Elles Bailey Can’t Take My Story Away: Vinyl Revival, Hand-Pressed Record

10 February 2026 rocknews

As vinyl sales continue their remarkable resurgence, chart-topping independent artist Elles Bailey is proving that the format’s revival isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about connection.

To mark the release of her acclaimed new album Can’t Take My Story Away (out now via Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music), Bailey stepped onto the factory floor at Packaged Sounds in High Wycombe and personally pressed a single vinyl copy by hand. She signed and dated it, then slipped it back into the production run, a gesture that sent one record on an extraordinary journey.

That one-in-a-thousand vinyl later surfaced over 5,000 miles away in Arizona, where a fan opened their parcel unaware they were holding a unique, artist-made piece of the album’s story.

In an era dominated by instant streaming and disposable listening, the moment has struck a chord. “Physical music isn’t just a collector’s item,” Bailey says. “It’s a way for fans to truly stand behind the music and for artists to keep building on their own terms.”

That grassroots connection has translated into striking commercial success. Can’t Take My Story Away debuted at #1 on the Record Store Chart, #1 on the Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, #5 on the Official Album Sales Chart, and #14 on the Official Albums Chart overall. A rare achievement for an independent release driven largely by vinyl and physical sales.

Produced by Luke Potashnick and recorded with a stellar lineup of musicians, including renowned producer Ethan Johns, the eleven tracks of Can’t Take My Story Away tie together to form the album Elles has been destined to make. Created over a three-year period, using songs whose origins date back almost 10 years, it’s an honest and vulnerable glimpse into Bailey’s story.

The album has already picked up acclaim across the board, including 4★ reviews from MOJO and The Sun, with MOJO praising Bailey as: “Blessed with a voice that’s equal parts Etta James’s emotional gravity and Janis Joplin’s gritty power, Elles Bailey is a musical marvel.”

The release included a sold-out tour of record stores around the country while the single ‘Growing Roots’ hit BBC Radio 2’s A-List and ended up being the most played track on the station for the first 3 weeks of 2026. Bailey will tour the album extensively with her long-standing band, heading out on UK & EU headline dates through February and March 2026, followed by festival appearances and US dates.

Elles will also take the album stateside in April, with one of her first US appearances set for Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Sun, Sand and Soul Beach Weekend in Miramar Beach, Florida (April 23–25, 2026).

As vinyl’s revival continues to reshape the music industry, Elles Bailey’s story offers a reminder of why the format endures: music made with care, and pressed by hand, is capable of travelling the world and carrying a story that can’t be taken away.

Elles Bailey Headline Tour 2026 – Full Dates

March

Thu 19th — London, Islington Assembly Hall
Fri 20th — Warwick, Arts Centre
Sat 21st — Bristol, Electric
Tue 24th — Manchester, Band on the Wall
Wed 25th — Glasgow, St Luke’s
Thu 26th — Gateshead, Glasshouse 2
Fri 27th — Holmfirth, Picturedrome

May

Sat 16th — Nantwich Roots Festival — Nantwich, UK
Sun 24th — The Ridings — Chipping Sodbury, UK
Mon 25th — Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival
Fri 29th — Wychwood Festival — Cheltenham Racecourse, UK

June

Fri 19th — Beardy Folk Festival — Hopton Wafers, Shropshire, UK
Sun 28th — State Fayre — Essex, UK

July (US & Europe)

Wed 15th — Cape Cod Melody Tent — Hyannis, MA
Thu 16th — South Shore Music Circus — Cohasset, MA
Sat 18th — Lansdowne Theatre — Lansdowne, PA
Fri 31st — Notodden Blues — Notodden, Norway

September

Fri 4th — British Country Music Festival — Blackpool, UK

October

Sun 11th — Carlisle Blues, Rhythm and Rock Festival — Carlisle, UK

Album OUT NOW on all platforms HERE → https://www.ellesbailey.com/

Follow Elles Bailey Website: ellesbailey.com Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube

This is more than a vinyl story — it’s proof that when artists and fans connect through physical music, incredible things happen. Grab the album, catch her live, and keep the revival alive.