Music
Press
“Comparisons to blues and roots men like John Butler and Xavier Rudd are inevitable but are largely misleading. Turnbull is much more rhythm-driven and writes songs so intricate and lengthy, they make Butler seem concise. Turnbull also has much more variation in his music than Rudd, making for a more interesting performance. Turnbull also has a tendency towards the ferocious that both Rudd and Butler do not have: an unexpected eruption of rapid strumming burst out midway through the set, drawings awe-struck gasps and spontaneous applause. The only obstacle to Turnbull replacing John Butler as the figurehead of Australian roots and blues is his fondness for long sections of guitar solos, therefore making commercial radio an unlikely prospect for him. For mine, I hope he succeeds without changing his style, which is individual, definitive and electrifying” - Fasterlouder
Recorded live in just in one day, From IS. Land is the first in a proposed series, and if the music is indicative of the series’ direction, I can only say “more please”. Geoff Turnbull’s virtuosic acoustic guitar flights could see him lumped into the Harper/Butler basket, but the off the cuff vibe and exploratory open ended nature of these songs sets him apart. His voice is a high emotive instrument, sounding particularly desperate on the thrilling climax of RSI and improvisational on the brilliant spaced-out wah Played, meanwhile, is a sweet ballad that displays Turnbull’s versatility. All in all Turnbull’s refreshing live approach imbues this disc with a spontaneity that the didactic John Butler can only dream about.
Brett Rave Magazine 17th Feb 2004
- Beat Magazine . Melbourne 02/04
Discography
Evening Hum: Released April 2011
Transit Bandit: April 2008
Day 2: Released Aug 2006
Made In A Day - Turnbull Sessions 2005
Day 1: Released Aug 2004
Day 0: Released 2000
Photos
Bio
2012 will see Geoff Turnbull release his 6th solo record "Alive In The Madhouse" . The album has been recorded at Repton Records with a whole new no rules philosophy. Pushing new boundaries Turnbull plays a multitude of instruments on the new album.
2011 saw the birth of Geoff's new record label, Repton Records. The first EP from the label "Evening Hum" was released in April. The E.P was a 2 piece rock groove killer with reviews already anticipating the full-length release in 2012. Following on from “Transit Bandit” the new material is rockier and dirtier than ever.
With previous festival performances at Peat’s Ridge Music festival, Festival of the Sun, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Nimbin Mardigrass, and Day in the Vines, Open Arms Festival, Brisbane’s Urban Blues and Roots festival, and Newcastle Blues Festival and Woodford Folk Festival, Geoff is looking forward to bringing the new material to the festival circuit.
Performing around 1200 shows in the last 7 years, Geoff has been heard in venues & festivals all around Australia where he was Awarded "Best New Talent" & "Best Male Vocalist", and was also dubbed the next roots figurehead of Australia by fasterlouder 07. He has also been honoured to play alongside acts such Cog, Gotye, Lior, Ash Grunwald, The Mess Hall, Hatz Fitz etc. Covering around 200,000 kms of the Australian terrain in his ford transit, touring has always seemed like a great idea to Geoff, and in doing so has built himself a loyal ground level fan base.
As a youth mental health advocate, Geoff is also undertaking a PHD in music therapy for depression and participates in LOVEBITES which is a youth sexual and domestic violence high school workshops program on the mid north coast.
Live onlookers have noted the same explosive volatile streak that sets Geoff apart.
"Mind Blowing" Peats Ridge 2009
"Spine Tingling" Open Arms Music Festival 2009
“1 man a zillion trillion sounds” UQ QLD 07
"Individual, Definitive and Electrifying" Fasterlouder 07
"Turnbull is certainly a musician who releases his demons in a subversive, energetic live performance" Beat 04.
"All in all Turnbull's refreshing live approach imbues him with a spontaneity the didactic John Butler can only dream about" Rave mag 04. "
Turnbull has more variation and the tendency towards ferocious which John Butler & Rudd do not have making for a more interesting performance" fasterlouder 05
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