Foster & Allen

Formed in Ireland in 1975 around Mick Foster and Tony Allen, Foster & Allen initially built their reputation on the Irish country circuit before establishing themselves as a duo on Irish and British stages, particularly in venues frequented by the Irish community in the United Kingdom. Their repertoire blends traditional Irish music, folk, country and easy-listening pop, with a central focus on ballads, sentimental songs and popular airs delivered through duet vocals and accordion. The duo's first recordings appeared with The Blacksmith in 1976, followed by A Bunch of Thyme in 1980, a release that firmly placed them in the country-and-Irish landscape. From 1982, Foster & Allen expanded their stage format with a backing band while retaining the understated, melodic identity of their early years. Their extensive discography spans decades, including albums such as Maggie (1983), After All These Years (1986), Reflections (1987), By Request (1993), Sincerely (2002) and Putting On the Style (2018). Foster & Allen have also undertaken several occasional collaborations, notably with Gloria Hunniford on True Love (1987) and Shayne Ward on Galway Girl (2013), while maintaining a steady touring schedule across Ireland, the United Kingdom, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.