Dave Dobbyn & Don McGlashan together on stage   5 Dec 2013

Charlotte Everett

NZNewsUK chats to Don McGlashan ahead of UK showsTwo true Kiwi legends – Dave Dobbyn and Don McGlashan – have come together on stage for the first time, and this weekend sees the start of their UK tour. Don McGlashan took time out of their hectic tour schedule to have a cheeky chat with me ahead of their much-anticipated shows in Edinburgh and London.


Don – you are two of New Zealand’s most successful and best-loved songwriters. To have you sharing the stage together for the first time no doubt has fans all around the world excited. How are you feeling about it, and how has this finally come about?

There was a vague plan for us to do an acoustic show together in Edinburgh a few years ago, and although that didn’t happen at the time, the idea remained hanging in the air like the name of your favourite music teacher at Primary School, who you can’t quite remember, even though she looked like Ingrid Bergman.  Then a few months ago we were asked if we’d consider doing the now-established “Acoustic Church Tour” together in NZ this October. We jumped at it.

Your UK shows follow tours across New Zealand and Australia. How has the response been Down Under?

We got a great response to this show in New Zealand. We haven’t finished the Australian leg of the tour yet, but Melbourne was terrific, so I think it’s going to go well. 

What’s it been like working together for the first time?

Brilliant. Learning each one of Dave’s songs is like meeting an old friend.


Neither of you are strangers to the UK and Europe. How are you feeling about returning to the UK, this time together?

I seem to still have a fairly healthy following in the UK, both from when the Mutton Birds lived there in the 90s, and from my solo tours there in the years since. It’s always good to see old friends in the audience.

How do the London fans/shows differ from those back home?

No matter where you are, every audience is different; every night is unrepeatable. That’s why playing live matters so much.

 

Your Edinburgh show sold out, so you’re now doing another one. Did you expect as much? And how do you find the fans in Edinburgh?

I’m always surprised when audiences show up. You can’t take anything for granted in this business. But houses have been pretty full throughout this whole tour; I guess people realise it’s a rare occurrence, and they are interested to see how Dave and I bounce off each other musically.


Fans here know to expect a combination of classic tracks from both of you, as well as new material. How much of the content is new, and how has it been received so far?

We’re both playing a wide range of material across our whole careers, including one or two new songs.  The new ones have gone down very well.

Likewise, what old classics have driven fans wild on the tours so far?

Well, hearing ‘Loyal’ and ‘Anchor Me’ in the same set seems to wipe away any last vestiges of reserve in the audience. 

Other than the shows, what else will you get up to in London and Edinburgh?

Eel and Pie in London; Haggis in Scotland.  Oh, and single malts. A lot of research needed there.

Photo by Veronica McLaughlin Photography

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more