Darcy Perry with harmonica-playing daughter Ella at last year’s Whangaparaoa Blues Festival.
The Darcy Perry Blues Band is set to be one of the entertainment highlights for Autumn Festival revellers at Sunday’s Main Street Carnival.
It’s some time since the band has played this festival, making their hour-long appearance particularly special as 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of their album Heavy Rain. The original was released in July 2006, consisting of 12 original tracks highlighting the band’s penchant for electric blues, the crowd-pleasing musical genre that went on to win them positive reviews.
Their appearance at last year’s Whanga-paraoa Blues Festival also drew high praise.
Darcy Perry with harmonica-playing daughter Ella at last year’s Whangaparaoa Blues Festival.
Darcy Perry entered the New Zealand blues scene in the early 1990s. He released his debut album Blues 4 Dad a decade later, dedicated to his father Ross Perry who had died of cancer in 2002, and on the back of good album reviews he formed the band.
The band went on to perform widely, appearing in gigs, festivals and on television and earning a few awards along the way.
Speaking to The News last week, Perry said they have all pretty much done their own thing for the past few years. “It’s a rare thing for us to all get together like this.”
Perry’s ‘own thing’ includes working in Cambridge, living in Tamahere and looking to buy a house here. He’s enjoyed being actively involved in raising his kids… and there is an unexpected nod to his dad.
“I’ve been teaching technology at Cambridge High School for the past year… dad was also a technology teacher,” he said.
“I’m from a family of teachers, but it’s not something I thought I would ever do. I’m really enjoying it.”
He finds the creativity of it, the ‘making things work’ side of technology, a good fit for him.
He is also an ardent supporter of the school’s jazz band – who are set to play just before Perry’s band during the street carnival – and has recently lent his dad’s trumpet to them. “I just don’t have the time to play it.”
The band will play at the Victoria Street stage from 11.45am.
The Darcy Perry Band in action at the 2025 Whangaparaoa Blues Festival, from left, Whetu ‘Chubb’ Renata, Darcy Perry, Craig Bracken and drummer Justin Roys.
