Elles Bailey at Òran Mór

Glasgow, Scotland. Saturday 16-November-2024.

The first part of a double header weekend at this venue in Glasgow.

Saturday started off busily with a morning run over to Cockermouth for their parkrun event #2 followed by a bacon butty courtesy of the local WI. Then back to home for a shower and an hour’s Italian conversation class and lunch. We then caught the 3 o’clock train up to Glasgow for an early supper. 

I was promised a “shoogle on the clockwork orange” (translation: a rattling ride on the Glasgow subway).
Shoogle: verb
1. to shake, sway, or rock back and forth https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/shoogle# 

It appears that the rolling stock has been updated sometime in the last 50 years so we had a smooth ride.

We tried to get into Café Andaluz just around the corner from the venue but it was fully booked so we went a couple of doors along to Zizzi.

Elles came out before the concert to introduce the first act and appeal to the audience to not talk through the support acts but to show them some respect and attention.

The first support was Demi Mariner who we have seen before. She plays solo and usually is also part of Elles band. She has a very velvety voice. I liken it to Baileys, it may seem very smooth but there is a bit of a kick behind it.

She performed four songs with a bit of chat between.

The second support act was a duo called Ida Mae, previously unknown to us but talented musicians and so very enjoyable.

We bought their latest album. Interestingly only available on vinyl, no CD version.

The main act: Elles Bailey with full band including Demi Marriner. This tour is to promote her latest album “Beneath the Neon Glow” but I doubt if there was anyone in the audience who did not already own it. She commented that it was lovely to see and hear the audience singing the words of the songs back to her, especially for the lesser known ones, i.e. not released as singles.

As well as singing and playing the guitar Elles also plays keyboard. A versatile musician and bursting with energy as usual!

We couldn’t buy any of her recordings as we already have the complete set!

The venue had a 10 o’clock curfew which meant it was relatively easy to get back to the SIL’s house as public transport was still running.