Two of this country’s finest and most engaging folk/acoustic acts, Reg Meuross and the duo Harbottle & Jonas, present their celebrated collection of traditional folk songs ‘Song of Love & Death’ alongside sets of their own original songs.
Described as “a mighty songwriter” by Martin Carthy, Reg Meuross has been a constant presence in the nation’s folk clubs and venues throughout his 30 year career with 13 solo albums to his name, songs such as ‘England Green & England Grey’ and ‘And Jesus Wept’ have entered the modern folk canon, but, until lockdown, he had never delved into the traditional songs that have so influenced his writing; “although these songs inhabited me, I realised I’d never inhabited them and I took the chance to explore, eventually settling on ten songs, and the idea of recording an album started to form in my mind.
I got a call from Harbottle & Jonas asking if I was interested in a collaboration for their Saving The Good Stuff series and my first thought was one of my favourite folk songs, Lord Franklin, which I’d loved since hearing John Renbourn’s version when I was 15 or so and first learning to play guitar. I loved what we did together so much that we decided to continue work on all ten songs and make an album.”
Harbottle & Jonas, husband and wife duo David and Freya, are “one of the finest folk duos in the country” according to Folking.com, and have made an impressive mark on the UK’s folk and roots scene in a short period of time.
Their most recent album The Beacon was written and recorded at home during the summer of 2020 and heralded as “magnificent” by Folkradio.co.uk. Matching Reg’s talent for conveying the true meaning behind a song in his delivery with David and Freya’s exceptional arrangement and accompaniment skills, Songs of Love & Death tackles some of the most enduring songs from the English tradition.
