Launching Pad
Each month, SBA Music features an up & coming Australian artist or act. It's our way of showing our support for local talent, and to inform our network and friends about great home grown music.
This months feature artist: 8 Ball Aitken
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February 2012
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8 Ball Aitken is the redneck preacher at the shotgun wedding between country and blues.
It doesn’t matter which part of the family you’re from -- what does matter is the funky foot-
stomping hullaballoo at the all-night party afterwards. Since the release of his first album ‘Behind The 8 Ball’ in 2003, 8 Ball has toured through every state and territory of Australia. He has also built a strong international profile, having played festival and club shows throughout Europe, USA, Canada & Japan.
8 Ball Aitken is authentic -- a real-deal character who rattles the roof, stomps the planks,
and gets his audiences whooping and hollering along in a frenzy of pure exuberance.
He started work as a farm labourer aged fifteen, doing back-breakingly hard work on the
mango and banana plantations of the Atherton Tablelands, a man's work for a boy's pay.
A life-changing conversation with an Aboriginal elder, who told him he should pursue a
career in music, convinced 8 Ball to pack his bags, grab his guitar, and leave the farm to
meet his destiny.
8 Ball’s had several award wins including a Southern Star Award and two QLD Song
Awards (for ‘Outback Booty Call’ & ‘Yellow Moon’). His singles ‘Rogue Pony’, ‘Cyclone
Country’ & ‘Hands On Top Of The Wheel’ have all been top 10 country hits around
Australia. ‘Cyclone Country’ earned 8 Ball his first Golden Guitar award nomination while
single ‘Cowboy Movie’ was a finalist for APRA Australian Blues & Roots Song of The Year.
8 Ball Aitken is touring with his new live album ‘Alive In Tamworth’. With
his trademark electrified slide guitar, sense of humor, interactive 3D
audience participation and Queensland swamp antics, 8 Ball Aitken has
come up with a barnstorming riot of a recording. Averaging 200 gigs
a year, 8 Ball is right on his game throughout his new album, ‘Alive In
Tamworth’. He takes the country music capital of Australia by surprise
with a fun night out.
8 Ball Aitken Links
www.8ballaitken.com
www.youtube.com/8ballaitken
www.facebook.com/8ballaitkenmusic
www.myspace.com/8ballaitken
Phoenix Movement Records
Manager: Bird Jensen
Email: bird@phoenixmovement.com
Tour Dates
February
February 4 – Killarney Cup, Allman Park, Warwick, QLD, 3:30pm
February 11 - Beerwah Hotel, Beerwah, QLD, 8:00pm
February 12 – Harrigans Drift Inn, Jacobs Well, QLD, 1:00pm
February 15 – Press Club, Fortitude Valley, 8:00pm
February 16 – The Joynt, South Brisbane, QLD, 8:00pm
February 17 – Australian Institute of Country Music, Gympie, QLD, 7:00pm
February 18 – Beach House Hotel, Hervey Bay, QLD, 7:30pm
February 19 – Pioneer Village Country Music Club, Petrie, QLD, 1:00pm
February 23 – Wyong RSL, Wyong, NSW, 8pm
February 24 – Edgeworth Bowling Club, Newcastle, NSW, 7:30pm
February 25 – Riverstone Schofields Memorial Club, Riverstone, NSW, 8:30pm
February 26 – Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville, NSW, 4:00pm
March
March 1 – Yackandandah Hotel, Yackandandah, VIC, 7:00pm
March 2 – Paynesville Winebar, Paynesville, VIC, 7:00pm
March 3 – Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy, VIC, 9:30pm
March 4 – Williamstown RSL, Williamstown, VIC, 2:00pm
March 8 – Wickham Park Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
March 9 – Coast Hotel, Budgewoi, NSW
March 10 – Caledonia Hotel, Cessnock, NSW
March 11 – Royal Oak Hotel, Parramatta, NSW, 5:00pm
March 17 – Harmony Day Festival, Tamworth, NSW
March 17 – Couthouse Hotel, Tamworth, NSW
March 25 – Grand Junction Hotel, Maitland, NSW
To view more profiles of artists previously featured on SBA's Launching Pad, click here.
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