The Souldiggers is a concept rather than a fixed group. Geoff travels a lot and hires various 'gun' musicians to perform the Souldiggers playlist wherever he goes.
The infamous A-Team line-up is based in Melbourne and features Mal Logan - keys, Roger McLachlan - bass, Gerry Pantazis -drums and occasionally Rob Little -bass and Dean Matters -drums.
In England the UK Souldiggers are usually Paul Jobson -keys, Dave Clarke -bass & Sam Kelly -drums. This group recorded a 'Live' CD, Souldiggin' In The UK in 2001 with keyboardist Dave Lennox.
Sam Kelly has also joined Geoff in Atlanta for recent US tours. The Atlanta line-up has included bassists Charlie Wooton, Ted Pecchio, Kris Dale , Jon Schwenke & Rob Henson. Drummers have included Tyler 'The Falcon' Greenwell, the legendary Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks Band), King Johnson's Greg Baba and also John McKnight and Kevin Leahy. Occasional guest keyboards have been provided by Marty Kearns, Kevin Thomas or John Marsh (of Deep Blue Sun) The family is ever expanding too as Geoff continues his extensive to gigging and touring schedule.
The original Souldiggers were a Portland, Oregon version of the group formed in 1998 featuring Alex Shakeri -keys, Timmer Blakely - bass & Don Shultz -drums This group recorded Geoff's Gettin' Evil album released in 1999.
In 2005 Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers recorded their all original LITTLE BIG MEN cd and also released a 'Live' DVD of a typical gig filmed at their infamous St Andrews Hotel summer residency.
Check out this clip captured by Jay Curlee aboard Delbert McClinton's Sandy Beaches Cruise 15 in Jan 2009
Influences
Blues guys Freddie King, Albert King, BB King, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy. Band-leaders like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, James Brown and John Mayall. Guitar heroes like Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Roy Buchanan, Jimi Hendrix & SRV. Soul singers like Ray Charles, Aretha, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Joe Cocker. Hot combos:The Meters, Booker T & The MG's, Allman Bros and Neville Bros. Songsmiths:Randy Newman, Tom Waits, The Beatles, John Martyn, Nick Drake. Aussies- Dutch Tilders, Bob Sedergreen, Chain, Phil Manning, Kevin Borich, Billy Thorpe, Daddy Cool and Cold Chisel. Also The Blues Brothers, Spinal Tap, Monty Python, The Goon Show and the voices in my head ...
.. Visit Geoff Achison Fan Club
Tell Me Something I Don't Know From Geoff's SOULDIGGIN' DVD
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Geoff Achison has a reputation as a formidable acoustic and electric guitarist, a capable vocalist and a composer of good, funky songs without the cliches. IT'S BLUES JIM ... BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT!
Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, he has developed a blues/funk style all his own that can be delicate one moment and explosive the next. Unaware of how the sounds he was hearing on his limited record collection were produced, he invented some of his own techniques - without the aid of pedals or gadgets. As a result, watching this guy wrench sounds from his simple set-up can be something of a spectacle.
Geoff also possesses a soulful voice that has evoked favorable comparisons to Joe Cocker or Warren Haynes. An award winning songwriter to boot, Geoff’s live set features an infectious mix of catchy original tunes, improvised jamming and inspired versions of blues & soul classics.
He has toured regularly around the globe and won honours on 3 continents. Years of touring, recording and performing has seen him share stages and open shows with such high calibre artists as Jorma Kaukonen & Hot Tuna, John Mayall, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm and Delbert McClinton as well as top Aussies 'Dutch' Tilders, Phil Manning, Jeff Lang and Tommy Emmanuel.
Growing up in the small town of Malmsbury, Geoff somehow developed a passion for American blues music and taught himself to play on a beat up instrument he discovered 'under the stairs' of the family home.
In his early 20's he found employment as lead guitarist with Melbourne's top blues band 'Dutch Tilders & The Blues Club'. After 5 years relentless touring around Australia Geoff departed to pursue his own musical ideas and formed the first incarnation of his own band 'The Souldiggers'.
“The idea was to have a name that described the music and I greatly admired the blues philosophy - tapping into one’s soul for honesty and truth. That’s what ‘Souldiggers’ is meant to convey.”
He formed his own Jupiter 2 Records in 1994 with fellow music enthusiast Nic Quittner and released the first of many recordings of his original blues/funk/soul flavoured materiel
Big Machine followed by Genevieve '95 and Mystery Train in 1996
Geoff started his worldwide explorations in 1995 with his first trip to the USA.
He represented the Melbourne Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and won the coveted Albert King Award for his guitar skills. He went on to accept an endorsement deal with the Gibson guitar company's acoustic division. He formed a US based Souldiggers group in 1998 and recorded his 3rd album 'Gettin' Evil' in Portland, Oregon. Geoff has also conducted his guitar workshops at Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch guitar camp in Ohio.
Moving to London in 1997 Geoff established a UK following and recorded a live album with a British version of The Souldiggers.
Whilst working the US and Australian circuits Geoff also kept up a presence in England and formed yet another competent group of musicians. His popularity amongst fans in the know has grown with each visit and Geoff has garnered something of a cult following in each of these regions. His list of awards is formidable. Most recently he was honoured as an official patron of the Frankston International Guitar Festival (hosted in his new home town) and also won the Melbourne Blues Society's awards for 'Best Blues Band' and 'Best Male Performer'.
Geoff is actively touring and producing new music.
With a seemingly never ending schedule of gigs and tours Geoff has managed to find time to release the live Souldiggin' DVD featuring the Aussie Souldiggers in an energetic performance at one of their regular venues. A new batch of original songs Little Big Men hit the shelves in 2006 and Geoff's 10th album Acho Solo , a collection of solo acoustic songs was released in February 2007. In October of 2007 Jupiter 2 Records released a CD version of the 'Live' DVD session simply titled Souldiggin' CD.
Geoff re-located his family to Atlanta, Georgia throughout 07/08 where he worked with management/booking agency Brilliant Productions.
He has now returned to Melbourne, Australia and has re-connected with the vibrant Oz Blues/Roots scene there.
His latest album ONE TICKET, ONE RIDE was released in May 2009 and is enjoying an excellent response from fans and music media alike.
Really hope to catch your Castlemaine show on Aug 1st Geoff - all things being equal. Very much looking forward to witnessing the Acho Magic live & loud... whether it be there & then, or another place & another time soon thereafter.
We just about wore out the St Andrews Live dvd while you were State-side!
Since you guys are my friends I though you might want to check out the hot new Vagrants vids from the recent Hi Fi Bar gig http://www.youtube.com/thevagrants
Hello Geoff thanks for friendship. Great your doing so well.I may be coming over to Ozz next Feb .I come every two years with my Ausie wife. I usually do a couple of gigs with Joe Hilz,Jimmy Slogget and friends.We played at theNightgroove,St Andrews,Espy.last time. Maybe again. Keep on with the good work. Cheers Eddy
Geoff- featuring you latest ROCKIN album on my "New Tunes @ 2" today!! You just continue to SHREAD, brother! We miss you stateside.......(I'll be pumping your SE gigs too). XOX and safe travels! Lola P- Mid-Day DJ on WildmanSteve Radio www.WildmanSteve.com
