Billingham's Megson play Barnard Castle

THREE times nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and double winners of the Spiral Earth Awards Megson, who are husband and wife Stu and Debbie Hanna, from Billingham, draw heavily on their Teesside heritage to create a truly unique brand of folk music, and are touring to Barnard Castle next month.

The duo bring an infectious mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonies and driving rhythmic guitars. Comprising Debs Hanna (vocals, whistle, piano accordion) and Stu Hanna (guitar, mandola, banjo) Megson have gained fame on the British folk scene, not only for their arresting and intelligent songwriting, but for their exquisite musicianship and northern humour. As fRoots Magazine puts it "if you don’t like the music here then you have a problem".

Last year saw the release of In A Box, their much-anticipated new studio album. Featuring guest performances by Seth Lakeman , Jess Morgan and The Willows it was not only named one of the best folk albums by The Telegraph, but also The Sunday Express – Album Of The Week.

Colin Irwin wrote in Mojo: “In A Box brackets Stu and Debbie Hanna among the upper echelon of Brit folk songwriters.”

And during all this time, Stu even managed to be involved with other artists producing award-winning album for Show Of Hands, Lucy Ward, Faustus, The Willows and The Young'uns.

* Saturday, November 14. The Witham, Barnard Castle, 3 Horsemarket, DL12 8LY. Box Office: 01833-631107 or thewitham.org.uk

Viv Hardwick