A GROUNDBREAKING husband and wife duo are set to light up the Electric Palace with their genre-busting brand of music.

The Red Dirt Skinners, consisting of Rob and Sarah Skinner, have flourished since getting together to write and perform in 2011.

In 2017 they are set to make waves in the UK and Canada.

The Skinners are the first act in history to achieve accolades at the British Blues Awards and the British Country Music Awards, as well as having the distinction of being finalists in the folk category for the UK Songwriting Awards.

At the end of 2016 they were nominated as the best act at the International Acoustic Music Awards and their current album, Behind The Wheel, was voted Folk/Roots Album of the Year in several polls.

Having no tie to any particular genre means that the Red Dirt Skinners sound is instantly recognisable.

With male and female harmonies blending together as one voice and Sarah’s trademark soprano saxophone solos, you will be swept along by a refreshingly different approach to an evening of music-making with this husband and wife duo.

“We will be performing in the UK and 20 shows in Canada in the middle of April,” said Sarah.

“We have been performing as the Red Dirt Skinners together since about 2011, but I have performed in various other groups over the years.

“We work together very well.

"We both have different jobs in the band. I tend to handle the PR side of it while Rob handles the production side.

“There will certainly be music from our latest album, released last year, and previous albums.

“We may also sample some of our new material.”

“We had heard there was a David Bowie tribute show last year and we will be playing one of his too.”

She added: “Our music is a bit of everything really.

“When I write I never think ‘what genre is this’? I just write music and leave it to everyone else to label it.

“I have seen loads of different genres chucked in the mix.

“We are looking forward to coming to Harwich and putting on a fun show.”

The Red Dirt Skinners will perform at the cinema, in Kings Quay Street, Harwich, on Thursday, February 23, at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10 and are available at electricpalace.com or by calling the box office on 01255 553333.