The singer, songwriter, and guitarist is no stranger to the Old Bank Restaurant and Bar, having played at the 'fantastic' venue on multiple occasions prior to his up and coming one-night-only "Swamp Blues Party gig" next month.

Aiken says he 'can't wait to rock it at the Old Bank' once again.

"I try to visit Dubbo at least once a year," he said.

"It has a special place in my heart. Dubbo's a great town, it has a huge music community and I've made a lot of mates there from playing there over the years."

Aitken says the Old Bank Restaurant and Bar the perfect venue for an intimate show.

"It's just the right size for an intimate show- and I just think it's a fantastic venue- just having the music shop there and a whole lot of people there who are connected and really care about original music," he said.

"My girlfriend also really loves going to the zoo out there. We love the animals out there and we've both just made a lot of mates there over several years.

"We're looking forward to getting back out there, there will definitely be a few hugs given."

During his Dubbo performance, Aitken will showcase the new sound of his 12th album, Ice Cream Man, which consists of ten songs- the first track going by the same name.

"Ice Cream Man is blues-rock all the way. It's the kind of music that will get the party started," he said.

"I'll be playing Ice Cream Man predominantly, but I'll be playing other songs too."

Aiken says the COVID-19 lockdown period helped fuel his 'creative juices' leading to him having successfully created three albums, and he is currently working on another.

"I made three albums during the lockdown in Nashville," he said.

Aiken said some days he was writing up to three songs a day.

"It's just been the most creative time for creating new tracks, so I've just been going with it while the creative juices are flowing. It's just been the year for it.

"Ice Cream Man is the first album I have completely produced myself- I usually work with a co-producer but with this one, I put the whole thing together myself.

"I kinda feel like, if you stick out something for long enough you get exactly what you want."

Aitken says the inspiration for his lyrics generally comes from conversations.

"It's generally conversations that get my lyrics flowing," he said.

"I try to push my music in different directions- currently I'm working on a funky blues-rock album," he said.

One song in particular from the Ice Cream Man album has Aitken excited for his fans to hear.

"There's one song, in particular, I'm extra excited about, it's called Peace Love and Understanding," he said.

"It will be dropped as a single next month, but it's a whole bunch of peace quotes from the last hundred years put to music.

"I actually wrote it while the riots were happening in Nashville. The neighbourhood I lived in was equal parts black, white and Mexican.

"I watched the news and everyone was so upset and everything you saw on tv was the bad stuff, but I looked out my window and everyone in my neighbourhood was having a barbecue and it made me realise that the world needed a reminder that we just gotta treat each other well- my neighbourhood was just the perfect example of peace and unity."

Aitken said his love for blues music started at a young age and only grew as time went on.

"It's a myth that all blues music is sad," he said.

"Blues is really all about overcoming your struggles.

"I love old vintage blues, it's the grooviest music I've ever heard- so I just started playing it and never stopped.

"When I was in High School my friends were into heavy metal and rap and I was listening to B B King," he laughed.

"It's kind of funny, a lot of those guys are all listening to blues music now that they've mellowed out."

Originally from Brisbane, where he was born, Aiken relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, America, in 2012 to further explore to blues music origins.

Now living in Australia once again Aiken has been enjoying reconnecting with his grassroots- and he has one important piece of advice for his fellow Aussie music enthusiasts.

"My best advice is don't let technology steal ya time- I often write a song in the morning before I turn my phone on, sometimes I write two- don't let your phone rule ya life- wake up and do something productive," he said.

"Creating is our highest purpose."

Aitken may go by the stage name 8 Ball Aitken, but his legal name, ironically, is Eightball Aitken.

Aitken, which is his family name, changed his name to Eightball after the nickname 8 Ball Aitken was given to him following a Cairns performance when an eight ball flung off a pool table and landed on the stage he was performing on.

Fans will be able to grab a copy of Ice Cream Man during the gig.

The Old Bank Restaurant and Bar will host 8 Ball Aitken on Tuesday, March 23, from 7 pm.

Tickets are availble for purchase online at www.eventbrite.com/e/8-ball-aitken-plays-old-bank-dubbo-tickets-138527602789.