the Half Light.
A year on from SITHL’s original release has proven to be the perfect time to tour the album as a Deluxe Edition with four additional tracks (plus some live performances) has now been released, dovetailing with this tour.

All four new tracks (two original, two covers) are excellent, which meant it was particularly pleasing to see & hear all four showcased within the set list, with rootsy lullaby 'Spinning Stopped' a highlight of the entire set.
Elles Bailey sang the lyric (about becoming a mother in the crazy time of a world stuck in limbo during a pandemic – new life bringing some joy and meaning to that otherwise unpredictable time) with genuine feeling and meaning, as she does in all her performances. She really pulled the audience in on this one.

The two covers recorded for SITHL Deluxe Edition were equally standout.
John Martyn’s 'Over the Hill' sported an up-tempo, roots 'n' roll arrangement (which, dare I say, may even be preferable to the late and legendary Martyn’s original) while Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Long As I Can See The Light' was accompanied by some great piano from Jonny Henderson.
(It's not coincidence both songs lyrically tell of travelling home or a homeward journey; Elles Bailey (pandemic lockdowns notwithstanding) seems to live her life on the road).

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​Outside of the SITHL songs, of which the bluesy swagger of set opener 'The Game' and the rugged Delta blues stomp of 'Stones' (featuring some great slide guitar from Joe Wilkins) were picks of a great bunch, a few earlier album fan favourites were performed.
Older highlights included the gritty and slightly southern 'Medicine Man' from 2019's Road I Call Home (a title that reinforces the "life on the road" comment) and an excellent band performance of soulful ballad 'Perfect Storm,' from 2017’s Wildfire album.

There was also a great encore in the shape of Mary Gauthier’s delicate & poignant 'Mercy Now' (originally recorded for Elles Bailey’s Ain't Nothing But lockdown/ covers performances) and another SITHL gem, the Nashville styled rock 'n' roll boogie of 'Sunshine City.'

Elles Bailey is a fantastically talented performer with a great band; additionally, the set was beautifully paced, with every song feeling like it was exactly where it should be for maximum effect.

Miss Bailey is also a down to earth and very approachable artist who engages with her fans throughout the whole gig, as emphasised by the through-the-crowd walkabout (embracing audience members while singing to them during her performance of soul-groover 'Help Somebody') where the crowd parted like the Red Sea for her (leading to her saying she "felt like Moses!").

In short, this was yet another successful show for Elles Bailey, as witnessed and welcomed by a packed house Shining In The Caves Light of what is a beautiful venue in Edinburgh.

If you haven't already caught Elles Bailey live I urge you to do so. Her wonderfully smoky voice and excellent song delivery will welcome you into her 'Wolfpack' of fans from the first note of the first number.

John McIntyre
FabricationsHQ

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All Photos – John McIntyre Shutter Time Photography/ Stage Time Promotions
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