Award-winning folk duo Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have been announced as the first star names booked for next year's Wessex Folk Festival in Weymouth.

Mixing traditional songs with their own material, the husband and wife duo from Dartmoor have established their reputation over two decades and won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for the best duo in 2016 and 2013. They will play on the main stage at the festival, which takes place around Weymouth Harbour from May 31 to June 2.

Kathryn Roberts is originally from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, where her musical parents introduced her to a wealth of music, including regular visits to folk festivals. She has been praised as one of the finest singers of her generation and her flute playing adds a distinctive touch to the duo’s sound.

Sean Lakeman is the eldest of the three Lakeman brothers and was brought up on Dartmoor, where he began playing the guitar at the age of six. He and his brothers Seth and Sam teamed up with Kate Rusby and Sean’s wife-to-be, Kathryn Roberts, to form the folk pop band Equation, who earned comparisons with folk rock greats such as Fairport Convention during their decade performing together.

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman recently released their fifth album, Personae. Its mix if self-penned songs and traditional ballads has drawn widespread acclaim.

Chairman of the festival’s organising committee Mike Donovan said: “We’re really pleased that Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have agreed to play at next year’s Wessex Folk Festival.

"The fact that top national folk performers want to come to Weymouth confirms the event’s reputation as one of the best free folk festivals in the country.”

The folk festival is a free event with more than 30 stage performances and many musicians and dancers around the town.

For more information see wessexfolkfestival.com