Red Rum Club

Red Rum Club
Red Rum Club in 2025: Tom Williams, Neil Lawson, Michael McDermott, Fran Doran, Joe Corby, and Simon Hepworth (left to right)
Background information
OriginBootle, Merseyside, UK
Genres
Years active2016–present
LabelModern Sky[1]
MembersJoe "the Blow" Corby
Fran Doran
Simon Hepworth
Neil Lawson
Michael McDermott
Tom Williams
Websitewww.redrumclub.com

Red Rum Club is a British alternative rock band from Merseyside composed of Fran Doran (vocals), Tom Williams (guitar and backing vocals), Michael McDermott (guitar and backing vocals), Simon Hepworth (bass guitar), Joe "the Blow" Corby (trumpet) and Neil Lawson (drums).[2] Their debut album, Matador, reached Top 50 in the UK Album Sales Charts with tracks appearing across BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and 6 Music.[1] They have had two Top 10 albums in the UK, 2024's Western Approaches & 2025's Buck, charting at number 8 and number 7 respectively on the UK Albums Chart.[3][4]

History

All six members originally played in separate bands before forming in 2016, with many of them never having met before sharing a rehearsal space. They quickly bonded musically, aided by their extracurricular activities, including weekly boxing sessions together.[2]

Red Rum Club released their debut album Matador on 11 January 2019 on Modern Sky, which featured the song "Would You Rather Be Lonely". That summer they played slots at various festivals in the UK including Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival and Kendal Calling,[5] as well as concerts in Romania,[6] South Korea[7] and Sweden.[8]

On 2 October 2020, the band released their second studio album The Hollow of Humdrum, which was preceded by the single "Kids Addicted", "Eleanor", "Ballerino" and "The Elevation".[9]. This was their first release to chart on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 58.

On 22 October 2021, the band released their third studio album How To Steal The World, which was the band's first Top 40 album, peaking at number 34 on the UK Album Charts.[10][11]

On 23 February 2024, the band released their fourth studio album Western Approaches, which was their first Top 10 album in the UK, charting at number 8.[3]. This was followed by their biggest ever headline show at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.[12] The band also played a headline slot at Sound City.[13]

In 2025, the band supported The Wombats on their tours in the UK, Europe, and the United States, alongside playing festivals such as Glastonbury Festival and Reading and Leeds Festival.

On 5 September 2025, the band released their fifth studio album Buck, which became their highest charting single to date, peaking at number 8 in the UK Album Chart.[4]

On 27 October 2025, Red Rum Club announced their biggest ever outdoor headline show at the Pier Head in Liverpool, set to take place on 19 June 2026.[14]

Red Rum Club have had tours around the United Kingdom and the United States.[15]

Musical Style

Red Rum Club's sound has been described as bass-driven "Mariachi Merseybeat" due to the presence of a trumpet on their songs.[16] They have been compared to fellow scouse bands such as The Zutons.[2]

Red Rum Club have stated that Bootle – and its seafaring, industrial heritage – plays a big role in their sound. Their frequent tours of the United States also influence their musical style.[12]

Band Members

  • Joe "the Blow" Corby - trumpet (2016-Present)
  • Fran Doran - lead vocals, occasional guitar (2016-Present)
  • Simon Hepworth - bass (2016-Present)
  • Neil Lawson - drums (2016-Present)
  • Michael McDermott - guitar, backing vocals (2016-Present)
  • Tom Williams - guitar, backing vocals (2016-Present)

Discography

Studio albums

  • Matador (2019)[2]
  • The Hollow of Humdrum (2020)[2]
  • How to Steal the World (2021)[2] – peaked at no. 34 on the UK Albums Chart[17]
  • Western Approaches (2024)[2] – peaked at no. 8 on the UK Albums Chart[3]
  • Buck (2025) – peaked at no. 7 on the UK Albums Chart[4]

Singles

  • "Alone Together" (2016)
  • "Vanilla" (2022)
  • "The River" (2022)

References

  1. ^ a b "Red Rum Club". Modern Sky UK. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Red Rum Club". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "WESTERN APPROACHES – RED RUM CLUB". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Buck – Red Rum Club". Official Charts. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
  5. ^ @RedRumClub (7 July 2019). "Hayfever is rife. Festival season is nigh" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "ROMANIAN ROCK STARS". redrumclub.com. 16 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  7. ^ "SOUTH KOREA, A TALE BY SIMON HEPWORTH". redrumclub.com. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  8. ^ "18 HOURS IN SWEDEN". redrumclub.com. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  9. ^ Katrina, Elena (21 September 2020). "Red Rum Club, The Hollow Of Humdrum". Popped Music. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  10. ^ Hargreaves, Josh. "We review the new album by Red Rum Club - How To Steal The World". RGM. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Red Rum Club come 'Nightcalling' with new album 'How To Steal The World'". Original Rock. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  12. ^ a b "Red Rum Club tap into the sound of Bootle as they prepare for 'unbelievable' M&S Bank Arena show". Liverpool ECHO. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  13. ^ @RedRumClub (16 April 2024). "Liverpool we do it all again, Sound City 4th of May, tickets on sale now" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 March 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  14. ^ Ross, Hannah (27 October 2025). "Second headline act confirmed for On The Waterfront". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Red Rum Club on Their Addictive, Collaborative Sound". www.theaquarian.com. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  16. ^ "OTWF presents Red Rum Club". On The Waterfront Festival. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  17. ^ "How to Steal the World – Red Rum Club". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
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