Off the back of their recent management announcement, Sunshine Coast duo Hoo8Hoo are raring to play Nambour's monthly Tramfest this month.
The Aitken brothers, Tim (guitar and vocals) and Sam (percussion and vocals), have been busy with local radio station gigs, interviews, television appearances and most recently, their signing with an international manager.
Recently on the 'TODAY Show', the boys announced their partnership with international band manager Dennis Dunstan, who contacted the pair earlier this year with a keen interest in taking them under his wing.
Dennis, who was instrumental in the management and success of massive international bands Fleetwood Mac and Men At Work, is now officially Hoo8Hoo's manager. "We're working together to develop a live show for everyone. We're writing a heap more songs, and we're hopefully going to get an album out by next year," Tim says.
The boys have been harmonising and playing music since childhood, but it’s only in the last four years that they formed Hoo8Hoo and began busking together.
Hoo8Hoo busking with Cody SimpsonDespite their youth, the Aitken brothers are certainly far from inexperienced, earning countless prizes for their talents: from the Noosa Jazz Festival to Byron Bay Bluesfest Busking Competition. "Sam and I entered in a lot of busking competitions, and one of the competitions that we won got us recording time… we recorded our first album with that time," Tim explains.
In their second visit to the recording studios, Hoo8Hoo certainly had to deliver on their potential, working with Byron Bay-based producer and mixer Nick DiDia, well-known for his production work for renowned artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Train and Pearl Jam.
However, the boys are far more inspired by modern-day big talents such as Ed Sheeran and The Script, and have seized every opportunity to spread their songwriting and musical talents. They were even approved to busk outside Suncorp Stadium prior to Ed Sheeran's concert last year.
Though to these youngsters, rubbing shoulders with the big names in the industry isn't about the fame or glory that comes along with it. “[The people we’ve met] have always told us, no matter what happens be thankful. We’ve met a lot of inspiring people, a lot of people that have shaped us to the music that we create now.”
Also coming from a humble, busking beginning, indie-folk singer-songwriter Passenger has recognised and embraced the local boys' talents, even inviting them backstage for a meet and greet after hearing them busking outside his concert venue before the show. “He has really helped us and kept our feet on the ground,” the younger of the two, Sam, says of the experience.
Catch Hoo8Hoo at Tramfest – a monthly community food and arts event to support the proposed return of a tram service to the Nambour – on Saturday 19 March from 5pm.
