Reg Meuross’s third song cycle – commissioned by Pete Townshend and created by Reg, ‘Fire & Dust: The Woody Guthrie Story’ is a journey into the heart and soul of one of America’s finest folk musicians.
Album release: Friday 14th March 2025 – PRE-ORDER HERE
Album launch gig full band – Reg Meuross & The Strike: Bush Hall London Wednesday 12th March 2025 (full band) TICKETS HERE
The breadth and depth of Reg Meuross’s material is unparalleled in contemporary folk: songs about forgotten heroes, famous names, folk legends, the climate emergency, tales from the kitchen sink and news from the world stage. If something needs to be sung about then Reg Meuross has a song for it and with Fire & Dust another important chapter of impeccably researched story-telling has begun.
“Reg’s terrific songs tell Woody’s life story with respect and affection, but also truth.“ Pete Townshend
Seeded by Townshend in 2019, this new work shows how the impact of Guthrie remains and how Meuross was the right man to tell this story through music and song. When Townshend called Reg to suggest the idea he saw how the project would “draw a direct line from Woody, through Bob Dylan, to Reg Meuross” and pledged his full support to realise this vision both as a studio album (which he co-produced and played on) and a series of live tours across the UK and beyond.
“In addition to his inspirational musicianship, Reg Meuross has an ear tuned to history, justice, and the everyday human struggle to find a place in this world. It is only natural that he should write and sing with the angel of Woody Guthrie on his shoulder.” Will Kaufman Professor of American Cultural History at the University of Central Lancashire.
Highlighting racism, bigotry, corruption and inequality this incredible new song-cycle is focused on the life and times of the ‘Dust Bowl’ American folk musician and political activist Woody Guthrie – whose work remains so influential today. Drawing important parallels between Guthrie’s time and our own, each song shows Meuross at his absolute best – sharing stories from social history that are still highly relevant today.
TOUR DATES
TICKETS: HERE
Reg is touring Fire & Dust throughout 2025, with an ever increasing list of solo dates alongside some specially selected venues and festivals for band gigs, with a changing line up of the World class musicians he recorded the album with.
The band is ‘Reg Meuross and The Strike’. ‘The Strike’ will be a combination of: Marion Fleetwood, Geraint Watkins and Phil Beer – and for the album launch gig on 12th March Simon Edwards and Roy Dodds. The Strike’s name draws from the energy of collective action bringing Fire & Dust to life and channeling the spirit of Woody Guthrie’s defiant activism, creative brilliance, and unyielding hope for justice.
Band shows have the story of Woody Guthrie running between each song, written by Reg and narrated variously by our consultant expert on Guthrie – Emeritus Professor Will Kaufman – and other special guests.
Preview gigs:
January 8 SOLO Llantrisant Folk Club
January 9 SOLO Green Note
January 16 SOLO Winchester Theatre Royal
January 17 SOLO Burton Folk Club
February 22 SOLO Clent Village Hall
ALBUM TOUR
March 12 FULL BAND album launch – Bush Hall London
March 20 TRIO The Ropewalk Barton Upon Humber
March 21 TRIO Nailsea Folk Club March 22 TRIO The Beehive Honiton
March 23 QUARTET The Stables Milton Keynes
April 4 SOLO Phoenix Folk Club, PontoonApril 6 SOLO Globe Hay On WyeApril 7 SOLO Kitchen Garden Birmingham April 8 SOLO The Cutty Wren, Redcar April 10 SOL The Old Bell Hotel, Derby April 11 SOLO Cafe #9, SheffieldApril 12 SOLO Glenfarg Folk Feast Day, Bridge of Earn
April 29/30 SOLO Costa Del Folk, Ibiza
May 11 SOLO Filey Folk Festival
June 4th TRIO Stoller Hall, Manchester June 5th TRIO Temperance Bar, Leamington Spa June 6 TRIO Bridport Arts Centre Dorset June 7th QUARTET St Edith Folk, Kent June 19 TRIO The Sub Rooms, Stroud
July 2 SOLO Silo Sessions, FoweyJuly 5 SOLO New Forest Folk Festival
August 3 QUARTET Wickham Festival
August 4 QUARTET Sidmouth Folk Week August 10 TRIO Broadstairs Folk Week
September 3 SOLO Grateful Fred’s at The Atkinson, Southport
September 11 TRIO Huntingdon Hall, Worcester September 12 QUARTET The David Hall, South Petherton September 13 TRIO Ropetackle Arts, Shoreham By Sea
September 20 SOLO Banter FestivalSeptember 23 SOLO Priston Festival
