NEEDTOBREATHE • Drew & Ellie Holcomb • August 15, 2026 • Sandy Amphitheater
Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe
Photos by Kevin Rolfe and Mike Ferguson
Some concerts are built around spectacle, while others are about creating a connection with the audience. NEEDTOBREATHE’s night at Sandy Amphitheater managed to do so much of the latter. With Drew and Ellie Holcomb opening the show, the evening was filled with heartfelt songs, powerful performances, and plenty of moments that had the crowd singing along.
The Long Surrender Tour celebrated NEEDTOBREATHE’s latest album of the same name. They did a great job of playing songs from the acclaimed new release and mixing in songs from across their catalog. They kept us on our toes wondering what song we’d hear next. Fortunately, the setlist was filled with the songs that drew this invested audience. I’ve seen a number of NEEDTOBREATHE concerts, and even when they don’t play my favorite song of theirs, I leave having just seen a very entertaining show. The same was the case on the night of August 15.
Drew & Ellie Holcomb
Drew and Ellie Holcomb were a natural choice to get the evening started. Their music carries a warmth that works especially well in an outdoor setting. They quickly settled the crowd into the right mood. As you could imagine, it might be in mid-August in Utah; it was hot! But that didn’t seem to bother the Holcombs or their fans.
Opening with “Family,” they moved through songs including “Sweet Ever After,” “Rain or Shine,” “Flowers for No Reason,” “American Beauty,” and “Find Your People.” Each song seemed to be more enjoyable than the next. I loved watching the crowd become continually more engaged with Drew and Ellie. At times it felt like we were just sitting in their backyard listening to them play through their songs. It was a pleasant environment to be in.
One of the most enjoyable parts of their performance was the acoustic portion of the set. With the arrangements stripped down, songs like “I Don’t Want to Miss It,” “What Would I Do Without You” and “Red Sea Road” took on an especially personal feel. They even worked in “Shut Up and Dance” stating that and “Never Gonna Let You Go,” giving the acoustic section some variety and keeping the audience engaged.
NEEDTOBREATHE
Members of the band gathered around an aria microphone at center stage. “The Long Surrender” opened the headlining set. While the audience was revved up, they became still and able to listen to the harmonies and feel the song. Followed by “Riding High,” “Money & Fame,” and “Say It Now.” Right away, the band demonstrated why their music works so well in a live environment. There is a certain looseness and energy to NEEDTOBREATHE’s sound, and that translated beautifully to the stage.
The set continued with “West Texas Wind,” “Hang On” and “Drive All Night,” before “Sing to Me Savannah” kept the momentum going. Rather than relying on one particular style, the band moved comfortably between rock, Americana, country and gospel influences.
“Washed by the Water” leading into “Brother” was one of those stretches that longtime fans were probably hoping to hear. Both songs have an emotional quality that becomes even more noticeable when experienced with a crowd singing along. The band followed that with “Great Night,” which seemed like an appropriate description of the evening itself.
The inclusion of “Angel From Montgomery” added another dimension to the set. The song brought a classic country and folk sensibility into the performance and gave the audience another opportunity to settle into the music.
The middle portion of the show continued to move between quieter moments and bigger performances. “Momma Loves Me / Able” was followed by “Banks,” “Testify” and “Who Am I.” Each song offered something different, keeping the nearly two-hour set from feeling predictable.
One of the biggest crowd moments came during “Multiplied,” when Bear Rinehart stepped away from the stage and headed into the audience. It was a simple move, but it changed the dynamic of the performance. Suddenly, the frontman was right there among the fans, turning what could have been another song in the setlist into one of the night’s most memorable moments. Bear took his time, posing for selfies, shaking hands, and hugging devoted listeners young and old as he made his way through the audience. While I wasn’t fortunate enough to get close for a handshake or a fist bump, I was close enough to see the smiles on everyone’s faces and the sincerity in Bear’s intended connection with these fans.
“Forever on Your Side” continued the emotional side of the show before NEEDTOBREATHE launched into a powerful combination of “Mercy’s Stone,” “Lay ’Em Down” and “I Shall Be Released.” The songs created a natural buildup toward the end of the main set, with the audience fully involved.
It can’t be discussed enough. Bear Rinehart has an incredible voice. Perhaps an underrated voice. There are these moments in the show where I’ll look around and I’ll see people marvelling at what is coming through the microphone. His voice is raw, yet controlled. It’s powerful but not overbearing. These songs are great. But they are taken to another level with this voice. I noticed several times people looking to their fellow concertgoer and mouthing the word “Wow” when Rinehart hit a crazy note or blew us away with something unexpected. It’s always a pleasure to hear him sing.
The night wasn’t over. For the encore, Drew and Ellie Holcomb returned to the stage, joining NEEDTOBREATHE for “Spread the Ashes” and “Promised Land.” Seeing the opening act come back out for the finale was a great way to bring the two performances together. It also reinforced the sense of community that had been present throughout the evening. It was so fun to see them up there having a great time together. They sounded amazing together as well.
NEEDTOBREATHE saved “The Outsiders” for the final song, ending the night with plenty of energy and giving the audience one last chance to sing along before heading home. It was easy to see the anticipation for “The Outsiders”. When NEEDTOBREATHE stated that there was just one more song before they were going, everyone knew what it was going to be. Everyone seemed to erupt and give every last bit of their energy to the song. NEEDTOBREATHE included a snippet of R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World, and We Know It” into the song. It was the perfect closer.
What made this show particularly enjoyable was how naturally everything came together. Drew and Ellie Holcomb brought a stripped-down intimacy to the beginning of the evening, while NEEDTOBREATHE expanded that feeling into a much bigger, more dynamic production without losing the emotional core of the music.
Sandy Amphitheater was also a fitting home for the show. There is something special about experiencing this kind of music outdoors, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd and under a summer evening sky. The sunset views at the venue never disappoint.
NEEDTOBREATHE gave Sandy a little bit of everything: big songs, quieter moments, audience interaction, unexpected touches, and plenty of opportunities for fans to raise their voices. Add in the chemistry with Drew and Ellie Holcomb, and the result was an evening that felt less like a typical concert and more like a celebration shared between the artists and everyone in attendance.