All Feature Articles

8 Ball Aitken Rocks Out at Ri'chard's Café in Whites Creek

by Rich and Laura Lynch

8 Ball Aitken is a gifted musical personality hailing from the land down under. The first thing most notice about him is his striking red hair until he picks up a guitar to begin laying down some of the funkiest swamp blues you'll ever hear. We caught up with the performer at his home away from home in Whites Creek, Tennessee when he played an afternoon set at the cozy confines of Ri'chard's Café.


An introspective 8 Ball Aitken on acoustic guitar at Ri'chard's Café.

Aitken took a few minutes to cue us in on his latest happenings. The active artist has built quite a following for himself in the past decade taking full advantage of a dual-citizenship to sink strong roots in Nashville and Austin. A family emergency in the form of the passing of his father dictated that he return to Australia in the last year but he used the tragedy to reconnect with his countrymen by touring the continent as much as possible.

8 Ball just finished up a quick trip back state side in order to lay down tracks for his next album in Texas. He also assured us that as soon as all the details associated with attending to his family's needs are complete he will be returning to the U.S. in order to continue his impressive run on the table here one state at a time.

In a live setting it's easy to see to how Aitken has become a favorite in these parts. You can't simply chalk up his success to his ample talent alone. He is a showman with a witty personality and he is his own one man-marketing machine. Throughout his three-hour set the Aussie was reminding patrons to purchase his T-shirts, bandannas, music CDs and vinyl offerings or even a personalized kazoo that was a featured instrument on a number of his songs.


8 Ball has appeared many times at Ri'chard's Café. So much so that the employees were all wearing his gear while mouthing the words to his songs as he played them. Aitken had the crowd laughing as he told a number of jokes. He also utilized the multi-tasking café owner Ri'chard who joined in on harp and rhythm box throughout the show. Our favorite songs of the day included the sensitive "Girl In A Million" and the adventurous "Skydive" both from his most recent self-titled career-spanning release on Red Rocker Records.

8 Ball Aitken will spend the better part of the next three months racking up the miles in his homeland on what he's calling the "Rack Em Up Tour". Fans will get a chance to welcome him back as he brings his energetic and funky infectious blend of swampy blues-rock back to the Australian faithful. While he's there he is sure to preview tracks from his upcoming 10th album Swamp Blues as he charts his course all the way through to the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2018.

Ri'chard's Café provided tasty takes on Cajun, Creole and American served in ample portions. They are open from Wednesday through Saturday nights with an additional Sunday Brunch. The restaurant regularly features live original music provided by Nashville's premier up-and-coming artists and seasoned pros in a fun family atmosphere. We had the generous salads but we will be back for the fried mushrooms and pickles and a sandwich or two!


It got loud and swampy when 8 Ball pulled out the 3-string cigar box guitar.

Related Links: For more information on 8 BALL AITKEN and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- 8 Ball Aitken | Ri'chard's Cafe

.





Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rick Wakeman Puts His Keyboard Wizardry on Display at the City Winery in Nashville



Friends of Mister Rogers Hope For a Speedy Delivery Into Songwriters Hall of Fame for Beloved Personality on His 95th Birthday



George Becker Is a Man On a Country Music Mission in Nashville



Elvis Costello, Billy F Gibbons and An All-Star Cast Lend a Helping Hand to Support the Musician Treatment Foundation in Nashville



Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros Present a New Breed of Career-Spanning Classics at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville



Remembering Charlie Daniels in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee



Billy Strings - BlueJamming at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville



Nashville SC Gets Into the Black with Commanding Season Opener at GEODIS Park



Men of Valor and Their Musical Friends Have a Big Night at Belmont University in Nashville



Andrea Bocelli Is Beguiling at the Bridgestone in Nashville



Winter Jam Turns the Bridgestone Arena Into a Mega Church in Nashville



Jerry Phillips Shines a Little Light on Sun Records in 100th Birthday Celebration of His Father Sam



The Harlem Globetrotters Are Still Up to Their Old Tricks at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville



Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Friends Have No Trouble Rockin' the Ryman in Nashville



Nashville Star Sam Palladio Puts Himself Out There at the Blue Room at Third Man Records



Oh, Man - What a Show! Barry Manilow Brings All His Biggest Hits Back to Smashville



Cimarron 615 Keeps Simmering Right Along at The 5 Spot in East Nashville



Shiners Is a Brilliant Use of a Landmark Building in Nashville



Monster Jam Is a Really Big Deal in Nashville



Bluesman Chris "BadNews" Barnes Is On the Rise in Nashville



The Catio Cat Lounge in Nashville Is a Purrfect Way to Spend the Day. Fur Sure!



© 2023 MusicCityNashville.net
All Rights Reserved