Charles and Myrtles Coffeehouse presents Malcolm Holcombe (country folk/ blues) Saturday, July 9, at 8 p.m.

It will be a pass the basket affair.

Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Malcolm Holcombe is an acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician in the insurgent country/folk vein.

Holcombe's album "A Hundred Lies"(Hip-O/Universal) received a four star review in Rolling Stone by music editor David Fricke, and received accolades from USA Today, No Depression, and Dirty Linen as well as international press. His moody poetry, country blues guitar and rumbling baritone has garnered
comparisons to notable musicians such as Tom Waits and John Prine. He has also earned raves from such Nashville notables as Lucinda Williams.

Malcolm has toured nationally with Shelby Lynne and opened for artists such as Richard Thompson, Merle Haggard and Wilco. Malcolm tours throughout the year, and his live performances are legendary among his legions of fans. He continues to write prolifically, appears regularly on radio in areas he is performing in, and has most recently been involved with the "Return To Cold Mountain" CD, produced by Grammy winner Bil VornDick.

Or, in Malcolm's own words.....
"I was born at St. Joseph's hospital in Asheville, N.C., sometime on Sept. 2, 1955.

The youngest of four boys. Dad was a hardworking busdriver and partners with his Father, "Papa Holcombe", of the Mars Hill-Weaverville bus line. The home where I was raised is unrecognisable now in the used-to-be small mountain town of Weaverville, NC. Go-carts, baseball, fishin' holes and Main Street filled my days til my parents died, not too soon apart, (mother ' 73 and dad ' 79) & I moved to Florida. Raised with a love of music and reading by my Mother and encouragement by my Father(who strongly suggested to me "don't quit your day job")I learned to play a flat-top guitar...my dad bought it/ After many trials and errors of tuning guesswork and neighborhood friends that didn't mind too much me hangin' around them that could play "Smoke On the Water"- and real rock 'n roll songs- high school days finally broke the sweat with a folk group "The Hilltoppers" who took me under their wings of patience and ditching classes to do shows and sock- hops, fairs and such, strumming Peter Paul and Mary songs and traditional Appalachian ballads with versions of old standard bluegrass songs- I wasn't up to snuff to sing, but they gladly made me welcome with my strummin'. 1976 rolled around and Caesar's Parlor in the Big City of Asheville where I met- and still admire and stay in touch with- Ray Sisk and Joey Freeman who opened up the saloon doors to Redwing- my second band if you will. Ray inspired me to work hard and perform, travel and write songs. Eventually a duo was formed with Sam Milner that resulted in my first LP "Trademark"- becoming familiar with roadwork and a few more chords and notes on guitar - solo shows and house gigs followed until my butt found a Greyhound bus and a one way ticket to Nashville- September 2nd 1990 ummmmmmmmmoh well....................
Nashville days- yeah man- simply hard and frustrating beyond no man lands expressions and tales- Nashville TN. The rest is scribbled and slung down in songs- sad ,sure and subtle and forever reasoned for. Takin' on ol' ways impure survival with no sound explanation. I continue performing, writing and supporting my family and blood flowin' folk ballads with no sound explanation- It's my job."

The coffeehouse is at Christ Unity Church, 105 McBrien Road in Brainerd.