Mick Foster and Tony Allen have been performing together for 40 years, and are marking the milestone with another tour across Australia.

“This is our 19th trip (to Australia) and we always look forward to it,” Allen says.

“Every town in Australia has a very good theatre or very good RSL club.

“There’s always very good facilities for people to be entertained in which is absolutely wonderful.”

The pair have played together since the late 60s but formed, officially, in 1975.

The now famous Irish singing duo began working on the local music circuits of Ireland and England and it did not  take long for their their own brand of music to catch on.

Foster and Allen’s first single, The Rambles of Spring was a massive hit on both sides of the Irish Sea.

In the early 1980s, when their song Maggie reached number one in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Foster and Allen began touring internationally.

They first toured Australia in 1983 and on June will make their second appearance at The Cube Wodonga.

“We were chatting with our tour promoter, who has worked with us every time we have been here,” Allen says.

“His son is now running the business and we met him (in the 1980s) when he was a few years old. 

“It’s hard to believe my own kids are grown up and now I have two grandkids.

“You don't notice (a 40-year career) happening especially when you're in a business where enjoy what you do.”

The duo have sold 18 million records and released almost 30 albums, including the internationally popular The Rambles of Spring, A Bunch of Thyme and After All These Years. 

So what’s the secret of having a 40-year music career?

“I think it’s the fact we always got on well together. We’ve never even had an argument,” he says.

“We also only work six months of year and are very lucky to know a lot of writers in Ireland.

“There are a lot of great young songwriters creating songs for us.”

This tour comes on the back of Celebration, which celebrates Foster & Allen’s 40 years as a performing, touring and recording duo. 

“The album has done very well and one song, We Owe It All To You, was written for our 40 years by a friend of ours and is about the people who support us, see us, buy our records and listen to the music,” Allen says.