"BRINGING A STORM TO THE CALM"
DC Blues are Yorkshire’s answer to the question: “What happens when you mix seasoned musicians, soulful grooves, and just enough sarcasm to keep things interesting?” Fronted by Paul Winn’s vocals and harmonica wrangling, backed by Ben Darwin’s no-nonsense bass, Lloyd Massingham’s wizardry on guitar, and Rob McNeil keeping things tight at the back, the band delivers blues with bite, swagger, and zero tolerance for genre clichés.
They don’t do gimmicks. They don’t do jazz hands. They do proper blues - played by proper people, preferably with a pint nearby and a volume knob that’s slightly too high.
PAUL WINN – Vocals & Harmonica
Paul Winn is the voice, the harp, and the dry wit behind DC Blues. With soulful delivery and harmonica chops that suggest unresolved debt, he brings decades of blues wisdom and just enough Yorkshire grit to keep the band honest.
Offstage, he hosts Blues From The Ouse on Jorvik Radio, runs Ryedale Blues Club, and co-pilots the York Blues Festival alongside Ben, championing the local scene with obsessive precision. He doesn’t play guitar. He doesn’t want to. And yes, it's not blues without harmonica!
BEN DARWIN - Bass Guitar
Ben Darwin is the low-end lifeline of DC Blues - steady, reliable, and always hitting the right groove. Raised on ZZ Top and Ry Cooder, he’s played everything from funk to power trios, but found his spiritual home locking in with DC Blues and letting the frontmen do the talking.
Offstage, he co-hosts Blues From The Ouse with Paul Winn and also co-pilots the York Blues Festival, bringing proper blues to proper people - with minimal fuss and maximum groove.
He’s not flashy. He’s not loud. He’s just Ben. And that’s exactly how the blues likes it.​
LLOYD MASSINGHAM - Guitar
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Lloyd Massingham is the six-string sorcerer of DC Blues - widely regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the region, though he’d never say so himself. His playing has baffled physicists, delighted audiences, and made other guitarists quietly reconsider their life choices.
With years backing touring US artists and more album credits than he bothers to count, Lloyd brings depth, taste, and tone in spades. He doesn’t talk much on stage. He doesn’t need to. The guitar does all the talking - and it’s fluent in blues, soul, and the occasional cheeky shuffle.
Ask him how he does it, and he’ll probably shrug: “it's all mirrors and string."
Rob McNeil - Drums
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Rob McNeil joins DC Blues with decades of experience and deep musical roots in the band. He and frontman Paul Winn go way back, having played together in blues and rock outfits throughout the '90s. Their families are connected too as Paul’s sister married to Rob’s brother.
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Rob also shares a long-standing groove with bassist Ben Darwin, forged in earlier projects where their rhythm section chemistry first took shape. His playing brings feel, finesse, and the kind of intuitive connection that only comes from years of shared stages and stories.
Expect tight shuffles, tasteful fills, and a rhythm section built on trust, tone, and time
