Mick and Moyra's new Christmas single features legendary Scottish musician

Mick and Moyra Foster have released a new Christmas single that features the acclaimed Scottish accordion player Sir Jimmy Shand, who passed away in 2000.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Mick says that the collaboration came about thanks to the “magic” of modern studio technology. He also explained why the single means so much to him.

“We did a video with him back in the 1990s and became great friends. His son gave us a recording of the tune, Welcome Christmas Morning, featuring Jimmy and his band. We brought it to the studio and whatever magic they do we were able to play along with them.

“Back in the 1950s and 60s Jimmy Shand was the most famous accordion player in the world and actually played in the County Hall in Mullingar in the early 60s.

“I listened to him on the old 78 records when I was five or six. In 1983 we [Mick and Tony Allen] met him. They say never meet your heroes in case you are disappointed but that definitely wasn't the case. A nice person you couldn't have met and we went to see him every year when we were in Scotland up until he passed away.”

Mick and Moyra's version of Welcome Christmas Morning won't be released to the public, Mick says, but was recorded with radio in mind.

On December 27, Foster and Allen kick off their latest Irish tour in the Greville Arms. Mick and Tony are coming up to their 49th year as a duo and are as popular as ever with six million streams on Spotify over the last 12 months.