TOM WATERS & GEOFF ACHISON

After a six-year absence from UK stages, Geoff Achison finally returns to these shores, reuniting with a vast and devoted British following that has followed his journey for decades. This long-awaited return sees Achison embark on a UK tour, bringing with him a collaboration rich in groove, nuance and deep musical conversation.

This time, Achison is joined by the extraordinary saxophonist Tom Waters for their joint project, Brush With The Blues — a tour that blends blues feeling, jazz sophistication and soul-driven spontaneity into something truly distinctive. Following their highly acclaimed 14-show Australian tour in 2025, the pair now bring this refined, road-tested collaboration to UK audiences for the very first time.

Tom Waters is a rising force in contemporary rhythm & blues, jazz, funk, Latin and roots music — a player whose sound carries both modern fire and old-school authority. A graduate of the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, Waters is the prodigiously talented son of renowned pianist Ben Waters, yet his reputation has been earned entirely on his own formidable terms. His saxophone voice is fluid, fearless and expressive — capable of whisper-soft intimacy one moment and full-throated soul testimony the next.

Despite his youth, Waters has already recorded or performed with an astonishing roll call of legends including The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, George Thorogood, Ray Davies and the BB King All Stars. He is also a key member of Jools Holland's R&B Orchestra, where his playing sits effortlessly in the pocket — soulful, sharp and steeped in feel.

This UK tour follows the release of Tom's debut songwriting album BLOWIN' UP, a record that confirms him not only as a formidable instrumentalist but as a compelling musical voice in his own right. Featuring contributions from Jools Holland, Chanel Haynes, The Cinelli Brothers and Ariel Posen, the album underlines what Waters proves night after night on stage: the saxophone can still sweat, swing and truly rock 'n' roll.

Geoff Achison, meanwhile, stands as one of the most respected figures in Australian blues and roots music. Beginning his journey under the guidance of legendary bluesman Dutch Tilders, Achison has spent decades refining a sound that flows freely between blues, soul, funk and folk — always melodic, always human, always deeply musical. With 14 albums to his name, his playing is marked by touch, tone and taste rather than flash, earning comparisons to Eric Clapton, JJ Cale and The Allman Brothers Band.

Together, Brush With The Blues is less a performance and more a conversation — guitar and sax weaving lines, trading phrases, stretching melodies and digging deep into the emotional core of the music. Drawing from their extensive catalogues alongside timeless roots classics, the show carries a heartfelt dedication to the late Jeff Beck, whose spirit of fearless exploration and genre-defying artistry resonates throughout the evening.

This is a collaboration that transcends generations and labels — jazz sophistication meeting blues grit, soul phrasing colliding with raw electric tone. It's late-night music. Music for listeners. Music that breathes.

Praise for Geoff Achison

"Geoff is one of the finest blues guitarists I know with a completely individual style."
— Jorma Kaukonen

"What makes him unique is not only his instrumental skills but also his multifaceted approach."
— Alison Richter, Guitar World

"Achison seems more like a singer-songwriter's soul in Jeff Beck's body."
— Elmore Magazine

Barnoldswick date

The Brush With The Blues tour arrives for a very special, intimate performance at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre on Tuesday 2nd June. Known for its listening-room atmosphere and beautifully close acoustics, the venue provides the perfect setting for this late-night blend of jazz sophistication, soul-deep phrasing and blues-soaked electric conversation — a rare chance to witness two master musicians in true creative communion, right at the heart of the music.