G e o f f W a t s o n   Biography
Geoff Watson (The Hebden Bridge ' Hurricane' ) Geoff comes from deep reaching musical roots in the Liverpool area ,England, with Grandfather Bill Evans a published composer for the theatre and father Frank Watson a natural pianist who played on ships/bars in the second world war. Although his first instrument was the piano, he soon became a self-taught guitarist at the age of 11 and now writes and performs his own oringal material in a mixture of acoustic,contemporary rock,folk&pop. In the group 'Sapphire Rock'n' Roll Band', at the age of 14 he had played almost every social club in and around the Merseyside area and they (Neil Marshall,Moira Daly,Sue Kenwright,Dave Noble,Mike Bee,Geoff and ace manager Sybil Mather!) achieved third place in a UK National Songwriter /performers competition in London. The group calimed their recording session prize and worked with producer Simon May (writer of Eastenders theme music), recording at the famous Regent Studios in London (an old stones hangout). After many other musical ventures Geoff played in the successful "Big Bad Blues Band" who commanded packed audiences at Merseyside venues. During this period as a separate project, himself and other band members Neil Marshall and Brian Porter released a one-off single "Wandering Star" attired in top hats & combos as "The Three Marvins" mimicking the character of Ben Rumson from the film 'Paint Your Wagon' ( With 'B-side 'Lump it' a holiday spoof track by Geoff) they appeared on Granada TV and played at UK South Coast shows and radio stations.
Geoff Watson uses exclusively Taylor 714 and 814 electro-acoustic guitars for live performances and in the studio.
As a campaigner for UKVegsoc, he was interviewed on BBC Merseyside as "The Green Man" on the first UK Vegetarian Day with his composed dance track "Natural Vegetarian"- about famous name veggies and following from this lived & worked in Washington DC, USA where he played & recorded the deep environmental lyrics of "Song For Gaia". Back in the UK in Sheffield, on a student grant as a teacher, he went solo and wrote the track 'Metropolitan' - a powerful track about the trams and city life. From here he moved to Nottingham and wrote many other tracks including 'Happy Holidays', 'Love Never Dies' and 'Where Are You Babe'. Finding a new spiritual home in Hebden Bridge, he ran the local musicians night there as MC at The Trades Club and here recorded his first demo album "Let Your Soul Walk On" in a single day at Woodman’s Studio, Elland. The title track was based on empathising with the homeless and other songs reflected much on the struggles of human life . Getting onto the programme at the Riverside Festival, 2003 and went on to perform several times at Heptonstall and Eastwood festivals in Calderdale. He stormed through all the heats in York to gain third place in the final of "Turn of the Year" acoustic performer's competition and later supported The Emily Smith Band at the National Centre for Early music. Following appearances in the 'York Live' weekend as a 'Guerrilla Musician' he was filmed and appeared on a slot on York TV. After appearing at Towersey Festival 2006 selected to be a 'showcase' performer he went on to appear at 'Festival On The Moor' at Kirbymoorside. # In 2007 he performed live on 'CafeImprov' for local USA TV just after realeasing his full album 'The Hurricane Effect'. Later that year he supported the original Wishbone Ash (Martin Turner's) and also The Groundhogs (Tony McPhees) and guested at several UK festival. # 2008 has seen performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Solfest, Beverley, OffTheTracks, Cockermouth and other UK festivals and venues....watch this space!