Website: http://www.facebook.com/nikkilunden

 

Iowa City-based singer/songwriter Nikki Lunden brings high-energy folk rock to Eastern Iowans in a number of ways. She performs solo with her acoustic guitar. She has been the lead singer and co-founder for both The Trollies and Surreal Sauce, formerly the Love Bandits. She also has played bass and sang with Amanda Miller and The Super Secrets.

With influences including Sheryl Crow, Ani DiFranco, Bette Midler, Victor Wooten and many musicians in the Iowa City scene, this prolific song writer has recorded seven CD’s since 2000. Hoopla sat down with Nikki to learn a little more.

How long have you been performing music?
My whole life pretty much. Professionally, I’ve been playing for near 15 years, beginning with the Sunday Night Blues Jam in Fort Madison at the age of 18. I immediately fell in love with being on stage.

Where are you playing these days?
I love playing gigs at The Mill in Iowa City and Mahoneys in Cedar Rapids. They have extremely fun crowds and I feel at ease in both venues. It’s easy to get rockin’ when the crowd is rockin’ with you. It’s truly gratifying to get the audience involved in the show.
I play a lot of clubs and bars, such as the Yacht Club, Piano Lounge and The Blue Moose in Iowa City. Shuey’s in Shueyville, is a fun venue I’ve been playing since August. The Trollies will be playing New Year’s Eve there. I’m hoping to get into some bigger cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines, Omaha, and then we’ll branch out even more. (Update January 2012: Nikki is planning a big solo move to Hollywood, CA to attend Musicians Institute and see what LA has in store!)

It seems that music is your life.
The scene takes care of me just enough right now that I don’t feel the need to get a “regular job.” My days are filled with music – playing, singing, writing, booking, promoting, rehearsing, that kind of stuff. I consider myself lucky. There is nothing better than jammin’ with my buddies, or playing outside with the sun on your face, or with the stars above. (Update January 2012: Nikki is now working full-time, part-time, and gigging to help pay for tuition and equipment costs for MI as well as saving for the big move to LA. Please help her out by purchasing her music - every little bit counts!!)

— PETE – Hoopla Entertainment – Cedar Rapids Gazzette Nov 2010