Geoff Achison | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Geoffrey Raymond Achison |
| Born | 5 August 1965 Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Blues, soul, funk, blues rock, jazz, acoustic blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals, bass guitar, double bass |
| Years active | 1989 present |
| Labels | Jupiter 2 Records, Zyx, Black Market Music |
| Formerly of | Dutch Tilders |
| Website | www |
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.
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
| Band | Album | Date | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch Tilders & The Blues Club | Blues Is My Life | 1989 | Blues Club Records | |
| Real Australian Blues Vol 1 (compilation) | 1992 | |||
| Live at the Station | 1995 | Blues Club Records | ||
| One More Time | 2001 | Independent | ||
| Classically Blue | Classically Blue | 1994 | Larrikin | with Violinist Adrian Keating, Sydney Souldiggers Tim Sampson Bass, Julia Day Drums and String Quartet |
| You Get That | 1998 | Larrikin | ||
| Classically Blue 'Live at the Basement' DVD/CD | 2012 | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| Geoff Achison Band | Big Machine | 1994 | Jupiter 2 Records/Larrikin | |
| Genevieve | 1995 | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| Real Australian Blues Vol 3 (compilation) | 1997 | |||
| Geoff Achison (solo acoustic) | Real Australian Blues Vol 2 (compilation) | 1993 | ||
| Mystery Train | 1996 | Jupiter 2 Records/Newmarket | ||
| Acho Solo | 2007 | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| Live at Burrinja Cafe | 2011 | Jupiter 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' Evil | 1999 (US) | Jupiter 2 Records | |
| Live at St Andrews | 2000 (Aus) | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| Souldiggin' In The UK | 2001 | Powerhouse Records | ||
| Chasing My Tail | 2002 (UK) | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| Each Long Day | 2002 (UK) | Powerhouse Records | ||
| Little Big Men | 2005 (Aus) | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| Souldiggin' DVD/CD | 2005 (Aus) | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| One Ticket One Ride | 2009 (US) | Jupiter 2 Records/Black Market Music | ||
| Live at Guitars Across The Bay | 2010 (Aus) | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| 20th Anniversary Concert double disc DVD/CD set | 2014 (Aus) | Jupiter 2 Records | ||
| Randall Bramblett & Geoff Achison | Jammin' In The Attic | 2010 (US) | Hittin' The Note Records | |
| Chris Wilson & Geoff Achison | Box of Blues | 2012 | Jupiter 2 Records | Feat: 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' |
Awards and nominations
Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards is an annual awards ceremony celebrating Victorian music.[20]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Victoria Awards of 2013[21][22] | Box of Blues (with Geoff Achison ) | Best Blues Albums | Nominated |
References
- ↑ "working with Dutch Tilders". 2013.wangarattajazz.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival Program 2018
- ↑ "22nd Australian Blues Music Festival 2018". 2RRR. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ↑ "All Past Acts 1977 – 2015 – Port Fairy Folk Festival". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ↑ "press release Wangaratta Jazz Festival". Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ "sydneybluesfestival.com.au". Sydneybluesfestival.com.au. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ Harris, Dale. "2018 Artists". Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ↑ "Artists". Bruthen Blues & Arts Festival. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ↑ Foote, Murray (21 October 2012). "Thredbo Blues Festival (2006 to 2019)".
- ↑ "SouthernBluesRock: Geoff Achison Band 1994 Big Machine". 16 July 2013.
- ↑ Band, Geoff Achison (17 February 1994). "Big machine" – via Trove.
- 1 2 "Home". Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch.
- ↑ Spelman, David. "I Was a Fur Peace Rancher!". GuitarPlayer.com.
- ↑ "Geoff achison". Lichtyguitars.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ "1995 International Blues Challenge Winners". Blues.org. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- 1 2 "Geoff Achison | Lichty Guitars". Lichtyguitars.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ "Australian Blues Music Festival - Geoff Achison". Australianbluesmusic.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ "Australian Blues Music Festival - The home of Australian Blues Music". Australianbluesmusic.com. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ↑ "MBAS". Mbas.org.au.
- ↑ "Mary Mihelakos, Chris Wilson set for Music Victoria hall of fame". The Music Network. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ↑ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ↑ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.