Darren Watson announces new all John Hiatt covers album and tour

Lamington Records is pleased to announce the long-awaited release of veteran Aotearoa (New Zealand) blues and roots musician Darren Watson’s eighth solo album, Darren Watson sings John Hiatt.

The album is set to drop on Friday 31 October, 2025. It comes five years after the release of 2020’s Getting Sober for the End of The World, which was a finalist for Best Folk Album at the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards.

As the title makes fairly obvious, it’s an album of Watson performing songs penned by much-loved Americana singer-songwriter John Hiatt. What it isn’t though is a faithful, polite rendering of Hiatt’s well-travelled ‘hit’ songs. Have A Little Faith in Me, Slow Turning and Icy Blue Heart are nowhere to be seen/heard. When he does tackle a ‘hit’ (like Thing Called Love, a huge one for Bonnie Raitt in 1989) Watson turns it into something completely different and makes it utterly his own. He says that being true to himself and his vision within each song was key to the overall vibe of the record.

“I love so much of John’s music and the last thing I wanted to do was to just ape his style like some kind of glorified acoustic karaoke act. I really wanted to sit down and play ‘em from my heart and head. So the performances and arrangements became more about what these songs mean to me… the kid from Lower Hutt who grew up loving the blues, got older and then discovered all the great, great stuff that grew out of it. John’s music has been a huge part of that journey for me. I think I honour him way more by putting my own stamp on it than just doing it verbatim.”

The album was recorded in a live, stripped back, largely drum-less way at Watson’s Lamington Recording Studio in Pōneke (basically a lounge and converted bedroom in his rented home) and features a tight acoustic/electric ensemble of some of the city’s finest blues and roots musicians.

Darren Watson sings John Hiatt will be available on compact disc at all good record stores, his Bandcamp, and available on all streaming and digital sales platforms from Friday 31 October.

Live Tour Dates

Darren is touring both solo, and with his trio featuring Chris Armour on electric guitar, and Steve Moodie on double bass, throughout November and early December in support of the album. Copies of the new CD will be for sale at shows.

8 November @ Senior Citizens Centre, Ōpotiki
15 November @ Kūmeu Arts, Kūmeu
21 November @ Most FM Live Lounge, Ngāmoutu/New Plymouth
28 November @ The Shed, Te Awa Kairangi/Lower Hutt SOLD OUT
5 December @ The Shed, Te Awa Kairangi/Lower Hutt
6 December @ Globe Theatre, Te Papaioea/Palmerston North
13 December @ The Barn, Whakatū/Nelson

All show/ticket info is available from Darren’s website: www.darrenwatson.com