Geoff Achison has clearly earned a loyal US following since moving to Atlanta from Australia in 2007. Now Guitar Player Magazine has revealed Achison’s burgeoning international appeal, as their readers voted Achison one of the “Top Ten Hottest New Guitarists” in the world in 2008. Having taught himself to play in the isolation of rural Australia, he has developed a blues/funk style all his own. 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. He has been a musical force on three continents and won honors on all of them. Twenty years of touring and playing with scores of artists like Jorma Kaukonen, Les Paul, John Mayall, John Mayer, Levon Helm, Tommy Emmanuel, and Hubert Sumlin have challenged him to play as passionately and skillfully as they do.

Geoff started his worldwide explorations back in 1994 with his first trip to the US. The question was could he succeed playing the American originated music of blues, rock, soul and funk coming from the other side of the world, Melbourne, Australia? That was answered when Geoff won the coveted ‘Albert King Award’ in Memphis TN, 1995 and went on to score an endorsement deal with Gibson Guitars USA. Jorma Kaukonen has used him for the past ELEVEN years as a Guest Guitar Instructor at his legendary Fur Peace Ranch in Ohio.

He counts Australia, the UK and USA among his touring bases playing solo acoustic shows or hiring the best musicians available to form ‘The Souldiggers’ as he goes.

“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.”

In 2007 Geoff was honored as the Band of the Year in the Australian Chain Awards and voted the Best Blues Band in Australia as well as the Best Male Performer in past years. He’s released 10 CD’s which have solidified him as a guitarist/bandleader/vocalist of high regard. He and his bands have been nothing less than world-class without diluting the unique view and style his Australian roots have given him. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.