KNOWN for their timeless, unsentimental and quietly subversive tales of loss, fear, booze, brawls, abuse and sorrow, multi-award winning Rachel and Becky Unthank are honest storytellers, forging links between folk worlds old, new and other.

Their is a socially conscious heart to much of The Unthanks' work. They see folk music less as a style of music and more as a oral history that offers perspective on our own time

There are no easy one-liners to capture who or what duo are about, or much point in guessing what they'll do next.

This goes part way to explaining the depth and breadth of their many notable fans - Martin Freeman, Elvis Costello, Robert Wyatt, Ben Folds, Ryan Adams, Rosanne Cash, Dawn French, Paul Morley, Al Murray, Ewan McGregor and Nick Hornby, to name a few.

Colin Firth was recently added to that list when he personally invited The Unthanks to perform at a theatre show alongside himself, Keira Knightley, Sir Ben Kingsley, Sir Ian McKlellan, Kelly MacDonald and Laura Marling. The televised event called The People Speak was a celebration of those in history who have spoken up and made a difference, as a reminder in our times of apathy that we all have a voice.

Nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and the only British folk representation in The Guardian's and Uncut's best albums of last decade, The Unthanks is a family affair for Tyneside sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank, with Rachel married to pianist, producer, arranger and composer, Adrian McNally.

See them at the Eastgate Theatre in Peebles on Friday, June 6.

Tickets are priced £16, £14 concessions and £6 for schoolchildren.