Geoff Achison returns to the United States this week to begin a run of shows which will serve as a sort of homecoming for the Australian native. He called Decatur , GA home for two years until he returned to the Melbourne area of Australia last fall. This tour is in support One Ticket, One Ride, released earlier this week. Achison calls his eleventh official release an audio postcard from his sojourn in the United States. Besides being happy with the recordings, he says, the finished product represents the fruit of two years living and working in the United States and getting to work with the incredible team of musicians I met while living there.
Achisons itinerary includes some intriguing collaborations. He will perform two shows with former member of Traffic and Sea Level, Randall Bramblett. They will perform together acoustically at Atlantas Eddies Attic this coming Sunday, and then Randall will be a special guest for Achisons June 19 performance at Asheville ‘s ‘Downtown After Five’ series (Hill Country Revue, King Johnson, The Bridge and Big Sam’s Funky Nation are among the artists performing at other versions of this monthly series in the mountains).

Randalls songwriting prowess is remarkable, relates Achison, I was playing behind him the last time we shared a stage and those words and his vocal delivery had me tearing up at one point in the set. Thats powerful stuff.

Achisons tour also includes two special shows with the Yonrico Scott Band which have been dubbed the Acho/Rico Funk Soul Experiment. Achison will join YSB for performances at the Melting Point in Athens , GA on June 18 and the Bradfordville Blues Club in Tallahassee , FL June 20 (with Atlanta s Charlie Wooton subbing for bassist Todd Smallie at the latter show). Wild improvisations on each artists material are expected. Scott and Achison have become frequent collaborators in recent years, and Scott is a featured player on One Ticket, One Ride.

Working with Yonrico has been an incredible experience. He plays with so much spirit and positive energy that you cant help but be elevated by him, says Achison

Finally, Achison, named one of the Top Ten Hottest New Guitarists by Guitar Player magazine last year, will swap songs and licks with Atlanta stalwart Oliver Wood and one of Austin s Seth Walker for a special one-time event at Atlanta s Red Light Cafn June 15.

‘I saw Seth Walker on the Delbert McClinton ( Sandy Beaches ) Cruise in January. The fact Ill be sharing the stage with him and Oliver Wood in Atlanta on this tour will be great fun’ says Achison. ‘These players just don’t get down to Australia too often!’ Report by Rob Turner