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Getting Sober For The End Of The World
(Lamington Records. Released 2020)

Darren's latest album saw him nominated Best Folk Artist at the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards. The album was completely self-recorded, mixed, and produced by Darren at his Lamington Recording Studio in Wellington. Available on CD at good stores and as a quality download at Bandcamp.

'Getting Sober has such warmth and heart to it. This is Darren’s finest set of recordings. And you need to hear it.'     
Simon Sweetman (Off The Tracks)
 

Too Many Millionaires
(Beluga Records. Released 2018)

Too Many Millionaires was recorded live to tape at Wellington's Surgery Studio by master engineer Dr Lee Prebble. Available on LP and CD at good stores and as a  quality download at Bandcamp.


'Anyone who thinks only Americans can authentically sing the blues should listen to this album by the New Zealander Darren Watson. It’s outstanding from beginning to end – the finest acoustic blues CD this reviewer has heard in quite some time.'
Blues Matters Magazine (UK)
 

Introducing Darren Watson
(Beluga Records. Released 2014)

This ironically titled album features eight original songs that span the gamut of 'blues' styles from Southern Soul, Blues Rhumba, Tex-Mex, Folk Blues, all the way to the bizarre yet compelling strangeness of the Ray Harryhausen inspired and totally self-performed Hungarian Rhapsody For A Kiwi Fulla. Available on CD at good stores and as a quality download at Bandcamp.

'Ten fearless tracks that strike the optimal balance between raw feeling and studio polish.' 
Blues Blast Magazine (USA)

Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy
(Red Rocks Records. Released 2010)

Many folks consider this to be Darren's best album of the early 2000s. Featuring his crack Real Deal Blues Band it was recorded at STL Studios by legendary engineer Tim Farrant (Buzz Audio). Available on CD at good stores and as a quality download at Bandcamp.

'New Zealand's Darren Watson has crafted a beautiful album in Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy (Red Rocks Records), a set of backward-looking (but by no means retro) blues recorded with a bracing, contemporary sonic treatment.'
Tom Hyslop Jr. - Blues Revue Magazine (USA)

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South Pacific Soul
(Red Rocks Records. Released 2005)

This album was jointly produced by Darren and well-known musician/writer/broadcaster Nick Bollinger. The track All Going Wrong won Darren first place for best blues song at Nashville's prestigious International Songwriting Competition. It's available on CD at good stores and as a quality download at Bandcamp.

'I was compelled to hit the repeat button on my CD player to hear this one again and again.'
Bill Mitchell - Blues Bytes (USA)

King Size
(Beluga Records. Released 2002)

King Size was Darren's first post-Smoke Shop blues album. It features mostly live in the studio performances of classic blues standards and a handful of original Watson-penned tunes. The album was nominated for Best Roots Album at the 2003 New Zealand Music Awards. Long out of pressing it's available exclusively as a quality download at Bandcamp.

'Unquestionably one of New Zealand's finest blues recordings.' 
City Voice, Wellington

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