Megson

British folk duo Megson unites the abilities of Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna-Palmer, who first encountered each other during a choir rehearsal in northern England. Raised in Middlesbrough, Debbie sang from childhood and later attended Leeds University, where she completed a degree in music. A postgraduate period at Trinity College brought her regional notice as a classically trained soprano, though she later redirected her energies toward folk music with her future husband. Stu Hanna, originally from Billingham, had performed earlier in a pop-punk band before meeting Debbie, and the pair founded Megson in 2004.

The two spent several years touring England, appearing at numerous folk festivals and drawing favorable notice from The Guardian, The Independent, and BBC Radio. They also established their own imprint, edj., which issued the albums Smoke of Home in 2007 and Take Yourself a Wife in 2008.