Drew & Ellie Holcomb: Two Guitars Are Better Than One
The Holcomb's kick out their
"Never Gonna Let You Go"
tour in Roanoke, VA
2/4/26
Jefferson Center - Roanoke, VA
By Cody Cooksey
What is better than one acoustic guitar? To put it simply, two. Drew Holcomb (of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors) took the stage with his wife Ellie Holcomb to provide soft, simplistic melodies, as well as songs filled with that southern vibe that makes you want to kick the dust off your boots! The Jefferson Center hosted the first night of Drew and Ellie’s Never Gonna Let You Go tour, providing sufficient proof that this will be a comfortable, familiar tour that is sure to be remembered by all who attend.
After nearly twenty years of marriage, Drew and Ellie Holcomb have proven to be a power couple in the music industry. They have individually established their names with songs like Find Your People and Family (Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors), as well as Hope’s Gonna Find You and I Will Carry You (Ellie Holcomb). As they kicked off the tour with different genres and stories, their naturally charismatic emotions and authentic chemistry encapsulated the nearly sold out Jefferson Center.
As the night began, Drew and Ellie took to the stage and provided a unique opening set. As they sat in comfortable felt chairs that may remind you of home, they faced the crowd. They each wielded an acoustic guitar, and proceeded to take turns playing soft songs and telling stories to set the mood for the evening. Their authenticity showed here, as Ellie mixed up the lyrics between a song from her children’s book and a song about Drew, which the audience got a kick out of. Drew appropriately referred to themselves as “professionals” after this slip up, adding to the humor of the night. What was unique here is how they swapped songs to mix things up. Once Drew played his wife’s song Constellations, a fan favorite, the crowd was drawn in and ready for more.
After a brief intermission, Drew and Ellie returned to the stage, dawning new attire and bringing along The Neighbors. They officially kicked off the night with a recent collaborative song Memory Bank, bringing the audience right back in with upbeat instrumentals. Jokes continued to ensue, as Ellie referred to her All of My Days album, which is filled with Psalms, as being “co-written by David”. As she played a recent fan favorite Far Country, she encouraged the crowd with spiritual truths. “No place I’ve found where He is not, From Heaven’s heights to hell below, I’ve found no place, where He won’t go, To bring back the lost kids, To bring us home”, was a nice reminder that we are lost sheep being sought after.
The Neighbors were given a couple of moments to shine as Drew and Ellie let them make their live debut. They played two unreleased songs that you may find on an alternative radio station, capturing a sound similar to bands like Colony House. The Holcomb’s took requests from the crowd, giving the audience a chance to participate and shout their favorite songs, ranging from their most well known work to hidden tracks. They wrapped up the night by inviting the audience to come close to the stage and dance to covers like Shut Up and Dance by WALK THE MOON, further proving that this duo can manage just about any genre or mood. Shows like this are a nice reminder that God can be found in a plethora of music and media, and what a sweet reminder that is.
*all photos taken by CSC Photography