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 as lead guitarist for Dutch Tilders between 1989 and 1996, before beginning to feature as a solo artist. He appeared in many festivals in Australia, including:
Echuca Moama Winter BluesEchuca Moama Winter Blues Festival Program 2018 Australian Blues Music Festival Port Fairy Folk Festival Wangaratta Jazz Festival Sydney Blues Festival 2010, 2015 Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival Bruthen Blues & Arts Festival Manly Jazz Festival 1998/99; the Thredbo Blues Festivals of 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. It is featured in the National Library of Australia. 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, and has featured in a live performance with the Allman Brothers.
He currently plays a Lichty Guitars 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 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. Achison, along with the Souldiggers, won 'Group of the Year' at the 2007 Australian Blues Music 'Chain' Awards.
In 2007, Little Big Men won Kweevak Music Magazine's Readers' Choice awards., and in 2008, 'Guitar Player' magazine's readers' poll listed Achison as one of the top 10 Hot New Guitarists.
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.
Discography Band Album Date Label NotesDutch 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 Larrikinwith 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 Don't Play Guitar Boy 2024 Jupiter 2 Records Geoff AchisonSovereign Town2018Jupiter 2 RecordsGeoff 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 20th Anniversary UK 2019 (UK) Jupiter 2 Records Eyes On The Prize (Single) 2020 Jupiter 2 Records Dragon Wings (Single) 2020 Jupiter 2 Records Footy Cards (Single) 2020 Jupiter 2 Records Secret To Life (Single) 2022 Jupiter 2 Records Capricorn Pilot (Single) 2022 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 Pantaziswith Shannon Bourne & Kerri SimpsonOther AppearancesHot Tuna: 2000-11-15 The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA2000Features 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.
| Music Victoria Awards of 2013 | Box of Blues (with Geoff Achison ) | Best Blues Albums
References
External links
Classically Blue