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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: WOOD BURNT RED

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: WOOD BURNT RED

Wood Burnt Red; a charismatic Country Rock band from the United Kingdom who are truly making their mark on the UK Country scene. Their authentic sound just makes you want to close your eyes and take yourself to those country backroads, rolling along in a truck with the windows down and the sun shining in, but can just as easily transport you to a dark corner of a bar, whiskey in hand and reminiscent of your life’s choices. 


The Roadhouse Hub joined WBR in conversation ahead of their newest single release, ‘One Chance’, which comes out on November 8th. Read on to discover a bit more about Tom Franklin (Lead vocal, Guitarist), Mike Mann (Keys, Backing Vocals), Eddie Baldwin (Drummer), Russ Staples (Bassist) and Rob Graney (Lead Guitarist, Backing Vocals) - the five individuals that complete Wood Burnt Red…


Thank you so much for joining the Roadhouse Hub in conversation. We’d love to know where the inspiration for your name, Wood Burnt Red, came from?

TF: I’m obsessed with outdoor cooking - it fills the majority of my time when I’m at home. It’s my sacred happy place, and it’s how we spend our free time together as a band. I wanted something that represented this when we named the band - Wood Burnt Red reflects the glow of burning charcoal. 

MM: We were named before my time, but I can just picture Tom during one of his famous cookouts, spatula in hand and beer in the other. Our hero, Tom, gazes longingly into the glow of burning hickory chips as a smile creeps onto his face. He looks up with tears in his eyes and whispers, “Wood Burnt Red”. He will probably challenge these events, but I’m pretty sure that’s how it went down.

EB: It definitely felt right to me when I first heard it. 


We love how personal it is to you guys, it adds to the authenticity. How did you come together to form the band?

RG: I refused to join initially, then again… the third time round I finally said yes.

TF: We have all played in bands for years across many different genres. I’ve been lucky enough to know [the band members] for years, and I’ve played with them in different projects in the past - except for Eddie.

EB: Tom asked me if I wanted to join the band at a family party.

TF: I’ve known Eddie from high-school, and even then all we’d ever talk about was music. I knew he played, and played well, and that he’d be as committed as me given the opportunity.

EB: I agreed to join without hesitation. Tom laughed and said “you don’t even know what genre it is though” and backed it up with “it’s a Southern rock and country covers band” - I was relieved as I had a real passion for old-school Southern country rock.

MM: I’m not an original I’m afraid so I’m not sure exactly how or when it happened. I know that Tom got up on stage at a festival in 2019, and that was probably the lightbulb moment. 

TF: The idea of a band came from a conversation between myself and Russ.We’ve been inseparable since we were 14. Russ and I attended a festival in 2019 where I sang countryoke, and he turned to me and said “when are you going to start a band and do this properly” - it was the kick up the arse I needed.

RS: When I heard him sing, it made me realise his voice was made for this.


And what sort of musical background did you all come from?

TF: A little bit of everything should cover us! I was born and raised listening to old school Rock, Blues and Country thanks to my parents and my grandma. I played the piano at a young age but struggled a little until my teacher told me to pick up a second instrument. Since then, I’ve not put the guitar down. I think all of our different influences make us who we are. 

MM: I spent my early career trying to become a singer/songwriter, but my voice wasn’t quite up there and the songs were self indulgent so I bailed. In 2010, I became a session musician, picking up whatever gigs and recording dates I could find, which I quit in 2017. I was spending time on the golf course after, but the opportunity came up to get back on the horse and join WBR.

EB: I played drums in high school with a few lessons here and there, and for my 16th birthday I got my first acoustic kit bought for me. It was a big step up from pots and pans, and I was so grateful. I then started playing with some mates, but I never did gigs with them. For a short while, I moved away from drums and started DJing, but it was a small phase I went through. I’m glad I got back into drumming.

RS: I started learning piano at a young age but didn't do more than a few lessons, then I picked up a bass as a band was forming at school, and started learning from scratch then. I had no sense of timing or rhythm, the singer's mum used to clap like a metronome to help keep me in time!

RG: I have always liked heavier rock/metal, but over recent years have appreciated more melodic music. Russ and Tom were also into heavier music but had started to listen to country/southern rock years before I had - maybe those few years they have on me allowed their musical tastes to mature quicker! 


Quite a range there, but it definitely makes for an interesting sound! Lots of influences and experience to draw from. Is there anything you can tell us about your upcoming music?

TF:  We can't wait to share everything we've been working on. I think there's part of us that wants to be in the room of everyone that knows us, for the first time they hear our new tracks. We're so proud and excited to get these next few songs out over the coming months. Especially working with Tyler Spicer, who is the producer on the upcoming releases, as well as "Bartender" and "Best Things" previously released, he really has elevated our style and enhanced our writing process. He's like the 6th member of WBR. But also, from a songwriter’s point of view, the upcoming releases explore different emotions and subjects than things we've written about previously.

MM: When I joined the band the music was great, but it didn’t really feature much keyboard. We had to be careful with how we introduced parts as the songs were already fully arranged and audiences wanted to hear the music fairly represented. Being involved in the writing and arranging of our recent and upcoming releases has been a pleasure. Hopefully with keyboards becoming more of a feature, we’re elevating our sound.

EB: I’m so proud of what we have achieved. This was the first project I’ve been involved with as a composer of the drums - it’s been a journey of discovery for me as a musician and an individual. We’ve been really lucky to have worked with some incredible producers that have helped us along the way to bring the ideas to life. 

RS: I'm very excited about the new music we have been recording. Our producer has worked fantastically hard with us to get the best out of each of us and the songs really show it. Keep your eyes peeled, I feel there's something special coming. 

RG: The new music coming up is part of the reason for me agreeing to join. I genuinely believe the new songs that are in the pipeline take the band to another level again. I’m lucky enough to have been able to add my own stamp onto the latest edition of these, but the guys already had some fantastic songs ready to unleash on the scene. 'One chance' which will be released 8th November is the next exciting instalment - it's one of those songs where you reach the end and want more, so you end up replaying it again and again.  


That sounds so exciting, we can’t wait to hear this new single! What would you say has been a highlight of your musical career so far?


TF: This whole journey so far with the band has been a massive personal achievement. But as a Band, it would have to be our performance at a festival this year... Playing to that amazing crowd, at a festival that means so much to myself and the others, it was like a "full circle" moment, very emotional and heartwarming. And we're only at the beginning... We can't wait to see what else the future holds for WBR.

MM: Personally, seeing the reception Bartender got, and continues to get. You work on these songs, take risks, confide in geniuses like Tyler Spicer, but there comes a time when you have to put it out there and see what people think. To see engagement with our music is extremely rewarding. 

EB: There’s so many to pick from it’s hard, but the ones that stand out for me are Playing at all the amazing festivals this year. Also hearing your music being played on the radio is something special. Heading back to the studio to work with Tyler Spicer was a real treat and something magical always happens when we work with him, so stay tuned for that!

RS: We have had a great year of festivals and getting back into the studio and making some more magic with Tyler also features very high up on the list! 

RG: My career has been relatively short with the band, but playing on a packed-out stage at a festival this year is something that will live long in my memory. As much as the other guys didn't know at the time, it was that gig that convinced me that WBR is definitely something I want to be part of for the incredible journey to come. 


Are there any artists that you’d love to collaborate with?

TF: Wow, how much time do you have? I don't even know where to begin. Personal favourites of mine would be the likes of Stephen Wilson Jr, Drake White, Chris Stapleton, Sheryl Crow and that's just solo artists. There's bands like Brothers Osborne, Whiskey Myers, Old Dominion, 49 Winchester. All of these artists are huge influences on us as a band and myself as a songwriter, so I'd jump at the chance of any. 

MM: I was listening to Cheryl Crow the other day and thought that would be a great fit! 

EB: Wow, that's difficult… I mean there’s so many amazingly talented people that would be a pleasure to work with but as a band I think it would be fun to work with some UK country artists and would sound great to hear Toms vocals on a collab with the likes of Kezia Gill and Jade Helliwell just to name a few. 

RS: Zac Brown Band would be amazing, but there are so many! Old Crow Medicine Show for their energetic live performances, Flatland Cavalry, Kezia Gill... 

RG: Again being fairly new to the genre I'm sure there are loads of artists out there that I am yet to discover, but so far the artists that have had the biggest impact on me and that would be great to do a collaboration with would be Brothers Osbourne, Nate Smith, Jon Pardi, and for a more left of field collaboration, Bilmuri.


So many great names there! How do you see the future of Country music evolving?

TF: The sky is most definitely the limit. The amount of homegrown talent out there is insane, and we feel truly blessed to be a part of it. Just look at some of the UK country festivals and the British artists on the line ups, and these guys are drawing massive crowds and rightly so. And then on the other side, we have British artists like Kezia playing CMA fest in Nashville, flying the flag in a monumental way. It's VERY exciting. 

MM: I’ve not been involved in the UK Country Scene all that long, so I’m not an authority on the subject. What I can tell you is that it’s such a great community. Back stage there’s nothing but encouragement from our fellow bands and artists, and the fan base driving UK Country Music are unwavering in their support. I can’t see it going anywhere else but up. 

EB: It’s definitely on the up! I’ve seen a real increase in popularity for the time we have been involved in the genre. We have been welcomed with such kindness from everyone from fellow artists and festival organisers, it’s a pleasure to be involved in this amazing scene. 

RS: It's growing exponentially, and it's such a welcoming, inclusive scene, that I can only see that rate of growth continuing. 

RG: I feel the UK country scene will continue to grow and will grow rapidly over the next few years. 'Country' as a genre is becoming more diverse allowing for a modern twist on the classic, which for me personally makes it very exciting. There are some really brilliant people pushing the scene along. Now's the time to be part of it and enjoy the ride that is to come. 


Well said… Are there any last words from you?

We can't wait for the release of our next single "One Chance" that drops on the 8th November and is available to presave now. We can’t tell you how much it means to a band when you pre-save their music. So if you ever want to show any appreciation or support for what we do, pre-saving our music is the way to do it! 


There's so many exciting things on the horizon that we'd love to share, but can't just yet… so please keep your eyes peeled on our socials. And thank you to each and every one of you for your support. We're blessed.


One Chance is out on November 8th on all streaming platforms. You can presave the single here.


Artist Spotlight Wood Burnt Red


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