The UNBELIEVABLE Musical Journey of 8 Ball Aitken

Join us for an intimate conversation with 8 Ball, one of Australia's most authentic blues and roots musicians, as he shares his incredible journey from growing up in a family of 11 kids on a North Queensland tobacco farm to touring 20 countries and spending nine years in Nashville and Austin.

In this candid interview recorded in Darwin at the Railway Club in Parap, 8 Ball opens up about his unconventional upbringing - living in a tobacco shed with his brothers, jamming with guitars while sharing space with pythons, rats, and bats.

He reveals how a chance encounter with a Koori elder changed his life trajectory, encouraging him to leave the banana farms and pursue his musical dreams.

Discover the fascinating stories behind his busking days in Melbourne and Sydney's King's Cross, including memorable encounters with actor Glenn Robbins (who played Russell Coight) and an unlikely friendship with a local street worker.

8 Ball shares wisdom gained from years of hitchhiking across Australia with just his guitar, learning that if you can captivate drunk strangers on the street, you might just have what it takes in the music business.

Learn about his unique daily ritual of not turning on his phone until he'd written a song (now adapted since becoming a father), and how this discipline shaped his prolific songwriting career.

He discusses his collaboration with Taya Chani on their new album "Nightbird," explaining why writing with a partner brings fresh energy to his craft after penning over a thousand songs in his time.

The conversation covers his remarkable achievement of setting up the Mount Coot-tha Songwriters Festival and running it for 21 years - what started as a fake TAFE assignment became Brisbane City Council's longest-running acoustic music showcase, featuring over 150 songwriters.

He shares his philosophy of creating music experiences "without the bells and whistles," focusing on authentic connection between artists and audiences.
8 Ball reflects on his transition from touring internationally to establishing his recording studio on the Sunshine Coast, where he now helps emerging artists while hosting intimate backyard gigs for 100 people and studio sessions for 40.

He discusses adapting to industry changes, comparing it to tobacco farmers pivoting when their crops became obsolete.

Throughout the interview, his humor shines through with closing pearls of wisdom like "Stop killin' volcanoes to make lava lamps", and stories about his famous three-string cigar box guitar that audiences demand at every show. Despite owning quality instruments, it's this handmade piece that truly connects with crowds.

This conversation offers rare insight into the life of a musician who chose authenticity over commercial success, community over fame, and fun over everything else.

8 Ball's story embodies the spirit of Australian roots music - resourceful, genuine, and deeply connected to the land and people that shaped him.

Timestamps
0:00 The UNBELIEVABLE Musical Journey of 8 Ball Aitken
0:48 Welcome to Darwin!
1:01 8 Ball's Song Writing Ritual & Life as a New Father
2:06 8 Ball's Life Growing Up in Far North Queensland in a Tobacco Shed
4:30 How Advice from a Koori Elder Changed 8 Ball's Life
5:41 Going global and Making The Big Move to Nashville
6:50 How a TAFE Assignment Changed the Face of the Brisbane Music Scene Forever!
9:25 Busking, Street Workers, and Drunks: 8 Ball Aitken's Lessons from Starting at the Base of the Music Industry Ladder
11:21 Collaborating with Taya Chani on the Nightbird Album
13:29 8 Ball's Advice on Living a Life With Purpose
14:25 8 Ball Talks about the Music that the Crowd Wants to Hear
16:05 Studio and Back Yard Gigs at 8 Ball's Home
17:23 8 Ball's Tea Towel Quotes of Wisdom

Special thanks to 8 Ball Aitken and the Darwin Railway Club!

For more 8 Ball Aitken:
Website: 8ballaitken.com
Shop: 8ballaitken.com/shop
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1LLlMQFnYUd7M9H7dYLR78
Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/8-ball-aitken/219690404
Facebook: facebook.com/8ballaitkenmusic
Concert Tickets: bandsintown.com/a/205252-8-ball-aitken

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