Described as legends in their own lifetimes, husband and wife team Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson have been at the forefront of the English folk scene for 30 years.

From partnerships with innovators like Steeleye Span and Dave Swarbick to their own daughter Eliza Carthy, the pair are commonly thought of as trailblazers - with Martin alone laying claim to recording more than 40 albums, 10 as a solo artist.

They have their fair share of awards to fill the mantelpiece at home with as well.

No doubt their MBE's sit proudly side by side, Martin got his in 1998 and Norma hers in 2003, while Martin was twice named two Folk Singer of the Year in 2002 and 2005. Not to be outdone of course Norma almost scooped the Mercury Music Prize in 1996 for her first solo album but was just pipped to the post by Pulp.

After being with various bands they first began touring together in the early 90s with Eliza, a singer and fiddle player, in tow as well, and released their first Waterson:Carthy CD in 1994.

Eliza won't at the Clocktower but Martin and Norma's long-time friend Chris Parkinson - who can play piano, guitar, fiddle, tin whistle, melodeon accordion and even concertina - will be as they trio perform traditional songs and music in a way only they know.

If that wasn't enough, Martin is also about to release yet another album, this time with his ground-breaking band Brass Monkey.

Incorporating trumpets, trombones, squeezeboxes, mouth organs, percussion and guitars the band had a short but glittering career in the mid-1980s when they were described by Q Magazine as "the finest folk group" of the decade, before breaking up in 1987.

They reformed 12 years ago and the new album, Head of Steam is a take on sea shanties, old English tunes, jigs and laments, all skilfully delivered with brass-infused folk and dedicated to the memory of long-time band member, Howard Evans, who died in 2006.

"I think that the whole band felt that, when we stopped playing in 1987, we still had plenty of life left in us," said Martin Carthy.

"When we played the Sidmouth Festival years later, it felt as though we'd never been away."

Martin Carthy & Norma Waterson with Chris Parkinson, Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, March 6, 8pm, £12. Call 020 8253 1030 or visit croydonclocktower.org.uk.