Geoff Achison
BIRDS BASEMENT, 11 Singers Ln, 3000 Melbourne Directions
Fri 24.07.2026 18:00
STARS
Legendary Country Rock
Bird's Basement, Melbourne
Stars got together in Adelaide around '74 '75, coming from around the same neighbourhood and falling together through a love of similar music taste. Free, Deep Purple, etc
After a short while supporting bands from interstate, Dingoes, LRB, etc., and starting to write their songs, Beeb Birtles of LRB recommended Stars to Michael Gudinski of Mushroom Records, who promptly signed them, instigating a move to Melbourne.
Stars friend Andy Durant joined the band with a collection of his songs, which formulated their sound from Rock Boogie to more Country Rock, and the first album was released going gold.
After the release of Stars' second album, "Land Of Fortune", a live album ", 1157", and 3 years of constant touring, a decision was made to end Stars, and sadly, shortly after, Andy died from melanoma.
In 1980, the star-studded "Andrew Durant Memorial Concert" was staged at the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. It featured the members of Stars, Renee Geyer, Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Don Walker, Richard Clapton, and many more of the cream of Australian artists who are still recording and playing to this day. A live recording of the show was released to much acclaim and promptly went gold.
After over 35 years, Stars returned with the original lineup featuring Mick Pealing on vocals and guitar, Mal Eastick on guitar, Roger McLachlan on bass and Glyn Dowding, replaced by Erik Chess in early 2019 on drums and featuring Nick Charles on guitar.
A new Album, "Boundary Rider," was released in 2018. Mick and Nick wrote the main song, and three early Stars songs were recorded in the studio for the first time.
2020 brings a brand new album, "One More Circle Round The Sun", featuring new songs written by Mick Pealing and Nick Charles.
Early 2023 brought about the retirement of Stars, founder of the band Mal Eastick, who Australian blues guitarist Geoff Achison replaced along with legendary pedal steel player Ed Bates. A new single ( One More Try) was released around this time.
With this six-piece lineup, audiences can expect the music from Stars' 3 studio albums "Paradise", "Land Of Fortune" 2018's "Boundary Rider", "The Andrew Durant Memorial Concert" and "One More Circle Round The Sun" and the new Live album 'Paradise Revisited' released in April 2024.
LOCATION:
Bird's Basement
11 Singers Lane
Melbourne CBD
Performers
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Geoff AchisonInducted into the Australian Victorian Blues Music Hall of Fame! Equal parts New Orleans Funk, driving Blues, jazzy Soul and outback Mojo, Singer/songwriter Geoff Achison creates original southern blues/roots music from deep south Australia. His 14th album comes out Feb. 21, 2025. He’s been chosen one of the “Top Ten Hottest New Guitarists” by Guitar Player Magazine followed with making the “Top 100+ Guitarists You Should Know” roster. Moreover, he's listed as one of the “Top 50 Australian Guitarists of All Time.” Jorma Kaukonen's (Hot Tuna) has invited him to be a Guitar Instructor for 18 years at his Fur Peace Guitar Ranch, and took him on tour as well. He's an exciting festival favorite featured on PBS, NPR, the BBC and CNN. Frequent tours of the US have seen him playing with folks like The Allman Brothers, George Porter, Jr., Wood Brothers, Col. Bruce Hampton, Randall Bramblett, Delbert McClinton, John Mayer, and many others. -
STARS Australia
Stars are the iconic 1970's Australian Country Rock band.
