Drew & Ellie Holcomb Take Memory Bank to Bigger Stages with NEEDTOBREATHE Summer Tour

Drew & Ellie Holcomb are not slowing down anytime soon. Fresh off the release of their joint album Memory Bank and in the middle of their headline run, the duo is now stepping onto even bigger stages this summer, joining NEEDTOBREATHE on The Long Surrender tour. Known for their honest songwriting and tight harmonies, this next chapter puts their music in front of massive amphitheater crowds across the country, marking a clear step up in their already steady rise.

You’re moving from more intimate headline shows to large amphitheaters with NEEDTOBREATHE. How do you plan to adapt your live set for those bigger spaces?

We will certainly pay attention to the outdoor, summertime nature of the tour. It’s much different to have a 45-minute set than a 2-hour set, so we will have a ton of fun in that shorter set and focus on fan favorites. 

Memory Bank feels deeply personal and rooted in your relationship. Was there ever a moment when it felt too personal to share publicly?

It’s deeply personal for sure, but that is the nature of songwriting, and I think we are just accustomed to sharing our work, and our solo work is usually just as personal. 

You’ve both had strong individual careers. What has changed creatively now that you’re fully stepping into a joint project together?

It is a different set of muscles to share the creative direction, the songwriting, the harmony singing, etc. When we are doing our duo work, we have to learn to compromise, engage in gray areas, and listen to the other person much more than in our individual careers. 

Touring with longtime friends like NEEDTOBREATHE adds a different dynamic. How does that relationship influence the energy of the tour?

It has been over a decade since we shared a stage with NEEDTOBREATHE, but with all the shared history both on and off stage, I imagine there will be some collaborative moments on stage, but the energy and friendship offstage will most likely make all of us feel very at home, even though we will be in a new place each night. The energy and vibe offstage on a tour absolutely affects the quality of the show onstage. This is going to be a very trusting and familial situation off stage, so that energy will bleed over to the stage and the show. 

With this tour marking a new level of exposure, what does growth look like for you right now without losing what makes your music feel so personal?

I have learned that at the end of the day, what connects people to us and our music is the songs, and no matter the size of the venue or crowd, when an audience loves the songs, we can make that show feel personal. It’s years of hard knocks that give us that confidence and that comfort.