FREE ENTRY SHOW! SAT NOV 15 @ DULCIES COTTAGE, MERIMBULAH8 BALL AITKEN & TAYA CHANI
Two heavyweights of the Australian soul-blues-rock scene 8 Ball Aitken & Taya Chani have teamed up with a new album project ‘Nightbird’. They’ve won a trip to Memphis to represent the Blues Association of South-East Queensland at the International Blues Challenge in 2026.
The title-track of their 2025 album ‘Nightbird’ immediately hit #1 on the Australian AMRAP Regional Charts for two weeks in a row as did their second single ‘Miss You The Most’. Signature harmonies and groovy guitars have proved to be a winning combination making them festival favorites.
8 Ball Aitken performed around the world for more than a decade across twenty countries to date. 8 Ball moved to Nashville, Tennessee, USA in 2012 and worked for nine years with many of the best in the blues and roots business today. He won second place in the 2021 International New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival.
Soul-blues singer Taya Chani released her debut album 'Restless Heart' widespread airplay and rave reviews in 2019. In 2023, the duo released their first collaboration, ‘Only Guiding Light’ from album ‘Ice Cream Man 2’ that hit #1 on the Australian Blues & Roots Charts.
8 Ball and Taya’s mutual love for Southern American music, blues, country, soul and fancy jazz chords brought them together. Whilst on their first Australian tour in 2022, they began co-writing songs. They realised very quickly that they had an album worth if songs and set a studio date.
The cast of musicians on the new ‘Nightbird’ album include USA saxophone legend Buddy Leach (George Thorogood & The Destroyers), drummer extraordinaire Declan Kelly, and 8 Ball’s younger brother Dillion James Aitken on keys.
8 Ball Aitken & Taya Chani are touring Australia for the rest of the year on the ‘Nightbird Album Tour’.
Check out the tour dates, videos, merch and more on 8ballaitken.com
Event Venue
Dulcie's Cottage, 60 Main St, Merimbula NSW 2548, Australia, Bega
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