Tired of music bereft of intelligence, sufficient human spirit, or tunes you can't lose? McGlashan is a consistent wonder, and his rare LPs demand your dollar.

Jack Rabid, New York Magazine

Wednesday 21 July - KEA INSPIRE: An Evening with Don McGlashan

Kea is proud to be hosting a very special evening with Don McGlashan on Wednesday 21 July in advance of his UK Tour. The evening will provide music lovers, musicians and fans of Don’s music with a unique opportunity to hear a master craftsman talk about his passion and and what inspires him to create his aural works of art.

Don’s first professional foray into music started with the Auckland Symphonia in 1979, playing the French Horn and percussion until 1982.

He was a member of the percussion ensemble From Scratch from 1979-86, and drummer and singer with Auckland agit-punk band Blam Blam Blam from 1980-82. After a year in New York as a drummer with avant-garde dance company Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, he returned to New Zealand and together with Harry Sinclair he formed the innovative music/theatre/film act The Front Lawn in 1985 continuing to play and tour world-wide with the band until 1990.

1n 1990 he wrote the score for Jane Campion’s award-winning film “An Angel At My Table”.

Don was singer and main songwriter in The Mutton Birds from 1991 to 2002, releasing 4 NZ top ten albums (two platinum) and two top five singles, including one No. 1 single "The Heater". His song “Anchor Me” won the APRA Silver scroll in 1993. The group signed to Virgin Records UK in 1995, and were based in London from then until 1999. The band’s third album, "Envy Of Angels" (1997), made the U.K. Sunday Times ten best records of the year list.

Since returning to New Zealand in 1999 Don has collaborated on theatre productions, and scored feature films such “Show Of Hands” (2008), “Dean Spanley” (2008), “Matariki” (to be released in 2010) and "No 2", (which won the Audience prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and netted McGlashan his second APRA Silver Scroll – for “Bathe In The River” sung by Hollie Smith). During this time, he released his debut solo album “Warm Hand” (May 2006, Arch Hill Recordings), and the follow up, “Marvellous Year” (March 2008, Arch Hill Recordings) with his new band The Seven Sisters.
Don opened for Crowded House on their 2008 US, European and Australian tours, and was a guest musician with the band. He also collaborated and contributed to the 2009 Neil Finn project “Seven Worlds Collide”.

Meet Don McGlashan and learn more about what makes this New Zealand legend tick. The venue, Westbourne Studios, would not look out of place in Wellington with its internal atrium, surrounded by creative studios and a funky vibe. We are only selling a limited amount of tickets to this event in order to keep the atmosphere intimate.

Tickets include a copy of Don McGlashan's critically acclaimed album Marvellous Year and canapés.