Does Don McGlashan's new solo album Lucky Stars offer a glimpse into the Kiwi musician's mind and soul? That's up to the listener to decide, he says.

But by Don's own admission, this 10-track album features more songs written straight from the heart and less from someone else's or an invented perspective than his previous works.

In support of his new album Lucky Stars Don McGlashan (acoustic guitar) will be performing at the Tauranga Art Gallery this Saturday. He'll be joined on stage by Tom Rodwell (electric guitar) and Chris O'Connor (drums). Photos: Don McGlashan/Facebook

This week fans of the 55-year-old musician, songwriter and composer can catch Don when he performs at the Tauranga Art Gallery on June 13.

Saturday's gig is part of a 12-date tour in support of Lucky Stars' release and Don says he's looking forward to performing at the venue.

'It's a fantastic space and, in fact, my friend Richard Arlidge used to be the director,” says Don.

'I haven't performed in Tauranga for a little while, possibly since the last Winery Tour I was on.

'There's a good intensity to a winter tour. It reminds me of the old days when Blam Blam Blam and other bands from Auckland would tour the country.

'It's always quite bracing. You're scrapping ice off the van as you're loading gear into the back. It makes you feel like you're doing honest work.”

With a career which spans from 1979, Lucky Stars is Don's third solo album and features 10 deeply personal songs that explore love, regret and mortality.

Released in April of this year, many of Lucky Stars' raw tracks were written at a bach on the Thames Estuary before Don headed into Neil Finn's Roundhead Studio in Auckland to record.

It was co-produced with former Mutton Birds bandmate David Long and features guitarist Tom Rodwell (Storehouse), drummer Chris O'Connor (Phoenix Foundation), plus cameos from John Bell on vibes and Iselta Allison on viola.

He describes the album as more of a cross-section of where he's been over the last few years – a reflection of 'what I've been doing and what I've been thinking”.

'I didn't start off with a set of themes I wanted to work on,” he explains, 'they just sort of grew organically. There's more songs which are straight from my heart.

'There's been times in the past where I've written stories from someone else's perspective or invented characters to sing a song. I developed a habit of writing in this kind of arms-length way.

'There's less of that on this album and given that, I think it's appropriate that the way we put it in front of people should be different as well.”

Don says for this tour he'll be joined by Tom and Chris to create an 'oddly shaped three-piece band” – odd due to the fact they're hitting the road without a bass player.

'A three-piece is great,” adds Don. 'It's like watching a bunch of tradesmen and there's nobody hanging around holding a ladder. Everyone is working hard with a hammer in each hand.

'Tom and Chris are such wonderful players, and there's a huge amount of space in a three-piece so I'm stepping back and concentrating on singing and letting the arrangements develop in their own way.

'It's a different approach for me. I think I've tended to micromanage in the past with other bands, so there's a bit more unpredictability in the mix which I'm really enjoying.”

Don McGlashan performs at the Tauranga Art Gallery on Saturday, June 13. Tickets cost $37.50 and can be purchased via the Eventfinda website at: www.eventfinder.co.nz

Check out the official video for Don's song ‘Lucky Stars' below: