This week's round-up: New music from Elles Bailey, Parker Barrow and Jessica Lynn

Following the announcement of her forthcoming album Can’t Take My Story Away, Elles Bailey has released new single ‘Take A Step Back’. The track is the second to be taken from Can’t Take My Story Away, which comes January 16th on Cooking Vinyl and Outlaw Music. 

 “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 says of the single. “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.” 

 Produced by Luke Potashnick and recorded with a stellar lineup of musicians separate from her live band, the eleven tracks of Can’t Take My Story Away tie together to form the album Elles has been destined to make. An honest and vulnerable glimpse into Elles’ story, the record was created over a three year period, using songs whose origins can be traced back almost 10 years, Can’t Take My Story Away is Elles’ life placed carefully together to form a dazzling, kaleidoscopic story. 

 “There’s definitely an empowerment to this record,” Elles says. “I feel like that has actually evolved since I first started making it – as though I was a different person.” She continues, “there is a quiet strength running through this album and a deep-rooted honesty and whilst there are some moments that reflect on some of the hardest chapters of my story, there’s a feeling of joy threaded through every note. It's like a kind of light has found its way in, even in some of the darkest moments.”

While this album marks a departure from Elles’ previous work and was recorded with new musicians, her long-standing touring band will return for all the live performances. They will head out on a run of UK and EU dates through February and March 2026 to support the record. 

 Elles will also celebrate the release of the album with a run of stripped back, acoustic instores through January, as well as a very special evening, ‘The Story By Candlelight,’ diving deep into the record at Rough Trade in Bristol on November 24th.

Elles Bailey plays the following UK & EU dates:

Instore Shows:

January

Fri 16th                              London, Rough Trade West

Sat 17th                             Oxford, Truck

Sat 17th                             Leamington Spa, Temperance

Sun 18th                           Leeds, Vinyl Whistle

Sun 18th                           Liverpool, Jacaranda

Mon 19th                           Bury, Wax & Beans

Tue 20th                            Nottingham, Rough Trade

Wed 21st                          Southampton, Vinilo

Wed 21st                          Brighton, Resident

Thu 22nd                           Marlborough, St Peters Church

Headline Tour:

February

Fri 20th                             Stuttgart, Im Wizemann

Sat 21st                            Munich, Ampere

Sun 22nd                          Nuremberg, Hirsch

Mon 23rd                           Aschaffenburg, Colas-Saal

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 

With Can’t Take My Story Away Elles cements herself as one of the most exciting talents in the UK. Picking up acclaim and accolades along the way, she was crowned Live Act of the Year at the UK Americana Awards 2024, as well as Album of the Year, Vocalist of the Year and Broadcaster Of The Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards. With an already prolific career under her belt the story is far from over and we have many chapters to come.

https://www.ellesbailey.com/ 

Pre-order album https://ellesb.lnk.to/CTMSAPR

Take A Step Back Is OUT NOW on all digital platforms http://ellesb.lnk.to/TASB

n February 2026 the band will set sail on the sold-out Rock Legends XIII Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Turks and Caicos, joining Gene Simmons, Blue Öyster Cult, REO Speedwagon, The Guess Who, Uriah Heep, Loverboy, The Outlaws, Eric Burden and the Animals, and many more.

“The recording process for the EP was a completely new experience, unlike anything we’ve done before,” says Parker Barrow’s lead singer Megan Kane. “With guitarist Alex Bender joining the creative songwriting journey with us, everything felt refreshed and reimagined. Balancing our touring schedule while carving out time to record came with its own challenges. Watching the songs grow from voice memos, to fleshing out ideas in the basement of our house to finished recordings has been incredibly rewarding.”

Of new single “The Healer”, drummer Dylan Turner comments “It’s an exciting track because it shows a brand-new side of Parker Barrow,” says Dylan Turner. “Our music has always been groove based, and guitar driven, but this track called for something different. It features Eric Safka’s psychedelic-tinged organ solo which sets it apart from the rest of the tracks we’ve released so far.”

“Olivia Lane is a personal favourite of mine off of the EP,” says guitarist Alex Bender. “The track gradually builds using various textures and dynamics until it climaxes when the full band features on the final chorus. The first single we released from the Mash EP, ‘Make It’, is a hard-hitting rock song that crashes in, and doesn’t let up until the final drum fill. Creating diverse styles of music on the EP shows depth and musicality that is very characteristic of who we are as a band.”

Parker Barrow are led by husband-and-wife duo Megan Kane (lead vocals) and Dylan Turner (drums). The name of the band is a homage to Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow - the infamous American bank robbers during the early 1930’s Great Depression.

A chance encounter in 2019 paired-up Megan and Dylan, who was hunting for a new singer. Two weeks later, they were on the road together, driven by one goal: making their musical dreams a reality. In 2023 Parker Barrow expanded with the full-time inclusion of guitarist and musical director Alex Bender. Dylan lays down a heavy groove while Megan’s soulful vocals soar high above. Alex’s inventive riffs and fiery playing pull it all together, creating Parker Barrow’s signature sound.

Parker Barrow’s vintage rock vibe features elements of Rock, Southern Rock, Blues & Soul; but their distinctive sound is unmistakably their own. There’s an impressive mix of old and new influences threaded throughout the band’s repertoire, including The Rolling Stones, Blackberry Smoke, Allman Brothers Band, Aerosmith, Tedeschi Trucks, The Black Crowes and traces of Led Zeppelin.

Parker Barrow’s debut album Jukebox Gypsies was released to glowing reviews from music press and fans globally; and the single “Back To Birmingham” racked up over a million YouTube views.

Represented by the American booking agency Intrepid Artists, Parker Barrow has earned a reputation for their powerhouse live shows featuring spontaneous jams and fresh twists on their songs. In 2025, the band were busy touring the U.S. and, in the summer, they played festivals, and headline shows in the U.K. and Spain.

Parker Barrow thrives on connecting with fans, both old and new. They will continue touring across the US and Europe through 2026. Their live shows deliver high energy, swagger, and pure heat—a testament that rock ‘n’ roll is very much alive and well.

Country music artist Jessica Lynn is back with a brand-new single, “Must’ve Been the Whiskey,” accompanied by a lively and fun music video that showcases a whole new side of the New York born artist. Known for her powerhouse performances and chart-topping hits, Lynn’s latest release takes a playful turn.

Watch Video HERE

Speaking about the track, Jessica Lynn says ‘Must’ve Been The Whiskey’ is my lighthearted take on those unforgettable girls’ nights out, the ones where the music’s loud, the drinks are flowing, and suddenly that guy at the bar looks way cuter than he actually is. It’s a fun, cheeky reminder that sometimes bad decisions make the best stories and laughs. We shot the video at The Outlaw Saloon in Chestnut Ridge, NY and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was the perfect set. One of my favorite parts of shooting the video was that the creepy guy at the bar is actually my husband Steve, who I had to coax into this role, which makes it all even more hilarious and personal. We had so much fun rehearsing and weren’t sure how we were going to control our laughter while filming. We definitely needed a few re-dos from us cracking up and it was the most fun we’ve had making a video which I think really comes across on the screen.”

The video, directed and edited by Alex Kouvatsos of Blackwolf Imaging, marking a visually fresh and comedic turn from Lynn’s previous work. The single was recorded and produced by Aslan Freeman (Lainey Wilson’s Music Director) and mastered by Jesse Cannon at Found Soundation, Brooklyn, NY.

Called a “powerhouse vocalist” by Taste of Country and recognized by American Songwriter for her bold “country arena rock” sound, Jessica Lynn brings her own brand of energy and authenticity to every song and stage she touches.

2025 has been a landmark year for Jessica Lynn. She recently celebrated touring her 20th country in Spain this past August, with performances spanning Europe, Africa, and Asia. Her sophomore album All I Own, released January 17, 2025, broke into the Top 5 in several countries and earned placements on key Sales and Billboard charts, including #13 on Top Current Country Albums, #17 on Top Current Independent Albums (all genre), and #74 on the Top Current Albums chart.

Adding to her momentum, Jessica is nominated for two British Country Music Association (BCMA) Awards this year for International Album of the Year for “All I Own” and International Single of the Year for “16 Miles”. Jessica is looking forward to returning to the UK in 2026.

With “Must’ve Been the Whiskey,” Jessica Lynn once again proves her versatility, effortlessly blending humour, honesty, and high-energy country sound into a release that’s as refreshing as it is unforgettable.

OUT NOW on all digital platforms https://Ffm.to/thewhiskey

Website: www.jessicalynnmusic.org