By MICHELLE HERBISON
Irish musicians Mick Foster and Tony Allan have made it nearly 40 years as a duo without having an argument.
“We’ve never had an ego problem or a clash over who would do what,” Foster explained.
“We’re like two solo artists that happen to be on stage at the same time.”
Despite slowing their touring schedule in recent years to “only four months a year”, Foster and Allan’s 18th tour of Australia consists of 34 shows including Geelong.
Foster said the easy-listening folk duo had reunited with familiar faces every time they returned since their first Australian appearance in 1984.
“We play to an awful lot of Australians who have Irish roots somewhere along the line. When the likes of us come out, we’re bringing a little bit of Ireland with us – the Irish accent, a lot of music – it’s a link from home for these people,” Foster explained.
“Then there are the young Irish people who probably would run a mile from us at home. They might have grown up listening to our music whether they wanted to hear it or not,” he laughed.
Foster and Allan’s recently released album, The Happiness of Having You, adds to the duo’s compilation of more than 800 recorded songs.
They often faced a struggle in choosing what to play during their two-hour concerts with so much choice available, Foster laughed.
“We’ll do a cross-section of our stuff from our new CD, then our band-members do a song each. We do a bit of Irish dance music, Scottish dance music and a little bit of poetry and stuff as well.”
Foster said the duo’s shows comprised some originals but mainly covers of Irish songs, keeping up a spirit of tradition and history.
“We want to hold onto it as best we can and give a history lesson as best we can. They’re generally to do with Ireland or many years ago and all this carry on.”
Foster said his other claim to fame for younger fans was hailing from the same town as One Direction’s Niall Horan.
“He was very friendly with my granddaughter. Last year they came back and all took photos together,” Foster revealed.
Foster and Allan plays Geelong Performing Arts Centre on 16 June.
