Tony Allen: Back on home ground
Beloved country music duo Foster and Allen are set to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a musical partnership next year, but local man Tony Allen has no intention of slowing down just yet.
“It's always great to get the chance to sing a few songs,” Tony Allen said, about his much-anticipated upcoming performance at Moate Trad Fest on Sunday, June 16.
This one-day festival will see Allen performing solo, singing both well-known hits as well as some new songs from his 2024 album 'Daydreams and Memories'. This is his debut solo album, after releasing over 52 albums with collaborator Mick Foster since 1975.
Midlands native Allen emphasised: “It's always great to play in places like Moate, Athlone, and Mount Temple.” He believes that Moate Trad Fest will be “a great day out for people.”
“Moate's a good town for music,” he continued. “They'll be very well entertained, and all are welcome!”
One of the songs on his new album is 'The Town of Athlone', which was originally written by Castledaly man Kevin Sheerin. This song, which Allen describes as being about the Shannon and family life, will surely be a crowd-pleaser. There will be a music video for this song coming soon, set in the centre of Athlone town.
Allen said that he was amazed and very happy about the “huge reaction” his debut solo album has received from his fans up and down the country.
“Every radio station in the country is playing it!”, he exclaimed.
The idea for a solo album came about during the pandemic, when “nothing was happening”. Allen worked on it for a few months before taking a break, and resumed work in the middle of last year, after the making of Foster and Allen's 2022 RTÉ documentary 'Lost In Music'.
The prospect of making a debut solo album after 50 years of recording with Foster was exciting: “Not only is it late in my career [to do something new], it is also late in my life! I'm 72 now.”
But don't be worried, Foster and Allen fans, because the much-loved duo still have a lot more to come. Next year will prove to be as busy for Foster and Allen as ever.
“I love being Foster and Allen,” he said. “In fact, we are currently working on a new album for our 50th anniversary tour next year.”
They are in the midst of planning this UK and Ireland tour at the moment, but locations such as Athlone, Mullingar, and Tullamore are all but guaranteed to be played. This latest tour comes on the back of their successful tour last year.
“During the pandemic, we thought we'd never get back on the road,” Allen admits. “But it's brilliant now!”
When asked about his favourite venues to play, Allen mentioned locations such as the Grand Opera House in Belfast and the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow, but ultimately came back to the Shamrock Lodge in Athlone.
“We [Foster and Allen] perform in the Shamrock Lodge every January... The crowd at the Lodge always means a great show. The crowd are with you from the word go.”
It is clear that although Allen has had the opportunity to play to thousands of crowds throughout the years, he has never forgotten his Westmeath roots.
“When we started we were doing all the pubs across Ireland. Every pub in the 70s had a great lounge and the crowds were amazing.”
“The crowds will be amazing in Moate at the Fest, and there's a busking competition too! It'll be a great day out.”
The under-18s busking competition, which starts at 1pm, is free to enter, with registration at www.moate-town.ie.
Tony Allen will be the special guest performing on the Main Stage in Moate, with the first act getting underway at 2.30pm, and featuring a large group of young musicians from Moate CCE, Camillus Hiney and Friends, and Folk Lure Trad Group.