How the magical music of Foster & Allen inspired me to dance and how they touched my life, both musically and personally.
On the 14th September 1992, world-famous Irish entertainers Foster & Allen performed to a full house in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia. On that same night, a little girl fell in love...
No one, especially the then 10-year-old Kristie, could foresee the amazing journey that she was to embark upon after seeing these two men, whose music she had once despised, perform in her home town for the first time.
Having been greatly inspired by the duo’s legendary sound – especially by the accordion music of Mick Foster – Kristie went on to enjoy a wonderful Irish dancing career, reaching the Top 10 in both her state and her country; her “Irish angels” never too far from her mind whenever she performed on stage.
Even after retiring from Irish dancing in the early 2000’s, the music of Mick Foster and Tony Allen remained the soundtrack of Kristie’s life, and her prime motivation as she stumbled her way through her early working life, coming through to the other side of a couple of life meltdowns – and, thanks to several kindred spirits, she is proud to count this wonderful singing duo as two of her very special friends today.
Kristie hopes her story will inspire you, especially those who have ever had a dream.
Never forget that there are those rare times in life when, if you’re aiming for a star, God just might decide to hand you the moon instead.
Excerpt
FROM CHAPTER 8: AN EVENTFUL YEAR OF HUGS, HIVES, & CHAMPIONSHIPS
I'll never forget that night. We were cheering and yahooing like crazy after each song. An old madam in front of us turned around and gae us a death stare. Mum promptly gave her the finger!
My brother-in-law Paul brought along his camera, in the hopes that I would be able to have a photo taken with them. I was determined to talk to them tonight and not be shy.
We gathered around in the foyer just as we had last time. We waited until most of the crowd had dispersed and Mick and Tony were walking around, talking to people, rather than sitting at the table signing autographs, and Paul took me over to see them.
"Would you like a photograph?" Tony asked, seeing his camera.
"Yes please fellas - this young lady's name is Kristie, and she really loves your music," Paul told them, and the smiled at me, inviting me to come and stand in between them, and they put their arms around my shoulders for the photo. I found myself leaning my head against Mick's shoulder as Paul took the photo.
"Beautiful, just beautiful," Paul said, like one of those English fashion photographers.
And once the photo session was finished, I lost all sense of dignity, and threw my arms around my idol's waist, making the two of them roar laughing.
"I think this girl wants to come home with me!" Mick remarked, giving me a big hug back.
"Oh, she'll be in that," Paul remarked.
"Put him down," Tony told me, "you don't know where he's been."
To use the old adage about time stopping, thats exactly what happened to me then. I was with Mick, and nothing and nobody else, including poor old Tony, mattered at that time!
Still hugging him, I said, "Guess what."
Smiling, he bent down to listen.
"I do Irish dancing."
"Do you? You do the jigs and the reels?" Mick replied, and I nodded.
"She's got one wish, Mick," Paul told him, she wants to go to Ireland and have you play for her."
"Well now." Mick looked down at me with a grin. "If you ever come to Ireland, I'll play for you."
It was a wish that I'd keep with me for a very long time.
As for that old lady who'd given us the dirty look, my por mum saw her the next day at work - she was one of the hospital cleaners!
"Lovely show, wasn't it?" she said mildly.
"Oh. yes!" Mum replied, startled. "Just wonderful!"
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