Elles Bailey New Single ‘Take A Step Back’
Elles Bailey Releases New Single ‘Take A Step Back’ from Forthcoming Album ‘Can’t Take My Story Away’ – Out Jan 16, 2026; 2026 UK/EU Tour Announced with London Islington Assembly Hall Headline
Rising UK blues and Americana powerhouse Elles Bailey is charging into 2026 with unbridled fire. Fresh off a banner year of awards glory, she’s unleashed her swaggering new single ‘Take A Step Back’ – the second preview from her highly anticipated fifth studio album Can’t Take My Story Away, out January 16, 2026 via Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music.
“With her gravel’n’smoke voice, ability to be both cheeky and heartbreaking, and a dirt-kicking live band, her rise and rise is inevitable.” – MOJO
This soul-stirring track captures the raw push-pull of relationships, blending live-room energy with playful defiance. Alongside the single, Elles has locked in a slate of 2026 UK and EU headline dates – including a marquee show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall on March 19 – plus intimate stripped-back instore performances throughout January to celebrate the album drop.
Stream ‘Take A Step Back’ now Preorder Can’t Take My Story Away – Available on CD, colored vinyl, cassette, and signed editions for die-hards.
‘Take A Step Back’: A Strut-Inducing Anthem of Fire and Pause
The second single from Can’t Take My Story Away, ‘Take A Step Back’ is a gritty, groove-laden gem produced by Luke Potashnick (Lewis Capaldi, James Morrison). Recorded live in the room with a fresh studio lineup, it pulses with swagger, soul, and that signature Elles edge – the kind of track that demands a full-volume replay and a spontaneous road-trip singalong.
“Sometimes relationships can be all fire, all pleasure and all pain simultaneously and you either have to embrace it – or take a step back,” Elles shares. “This truly is one of my favourite moments on the album. I love the sound we captured in the room. It’s so live, so full of swagger, so soulful and yet equally just as playful. It’s definitely the kind of song that puts a strut in your stride.”
Listen to ‘Take A Step Back’ HERE – The first single, ‘Growing Roots’, set the tone back in September, and this follow-up amps up the anticipation for the full 11-track journey.
Can’t Take My Story Away: Elles’ Empowered, Decade-In-The-Making Masterpiece
Crafted over three years with songs rooted in nearly a decade of personal evolution, Can’t Take My Story Away is Elles’ most vulnerable yet victorious statement yet. Produced by Luke Potashnick and featuring a stellar session band (distinct from her road-tested live crew), the album weaves blues grit, Americana heart, and pop-infused joy into a “dazzling, kaleidoscopic story” of resilience.
“There’s definitely an empowerment to this record,” Elles reflects. “I feel like that has actually evolved since I first started making it – as though I was a different person. There is a quiet strength running through this album and a deep-rooted honesty… It’s like a kind of light has found its way in, even in some of the darkest moments.”
Full Tracklist:
- Can’t Take My Story Away
- Growing Roots
- Better Days
- Blessed
- Constant Need To Keep Going
- Take a Step Back
- How Do You Do It
- Angel
- Dandelion
- Tightrope
- Starling
Preorder now – Exclusive bundles include signed zine packs and early tour presale access.
Elles Bailey: From Awards Sweep to Global Stages
Elles’ 2025 has been a triumph: Crowned Live Act of the Year at the 2024 UK Americana Awards, plus Album of the Year, Vocalist of the Year, and Broadcaster of the Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards. Her previous album, Road I Call Home, was her highest-charting to date. Now, with this release, she’s not just telling her story – she’s owning the spotlight as one of Britain’s most electric live forces.
Don’t miss her intimate album launch: ‘The Story By Candlelight’ at Rough Trade Bristol on November 24, 2025 – a deep-dive acoustic evening. Tickets/info HERE.
2026 UK & EU Tour Dates + January Instore Runs
Elles’ long-standing touring band reunites for these shows, promising dirt-kicking energy and heartbreak in equal measure. First, cozy up for stripped-back acoustics in January; then hit the full-band fireworks in Feb/Mar.
January 2026 Stripped-Back Instore Dates
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Jan | London | Rough Trade West |
| Sat 17 Jan | Oxford | Truck |
| Sat 17 Jan | Leamington Spa | Temperance |
| Sun 18 Jan | Leeds | Vinyl Whistle |
| Sun 18 Jan | Liverpool | Jacaranda |
| Mon 19 Jan | Bury | Wax & Beans |
| Tue 20 Jan | Nottingham | Rough Trade |
| Wed 21 Jan | Southampton | Vinilo |
| Wed 21 Jan | Brighton | Resident |
| Thu 22 Jan | Marlborough | St Peters Church |
Headline Tour: February/March 2026
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 20 Feb | Stuttgart (DE) | Im Wizemann |
| Sat 21 Feb | Munich (DE) | Ampere |
| Sun 22 Feb | Nuremberg (DE) | Hirsch |
| Mon 23 Feb | Aschaffenburg (DE) | Colas-Saal |
| Thu 19 Mar | London (UK) | Islington Assembly Hall |
| Fri 20 Mar | Warwick (UK) | Arts Centre |
| Sat 21 Mar | Bristol (UK) | Electric |
| Tue 24 Mar | Manchester (UK) | Band on the Wall |
| Wed 25 Mar | Glasgow (UK) | St Luke’s |
| Thu 26 Mar | Gateshead (UK) | Glasshouse 2 |
| Fri 27 Mar | Holmfirth (UK) | Picturedrome |
Tickets: On sale now via EllesBailey.com/tour – Presale for album preorders starts soon. Limited VIP upgrades available for select dates.
Why Elles Bailey Is the UK’s Must-Watch Blues-Americana Force
| Milestone | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Awards Haul | Live Act of the Year (UK Americana 2024); Album/Vocalist/Broadcaster of the Year (UK Blues 2025) |
| Album Evolution | 5th studio LP; 3-year creation with 10-year song roots |
| Production Magic | Luke Potashnick (Lewis Capaldi); New studio band, classic live crew |
| Live Legacy | “Dirt-kicking” shows blending cheeky heartbreak and soulful strut |
| Next Chapter | ‘Can’t Take My Story Away’ cements her as a genre trailblaze |
Stream, Preorder, Follow Elles Bailey
- Single: ‘Take A Step Back’ – Stream Now
- Album: Can’t Take My Story Away – Preorder (CD/Vinyl/Cassette/Signed)
- Tickets: UK/EU Tour & Instores
- Bristol Event: ‘The Story By Candlelight’ – Nov 24
- Official Site: EllesBailey.com
- Instagram: @EllesBaileyMusic
- Facebook: Elles Bailey
- YouTube: Elles Bailey Official
Elles Bailey isn’t just releasing music – she’s reclaiming her narrative with grit, grace, and a whole lot of groove. ‘Can’t Take My Story Away’ is her manifesto; the road ahead is hers to own. Preorder, grab tickets, and strut into 2026 with her.
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Elles Bailey New Single ‘Take A Step Back’ @RockNews
