Single: Wood Burnt Red – Fire Me Up
With Fire Me Up, British Southern Rock outfit Wood Burnt Red delivers a compelling preview of their forthcoming debut album Hold On Tight, due for release on September 4. Following the well-received Simple Place, the four-piece once again proves that Southern Rock and Country Rock remain a winning combination.
Wood Burnt Red’s new single Fire Me Up
From Upcomming Album, Hold On Tight
Wood Burnt Red – Hold On Tight
Availiable on CD / Vinyl / Digital
Released on september 4, 2026
Pre-Order CD & Vinyl HERE
Pre-Save Digital HERE
With Fire Me Up, British Southern Rock outfit Wood Burnt Red delivers a compelling preview of their forthcoming debut album Hold On Tight, due for release on September 4. Following the well-received Simple Place, the four-piece once again proves that Southern Rock and Country Rock remain a winning combination.
From the opening bars, Fire Me Up grabs your attention. Driving guitar riffs, a solid rhythm section and a chorus that refuses to leave your head make this an energetic and highly infectious track. Frontman Tom Franklin’s warm, slightly gritty vocals provide exactly the right amount of character and perfectly complement the band’s robust Southern Rock sound.
The production is equally impressive. The guitars are given plenty of room to breathe, while the rhythm section keeps everything firmly on track. One particularly enjoyable moment comes around the three-quarter mark, when the bass and drums briefly take centre stage before the full band kicks back in. It’s a subtle touch that adds dynamic contrast and gives the song’s final section even greater impact.
Lyrically, Fire Me Up is all about determination, resilience and chasing your dreams despite the doubts of others. It’s a message that fits the band’s confident performance perfectly and adds another layer of authenticity to an already convincing song.
When Planet Rock presenter Elles Bailey described Wood Burnt Red as “The UK’s answer to Brothers Osborne,” I have to admit I raised an eyebrow. That’s quite a statement. However, after several spins of Fire Me Up, I have to say she may well have a point. The influence of The Brothers Osborne is unmistakable, yet Wood Burnt Red never sounds like a copy. Instead, they successfully blend those influences into a sound that feels fresh, authentic and distinctly their own.
Fire Me Up is a powerful and melodic Southern Rock single featuring memorable hooks, convincing vocals and enough energy to leave you looking forward to the release of Hold On Tight. If this track is any indication of what’s to come, Wood Burnt Red has all the ingredients to establish themselves as one of the UK’s most promising new Southern Rock bands.
Website: https://www.woodburntred.com/
Band LIne Up:
Tom Franklin – Lead Vocals & Guitar
Rob Graney – Lead Guitar
Russ Staples – Bass Guitar
Ed Baldwin – Drums
photo by Lucy Cave