Hello there,

Hope you're having a beautiful day, and a great 2005!

I'd like to ask your help. If you can spare some time and energy today,
I'd love to get your advice. The collective wisdom and experience of
groups like these is invaluable. As dedicated blues fans, you're the
people I need to talk with and learn from.

I manage 8-Ball Aitken, an original roots & blues artist based in
Brisbane, Queensland, (Australia) who has been getting national airplay
here on Triple J radio. 8-Ball is a contemporary performer, age 23, who
attracts the youth demographic to his gigs, as well as older blues &
roots fans -- he has an enthusiastic and loyal fan base all-round.

I believe in his talent (so much so, that I left my previous career to
manage him exclusively), and feel he represents a great future for the
blues in general -- as a young 'crossover' artist, who has the ability
and charisma necessary to lead others of his generation away from
computer-generated, mass-marketed crap and back to real, gutsy, heart &
soul music played by actual musicians.

We are currently booking gigs for the 2005/2006 event season, and I am
developing our game plan for this year. I want to help 8-Ball achive
the mainstream fame and fortune I believe his talent and musical vision
deserves.

This is where you come in. In your own personal opinion, what do I need
to do next to get him touring internationally (i.e., to your country?)

What record labels should we approach? (Our current release is
independent.)

Do you have any personal contacts, referrals, or even suggestions about
whom I should contact in regard to these areas?

Here is some background information:

8-Ball Aitken plays real-deal, gut-wrenching, swamp-stompin', Aussie
roots music with conviction and stark clarity. He means every note he
plays, feeling it deep in his soul, and laying it out in the stark
light of day for all the world to share. It's hillbilly emo with social
change on the agenda, organic music made in real-time, addressing
issues which affect the modern world. Described by fans as "Brisbane's
answer to John Butler", 8-Ball's music appeals strongly to the same
audiences who also enjoy the work of other great roots music artists
such as Xavier Rudd, Jeff Lang, and Ben Harper. However, 8-Ball's
material is unique, because his musical influences are steeped in the
rich musical stew bubbling up out of tropical Far North Queensland's
cultural melting-pot, where he grew up. There's a bit of blues, a hint
of wet tropics reggae, a Tablelands country twang in there somewhere,
and it all pours out of his guitar in a great gushing torrent of raw
emotion -- Queensland style.

8-Ball is a seasoned performer and proven crowd-pleaser. Previous gigs
(with a range of band line-ups) include:

FESTIVALS & OUTDOOR VENUES: Brisbane Blues Festival, Woodford Folk
Festival (Sunshine Coast hinterland), Lost World Festival (Gold Coast
hinterland), Cararra Stadium (Gold Coast), Yungaburra Folk Festival
(Yungaburra, Atherton Tablelands), Kuranda Ampitheatre Little Day Out
(Kuranda)

BRISBANE VENUES: Brisbane Powerhouse, Roma Street Jazz & Blues Bar, The
Zoo, Club No. 12, Melbourne Hotel, Pineapple Hotel, Story Bridge Hotel,
The Healer, Manly Hotel, Imperial Hotel, Orient Hotel, Waterloo Hotel,
Jazzy Kat Café, Grantley's Café, Satchmo's, Tongue & Groove, Ric's
Café

REGIONAL VENUES: Hard Rock Café (Surfers Paradise), Metropolitan Hotel
(Mackay), Johno's Blues Bar (Cairns, 8 month residency with Pete
Burges, ex-Backsliders), Charlie's (Cairns), Germania Club (Cairns),
True Blues Bar (Cairns), Anthill Hotel (Mareeba), Peninsula
(Highlander) Hotel (Mareeba), Royal Hotel (Mareeba), Mareeba Leagues
Club (Mareeba), Mareeba Bowls Club (Mareeba), Clohesey's Country
Gardens (Kuranda), Black Stump Hotel (Atherton), Pensini's (Tinaroo)

SUPPORT GIGS: 8-Ball has opened for Xavier Rudd, Stringmansassy, the
Bondi Cigars, Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges, the Zydecats (featuring Lucky
Oceans), Enrico Crivellaro, Finis Tasby, Alice Stuart, the Detonators,
Phil Emmanuel, Elephant Mojo, Lisa Hunt and Johno's Blues Band.

If you would like to check him out on the web, please visit:

http://phoenixmovement.com/8ball/music.html

My genuine appreciation goes out to you for reading this far. It's very
kind of you to take an interest, and your opinion is valuable to us. If
you have any comments or ideas to share, please e-mail me directly:

bird***phoenixmovement.com

I will be happy to post out a press kit and a copy of "BEHIND THE 8
BALL", his latest CD to any professional contacts you suggest -- just
let me know the address, and I'll get it in the mail to you.

Thanks again for your help!

Cheers,

Bird Jensen
Manager, 8-Ball Aitken