A shared passion for music, determination through adversity, and a willingness to take risks have helped Natalie and Graeme Bevan build one of the North East’s most respected guitar businesses from their home in West Allotment.
Together, the couple run Geordie Riffs, a specialist guitar business offering lessons, repairs, maintenance and technical support to musicians ranging from complete beginners to professional performers.
While Graeme focuses on teaching and session work, Natalie has carved out a reputation as one of the region’s few female guitar technicians, attracting customers from across the UK.
Natalie’s love of guitars began as a teenager inspired by Oasis and Noel Gallagher.
“My dad bought me the cheapest classical guitar he could find and told me if I could make it sound like something recognisable, he’d buy me a better one,” she recalled. “I practised constantly until he had to admit defeat.”
Her fascination soon extended beyond playing to understanding how guitars worked. Following voluntary redundancy from her previous career as a project manager, she pursued professional training under renowned guitar technician Robbie Gladwell, whose clients have included Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Elvis Presley.
been worse.
Today, Geordie Riffs attracts customers from across Britain and even overseas. Musicians regularly travel hundreds of miles to benefit from Natalie’s repair expertise and Graeme’s highly personalised teaching approach.
Natalie believes she may be the only female guitar technician currently operating in the immediate North East area, something that often surprises customers.
“There aren’t many of us,” she said. “The nearest female technician I know of is in Yorkshire.”