Don McGlashan Announces Seventeen Date Tour Of New Zealand
New Zealand songwriting icon Don McGlashan (The Mutton Birds, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn) is gearing up for an extensive tour of Aotearoa in September and October, with seventeen dates lined up from coast to coast. McGlashan's career has left an indelible mark on our pop musical landscape, he'll be heading out for an intimate run of shows to showcase recent tunes and favourites from an award-winning back catalogue spanning more than thirty years of continual highlights. He'll be joined on stage by ace drummer Chris O'Connor (Phoenix Foundation, Orchestra Of Spheres) and supported for selected dates by inimitable songwriter Anthonie Tonnon.
UPDATE 20/06/18: Three new shows have been announced for the tour.
UPDATE 27/08/18: A further two shows have been added to the tour, including a free show in Kaikoura, and a number of them are now sold out, here's the updated info...
Don McGlashan - Free Flight Tour
Thursday 13th September - The Old Stone Butter Factory, Whangarei
Friday 14th September - Leigh Sawmill Cafe, Leigh (sold out)
Saturday 15th September – Sir Don Rowlands Centre, Cambridge (featuring Chris O’Connor)
Thursday 20th September - Totara Street, Mt Maunganui (sold out)
Friday 21st September - Dome Cinema, Gisborne (sold out)
Saturday 22nd September - Paisley Stage, Napier (sold out)
Sunday 23rd September - Paisley Stage, Napier - ADDED (sold out)
Thursday 27th September - Grainstore Gallery, Oamaru (sold out)
Friday 28th September - Arts Festival, Dunedin - ADDED
Saturday 29th September - Southland Musicians Club, Invercargill
Friday 5th October - Hollywood Avondale, Auckland (featuring Chris O’Connor and support from Anthonie Tonnon) (sold out)
Wednesday 10th October - Old St. Pauls, Wellington (featuring Anthonie Tonnon) - ADDED
Thursday 11th October - St Peters Village Hall, Paekakariki (sold out)
Friday 12th October - Globe Theatre, Palmerston North
Saturday 13th October - Old St Pauls, Wellington (featuring Chris O’Connor and support from Anthonie Tonnon) (sold out)
Sunday 14th October - The Mussel Inn, Golden Bay (sold out)
Tuesday 16th October - Blenheim, The Plant - JUST ADDED
Wednesday 17th October - Kaikoura, Memorial Hall - JUST ADDED (free show)
Thursday 18th October - Rangiora Town Hall, Rangiora (featuring Chris O’Connor and support from Anthonie Tonnon)
Friday 19th October - Gaiety Hall, Akaroa (featuring Chris O’Connor and support from Anthonie Tonnon) (sold out)
Saturday 20th October - Barrytown Hall, Barrytown
Sunday 21st October – Sherwood, Queenstown
Watch the clip for McGlashan's moving tune 'I Will Not Let You Down' from his 2006's solo album Warm Hand...
Here's The Mutton Birds' unforgettable classic 'Dominion Road'...
Watch an incredible vintage video for Blam Blam Blam's iconic song 'No Depression In New Zealand'...
Press release:
One of Aotearoa’s most beloved songwriters, Don McGlashan, has today announced an extensive 17-date nationwide New Zealand tour, where he will perform a series of intimate shows in some of the country’s most idyllic venues.
Performing recent songs, along with plenty of gems from his sprawling back catalogue, Don will play a string of solo shows, joined on a handful of dates by legendary drummer / percussionist Chris O’Connor (Phoenix Foundation) to give you an up-close and unique concert experience. For an added treat, Antonie Tonnon will open the curtains for the Auckland, Wellington, Rangiora and Akaroa shows.
Don McGlashan’s songs of love, landscape and mystery have taken snapshots of life in New Zealand for over three decades. By consistently challenging himself, he’s achieved that rare combination: wide appeal, and the respect of fellow artists. His effect on the Great New Zealand songbook is immeasurable.
Don’s musical career in the public limelight began as drummer and singer in 80’s group Blam Blam Blam (with Tim Mahon & Mark Bell). The group went on to have a string of Top 20 singles, and produced a well loved record Luxury Length for the history books. “Don’t Fight it, Marsha, It’s Bigger Than Both Of Us” won Song of the Year in the 1982 NZ Recording Industry Awards.
Following that, Don lived in New York and toured the world as a drummer with avant-garde dance company Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians. After returning to New Zealand, he soon founded The Front Lawn with Harry Sinclair; an acoustic group that combined theatre and songs, which they took all over Australasia, Europe and America between 1985-1990. The pair picked up a number of awards and accolades, including the UK Independent Newspaper Award for a show at the Edinburgh Festival, and were dubbed “a superb duo” by New York Times music critic Jon Pareles. Their 1987 record Songs From The Front Lawn won three New Zealand Music Awards.
With Ross Burge, Alan Gregg and David Long, Don went on to form The Mutton Birds in 1991, creating a string of anthems including “Anchor Me” (APRA Silver Scroll winner 1994), “Dominion Road” (1992) and their iconic cover of The Formyula’s “Nature” (1992).
Their work received love from both home and abroad from fans and critics alike, securing the songs of McGlashan and The Mutton Birds as an integral fixture in the wider New Zealand music fabric. The Mutton Birds’ album Envy of Angels made the UK Sunday Times’ 10 best albums list, while David Sheppard (Q Magazine) called their fourth album Rain, Steam & Speed “...a minor masterpiece.” The group toured with The Tragically Hip’s Another Roadside Attraction tour of Canada and the US during 1997 alongside Sheryl Crow, Los Lobos and Ron Sexsmith.
Since The Mutton Birds period, Don has made three acclaimed solo albums - Warm Hand (2006), Marvellous Year (2009), and Lucky Stars (2015). His 2006 gospel anthem “Bathe In The River” sung by Hollie Smith has become one of the biggest NZ singles of all time.
Don has toured Australia, the US and Europe with Crowded House, both as an opening act and as a band member. He was also involved in Neil Finn’s Seven Worlds Collide project, collaborating with The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, and members of Wilco and Radiohead, and he recently performed on Finn’s latest album Out Of Silence. In 2012 he led the reformed Mutton Birds on a very special New Zealand tour, as well as one show at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London.
His most successful record since his time with The Mutton Birds, Lucky Stars (released 2015) charted in the top 5 of the NZ Album Chart and saw an overwhelming number of rave reviews in both New Zealand and Australia.
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