8 BALL AITKEN BAND are coming back to Melbourne to play GEORGE LANE ST KILDA on TUES DEC 30.8 Ball Aitken has toured the world performing his blues, soul, swamp-rock and groovy slide-guitar across twenty countries to date. He’s earned a loyal fanbase from his live shows and internet videos, while paying his dues as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He’s headed to Memphis with Taya Chani and his band in January 2026 to represent the Blues Association of South East Queensland at the International Blues Challenge.
8 Ball moved to Nashville, Tennessee, USA in 2012 and worked for nine years with many of the best in the blues business today. He won second place in the 2021 International New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival.
8 Ball is back with a brand-new collaboration album ‘Nightbird’. He wrote and produced the recording with soul singer Taya Chani at his home studio in the Glass House Mountains. The title-track ‘Nightbird’ immediately hit #1 on the Australian AMRAP Regional Charts in March 2025 for two weeks in a row as did their second single ‘Miss You The Most’ in May. 8 Ball & Taya’s signature harmonies and groovy guitars have proved to be a winning combination and festival favorite.
8 Ball’s previous two self-produced albums ‘ICE CREAM MAN’ & ‘ICE CREAM MAN 2’ both hit #1 on the Australian Blues & Roots Charts. The cast of musicians include 8 Ball’s band plus Grammy winning drummer Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy) and saxophone legend Buddy Leach (George Thorogood & The Destroyers).
8 Ball regularly tours Australia and USA.
Tour dates, tickets, videos, merchandise and more are all available from 8ballaitken.com
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY…
“8 Ball Aitken demonstrates that the blues are alive and well Down Under with this deep-in-the-pocket collection of modern blues and blues rock that’s built atop a swamp blues structure.” Chicago Blues Guide
“For a guy from Australia, 8 Ball Aitken really has the Delta in his bones… I wouldn’t be surprised to find Mississippi mud on the soles of his shoes.” - Gonzo Okanagan
“A lovely, enjoyable collection, start to finish, with the inevitable few songs that stand out, and invite you to hit the replay.” Blues In Britain – Graham Munn
“A mixture of balladry, wordplay, and cutting edge guitar, Swamp Blues 2 from 8 Ball Aitken deserves to be in everyone’s collection.” American Blues Scene
"Ice Cream Man is a splendid listen from start to finish. I highly recommend it.”
Philly Cheeze’s Rock & Blues Reviews
"I first saw him when he was young, hairy and straight outa Brisbane. Now he’s all growed up and going global. Unstoppable!”
Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Eagle Rock), Melbourne, Australia
"8 Ball is not an act any band wants to follow! ....even a 5 piece band will have to do some quick and serious note pounding to get 8-ball's vibe off the stage, it just hangs in the air long after he is gone.....he's a freakin solo red headed infector...!"
Mitch Lind, owner/promoter of the Riverhawk and Stringbreak Music Festivals, Florida, USA
“This is outstanding. The way it should be done. You have a new fan.”
Ray Wylie Hubbard (Snake Farm), Texas, USA
Event Venue
George Lane St Kilda, 20 Grey St, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia, Prahran
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
