Those who tailgate at tonight’s “Thursday at The Studio” will dine to a different beat – the folk rock beat of “Fire Mountain.”

Wiley White, development director of the sponsoring Johnson Center for the Arts, said Fire Mountain is a group of outstanding, talented young musicians who are making quite a name for themselves.

Walter Black, Perry Brown, Ryan Richburg and Adam Vinson are Fire Mountain and White said they are a fantastic foursome.

“Even if those who aren’t familiar with folk rock will enjoy Fire Mountain because they sing about things that is relative to all ages,” she said.

Brown, who writes much of the music for the group, said their music is “instrumental and upbeat and has a universal message.

“The songs are about life experiences,” Brown said. “I don’t write about relationships because so many others are doing that. I write about experiences that we all have no matter what our age. I write about feelings and emotions and how they can be different and yet the same.”

One of Fire Mountain’s most popular songs is “Lock and Load” and is about people just up and leaving. Another titled “Liar’s Cup” is about how people change. Both are messages that span ages.

The group has been together since October 2009 and has recently been in the studio recording their debut album.

“We’ve recorded songs but this will be our first album,” said Brown, who along with Richburg, plays guitar. Vinson plays the hand drum and Black, the bass.

Fire Mountain is booking shows and will appear soon in Nashville and Mobile.

The group may be contacted on the web at www.firemoutainband.com

Don’t bother to ask about the name. Brown said it has absolutely no meaning.

“I’ve seen bands get so caught up with finding a name that they forget about the music,” he said. “With us, it’s all about the music – folk rock music.”

Doors to “Thursday at The Studio” open at 5:30 p.m. and the music starts at 6 p.m. The music will also include Eddie Davis, an easy listening singer.

Everyone is invited to bring his or her food and drinks and “tailgate” indoors at The Studio. “Thursday” is a fundraising event for the Johnson Center, which provides the entertainment.

Admission at the door is $25 for couples and $12 for singles.