Still good folk after 40 years

Ireland’s most famous and successful duo, Foster and Allen, return to Australia and to Geelong next month as part of their 18th Australian tour.
Mick Foster and Tony Allen will release a new album, Celebration, marking their 40 years in the business.
The charismatic singers have been performing their unique blend of easy listening and folk music all over the world and their popularity is proven by their record sales.
Between them they have sold 20 million records, making them one of Ireland’s biggest entertainment exports, in the same league as U2, Enya, Boyzone and The Corrs.
Their 27 albums have included the immensely popular The Rambles of Spring, A Bunch of Thyme, Maggie and After All These Years.
Their chart success stretches back to 1982 with their first appearance on Top of the Pops.
This new album features two duets with The Chieftains and Sir Jimmy Shand and his Band.
Formed in 1975, this most famous singing duo in Irish music history began working on the local music circuits of Ireland and England.
In their first year, Foster and Allen recorded their first single, The Rambles of Spring, a massive hit on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Tony Allen was born in Mount Temple, Ireland, the youngest of nine children. His family loved music and encouraged Tony’s interest in it from a very early age.
He turned professional in 1968, playing guitar and singing on a national level with many well-known Irish bands. He met Mick Foster in 1975 and they joined to form Foster and Allen.
Mick was born in County Kildare and began playing the piano accordion at age 13. Just four years later he won the first of three All Ireland Accordion Championships.
The Foster and Allen band on this tour includes Moyra Fraser (keyboards), Ollie Kennedy (bass guitar) and Bryan O’Donnell (guitar).
Foster and Allen perform at The Playhouse, Geelong Performing Arts Centre, on Wednesday 8 June.