ARTIST: SAM V. PHOTO: SAMUEL BERNARD
July 21st, 2025
Celebrated New Zealand songwriter Don McGlashan will release his first-ever solo live album, Take It to the Bridge, this August – a powerful document of a 23-date nationwide tour with special guest Anita Clark (Motte), which captures one of Aotearoa’s most treasured musical voices in peak form. Recorded across a series of beloved venues, Take It to the Bridge arrives on 22 August 2025 on limited edition 8-track black 12’ LP and 13-track CD, as well as digitally. More than just a souvenir of the tour, Take It to the Bridge offers up McGlashan’s songs in their rawest and most intimate form – proof of the enduring connection between this performer and his audience.
The album highlights McGlashan’s peerless storytelling and songwriting, drawn from a rich catalogue that includes his iconic solo work, songs from The Mutton Birds, The FrontLawn, and beyond. As RNZ’s Jesse Mulligan describes, “His live performances are moving, ghostly, transcendent” – and this recording is a powerful distillation of the live experience.
Joining him on stage and recording is Anita Clark (Motte), whose violin, vocals and presence elevate each performance with quiet intensity.
This is McGlashan’s first release since 2022’s Bright November Morning, which debuted at #1 on the Official NZ Album Charts. Work is already underway on his next studio album, scheduled for release in 2026.
In the lead-up to Take It to the Bridge’s release, McGlashan returns to the stage in August for three special shows. The first, a sold-out solo show in Nelson, followed by a headline appearance with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra – a rare opportunity to hear songs from across his catalogue reimagined in a sweeping symphonic setting.
Upcoming shows:
Thursday 14 August – Nelson, Nelson NCMA (SOLD OUT)
Saturday 16th August – Christchurch, Douglas Lilburn Auditorium – with the CSO (Tickets Here)
Check out all things Don McGlashan below:
Photo Credit: Jesse de Thier-Hunt