ELLES BAILEY @ CASINO ROOMS ROCHESTER | 5TH APRIL 2025

“Keeping music live and keeping music real”

Elles Bailey returned to Kent on Saturday 5th April, bringing the penultimate night of the Beneath the Neon Glow tour to Rochester’s Casino Rooms; a raw and heartfelt performance that reignited live music at this venue for the first time since the 90’s.

In a pleasant surprise, Elles Bailey warmly welcomed the Kent crowd, introducing her self-confessed best friend (and backing vocalist) Demi Marriner to kick off the night, But first-off, cake, and lots of it. Saturday was Marriner’s birthday and Bailey led the crowd in a sing-song as the birthday-girl came to the stage greeted with candles galore, before distributing slices of cake amongst the room.

Performing without her band due to their prior commitments, Demi Marriner opened the show with Best of Me, a track written with Elles Bailey. Armed with just her acoustic guitar, it’s clear as she begins that no less of a performance will be given. Marriner’s vocals took me aback, an unexpected power unleashed that captivated the audience. Teasing her forthcoming album with an unreleased song, Marriner explained how this will be chapter 2/3, a series of records that takes you through the journey of her life. Marriner invited Bailey back to the stage to share a duet of Need to Know, which for me, was the highlight of the set. An intimate moment between the two that not only showed their connection as artists, but as friends.

With a quick costume change, Elles Bailey and the band took to the stage and hit the ground running as they tore through Enjoy the Ride, track 1 of the new album, ending with a fiery extended solo from guitarist Joe Wilkins. Expressing her pride for Beneath the Neon Glow, Bailey took a moment to thank the audience for their support, with many faces in the room that have supported her from the beginning. Bailey also shared her love for the Kent music scene, her support for the Casino Rooms bringing live music back to Rochester, and gave a shout out to some of her favourite Kent festivals from over the years; Ramblin’ Man, Black Deer, and the alive-and-kicking Maid of Stone. Bringing things down for Silhouette in a Sunset, Bailey lightheartedly shared whilst getting set at her keyboard that the new album was almost named after this track, but decided against it once she realised she’d have to spell it over and over again - confessing she has trouble spelling it in the first place. Handing the power over to the crowd, Bailey opened up the setlist for one audience-picked song. Presenting four songs to choose from, Medicine Man and Hole in my Pocket were neck-and-neck. Settling on the latter, and finishing to a roaring crowd, the band decided to treat the crowd to both.  

Ending with Sunshine City, a track that would normally be the final-final song, Bailey and the band left the crowd ecstatic - thumping for an encore before the band could even leave the stage. Quickly returning with Turn off the News, Bailey championed mental health and her own struggles, before closing the night with Riding Out the Storm. Up close and personal as she played her tambourine standing over the barrier, Joe Wilkins shredded through the final solo as he poured out every last bit of emotion through the screams of his guitar.

A big thank you to the team at the Casino Rooms Rochester for what hopes to be the start of something very special as the Kent music scene continues to boom.

Elles Bailey is an award-winning, critically acclaimed artist who seamlessly straddles the worlds of Americana, Rock & Blues.