8 Ball Aitken
Ward's Brewery, 131 Auckland Street, 4680 Gladstone Kort
fös. 17.07.2026 18:00
🍺 WARD'S BREWERY PRESENTS AN EVENING OF BLUES AND SOUL MUSIC + BBQ & CRAFT BEER
🔥 FRIDAY JULY 17th, 6pm-9pm
🎸 8 BALL AITKEN & TAYA CHANI (SYD) - Memphis, USA INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE - Semifinalists 2026
🍔 The Backyard BBQ Boys. Food starts at 5pm until 8pm. Low & Slow BBQ (12 hour smoker). Two local smokin legends, Blocka and Troy
ABOUT 8 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 represented the Blues Association of South-East Queensland at the 2026 International Blues Challenge and made the semifinals.
8 Ball and Taya’s mutual love for Southern American blues, soul, country 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 title-track of their ‘Nightbird’ album hit #1 on the Australian AMRAP Regional Charts for two weeks in a row as did their second single ‘Miss You The Most’. The album was #2 for several months in the Australian Blues & Roots Radio Charts. They’re signature harmonies and groovy guitars have proved to be a winning combination making them festival favorites Australia-wide. 8 Ball & Taya are releasing new music and performing their third Australian tour in 2026.
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.
Check out the tour dates, videos, merch and more on 8ballaitken.com
Flytjendur
-
8 Ball AitkenFor more than a decade, multi-awarded global troubadour, 8 Ball Aitken, has flown the Australian flag on the international circuit performing more than two hundred shows a year, and is thrilled to be back in the place where his heart is.
Impossibly dedicated to his six-string muse and absolutely devoted to his audiences, 8 Ball Aitken’s funky, foot stomping energy and infectious blend of swampy blues-rock, have brought the party vibe to venues, festivals and high profile music events in the USA, France, Japan, Canada and Europe.
He has garnered numerous accolades, awards, rave reviews and recognition across genres with the single, (She’s Going To Mexico) I’m Going To Jail, reaching #1 on the Country and #2 on the Blues charts.
The international patron for the Airlie Beach Festival of Music is a prolific singer/songwriter and ace multi-instrumentalist, and brings his 9th self-titled album on the road for the Blazing Blues Summer Tour.
All video clips including his USA release, Sleepy, the achingly beautiful Girl In A Million, Seven Bucks An Hour in A Chicken Suit, Yellow Moon and Shut The Front Door may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/8ballaitken.
“Outstanding. The way it should be done You have a new fan!”
Ray Wylie Hubbard (Snake Farm)
“8 Ball has created his own unique sound paired with an enthusiastic performance, two things that aren't common these days He puts on a great show! He always brings in a great crowd and keeps them entertained all night long! We are forever a fan!” Old Texas Brewing Co. Burleson, TX -
The Backyard BBQ Boyswelcome to Central Queensland's newest low and slow BBQ service. coming to an event near you
-
Eightball Aitken8 Ball Aitken plays festivals, clubs/pubs & house concerts. For gig bookings: 8ball@8ballaitken.com
