Geoff Achison

Geoff Achison (born 5 August 1965 in Cowes on Phillip Island in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia) is an independent Australian Melbourne-based singer/songwriter guitarist, whose artistic focus is of the blues, blues rock and soul genres. He performs in two modes – as a solo artist performing and singing with acoustic guitar, and bandleader as a singer/electric guitarist.

Geoff Achison
Birth nameGeoffrey Raymond Achison
Born (1965-08-05) 5 August 1965
Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
GenresBlues, soul, funk, blues rock, jazz, acoustic blues
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals, bass guitar, double bass
Years active1989 present
LabelsJupiter 2 Records, Zyx, Black Market Music
Associated actsThe Souldiggers, Geoff Achison Band, Dutch Tilders & The Blues Club, Classically Blue, Box of Blues, The UK Souldiggers
Websitewww.geoffachison.com

Career

Achison performed[1] as lead guitarist for Dutch Tilders between 1989–96, before beginning to feature as a solo artist. He appeared in many festivals in Australia, including:

  • Echuca Moama Winter Blues [2]
  • Australian Blues Music Festival[3]
  • Port Fairy Folk Festival[4]
  • Wangaratta Jazz Festival[5]
  • Sydney Blues Festival[6] 2010, 2015
  • Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival[7]
  • Bruthen Blues & Arts Festival[8]
  • Manly Jazz Festival 1998/99;
  • the Thredbo Blues Festivals of[9] 2011, and 2001, 1995–98 performing as the "Classically Blue" Trio with violinist Adrian Keating and bass player Steve Sampson;
  • the Sydney Festival's 2001 'Jazz in the Domain' performing as 'Classically Blue'.

After performing with Dutch Tilders, Achison formed his band 'the Souldiggers' and produced his first album, Big Machine in 1994.[10] It is featured in the National Library of Australia.[11] By 2002, membership of 'The Souldiggers' included Gerry Pantazis and two ex-members of Little River Band: bassist Roger McLachlan, and keyboardist Mal Logan.

Achison has been an instructor at Fur Peace Ranch guitar camp run by Jorma Kaukonen each year since 1998, [12] [13] and has featured in a live performance with the Allman Brothers.

He currently plays a Lichty Guitars[14] acoustic instrument when performing in the US. In Australia, Achison plays Cole-Clark acoustic guitars.

Awards

In 1995 the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society sent Achison to the Memphis International Blues Challenge, where he won the Albert King Award [15] for the most promising guitarist of the finals. He received a Gibson Nighthawk guitar and signed an endorsement contract with Gibson Guitar Corporation following the event.

He was awarded London-based Jazz FM's Album of the Month in 1999, for Mystery Train.[16] Achison, along with the Souldiggers, won 'Group of the Year' at the 2007 Australian Blues Music 'Chain' Awards.[17][18]

In 2007, Little Big Men won Kweevak Music Magazine's Readers' Choice awards.,[16] and in 2008, 'Guitar Player' magazine's readers' poll listed Achison as one of the top 10 Hot New Guitarists.[12]

The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society has awarded Achison 'Male Artist of the Year', 'Album of the Year', 'Song of the Year' and 'Band of the Year' 2012.[19]

Discography
BandAlbumDateLabelNotes
Dutch Tilders & The Blues Club Blues Is My Life1989Blues Club Records
Real Australian Blues Vol 1 (compilation)1992
Live at the Station1995Blues Club Records
One More Time2001Independent
Classically Blue Classically Blue1994Larrikin with Violinist Adrian Keating, Sydney Souldiggers Tim Sampson Bass, Julia Day Drums and String Quartet
You Get That1998Larrikin
Classically Blue 'Live at the Basement' DVD/CD2012Jupiter 2 Records
Geoff Achison Band Big Machine1994Jupiter 2 Records/Larrikin
Genevieve1995Jupiter 2 Records
Real Australian Blues Vol 3 (compilation)1997
Geoff Achison (solo acoustic) Real Australian Blues Vol 2 (compilation)1993
Mystery Train1996Jupiter 2 Records/Newmarket
Acho Solo2007Jupiter 2 Records
Live at Burrinja Cafe2011Jupiter 2 Records
Geoff Achison Sovereign Town 2018 Jupiter 2 Records Geoff Achison - Vocals, Guitars

Andrew Fry - Upright Bass

Dave Clark - Drums

Liam Kealy - Hammond Organ

John McNamara - Backing Vocals

Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers Gettin' Evil1999 (US)Jupiter 2 Records
Live at St Andrews2000 (Aus)Jupiter 2 Records
Souldiggin' In The UK2001Powerhouse Records
Chasing My Tail2002 (UK)Jupiter 2 Records
Each Long Day2002 (UK)Powerhouse Records
Little Big Men2005 (Aus)Jupiter 2 Records
Souldiggin' DVD/CD2005 (Aus)Jupiter 2 Records
One Ticket One Ride2009 (US)Jupiter 2 Records/Black Market Music
Live at Guitars Across The Bay2010 (Aus)Jupiter 2 Records
20th Anniversary Concert double disc DVD/CD set2014 (Aus)Jupiter 2 Records
Randall Bramblett & Geoff AchisonJammin' In The Attic2010 (US)Hittin' The Note Records
Chris Wilson & Geoff AchisonBox of Blues2012Jupiter 2 RecordsFeat: Chris Wilson – Geoff Achison – Mal Logan – Roger McLachlan – Gerry Pantazis
with Shannon Bourne & Kerri Simpson
Other Appearances Hot Tuna: 2000-11-15 The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA 2000 Features on the encore track 'I Just Want To Make Love To You'

References
  1. "working with Dutch Tilders". 2013.wangarattajazz.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  2. Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival Program 2018
  3. "22nd Australian Blues Music Festival 2018". 2RRR. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  4. "All Past Acts 1977 – 2015 – Port Fairy Folk Festival". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  5. "press release Wangaratta Jazz Festival". Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  6. "sydneybluesfestival.com.au". Sydneybluesfestival.com.au. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. Harris, Dale. "2018 Artists". Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. "Artists". Bruthen Blues & Arts Festival. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  9. Foote, Murray (21 October 2012). "Thredbo Blues Festival (2006 to 2019)".
  10. "SouthernBluesRock: Geoff Achison Band 1994 Big Machine". 16 July 2013.
  11. Band, Geoff Achison (17 February 1994). "Big machine" – via Trove.
  12. "Home". Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch.
  13. Spelman, David. "I Was a Fur Peace Rancher!". GuitarPlayer.com.
  14. "Geoff achison". Lichtyguitars.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  15. "1995 International Blues Challenge Winners". Blues.org. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  16. "Geoff Achison | Lichty Guitars". Lichtyguitars.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  17. "Australian Blues Music Festival - Geoff Achison". Australianbluesmusic.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  18. "Australian Blues Music Festival - The home of Australian Blues Music". Australianbluesmusic.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  19. "MBAS". Mbas.org.au.
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