HERRIMAN, Utah, Nov. 5, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Singer Whitney Lusk admits she loves the rush of serving as an opening act for a country artist she admires at a sold-out venue, or singing to a big and appreciative crowd at a county fair.
But there’s just something special about playing in an intimate venue for a home state crowd. On Friday, Lusk plays the Redemption Bar & Grill. She has fond memories of her last visit.
“It’s intimate, because the quantity of people allowed in is lower, so there’s like 100 people, and the last time we sold out, which was really, really cool,” Lusk told Gephardt Daily. “I would say that was a success and a highlight for me as well, for me to be able to say I sold out as a headliner.
“And you get to see faces in the crowd, and hear them singing along, or just see them enjoying the show. I feed off that energy quite a bit. It’s the best thing, when people smile, or even sing along to my original songs. It’s so cool.”
Lusk said when people compliment her voice, they remark that it is pure and clear, with great tone.
“People often tell me I sound better live, which, as a vocalist, is an incredible compliment. And they say my voice has quite a bit of power, so I’ve really homed in on that.”
Her sound has led to concert opening gigs with country artists including Josh Turner, Maddie & Tae, Aaron Watson, Granger Smith, Russell Dickerson, and Billy Currington.
Lusk said she had recorded an album when she was younger, but decided to record a new album to demonstrate her style as a more mature artist of 26. This year, she released As Good As It Gets, which includes the single “All of My Girls.” Sample it below.
When she’s not on the road, the Spanish Fork native calls Utah home. She remembers finding her love for singing early on. She has memories of herself as a 4-year-old, belting out “Little Mermaid” songs in the tub, and of singing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” at a recital after she began studying voice at age 8 with a teacher who told her mother Whitney was too young to focus.
She was not.
At age 13, Lusk joined her first rock band, which was already named by the boys who formed it.
“It was a dumb name, like Switch Kill. That was a name I would not have picked,” Lusk recalled with a laugh.
And by age 18, Lusk was playing with some of the musicians who work with her today. The group includes two guitarists, who will accompany her at Redemption, plus a base player and a drummer.
Redemption Bar & Grill, at 3517 W. Maradona Dr., hosts its music and comedy shows in its basement. The building’s main floor houses the sports bar, featuring multiple video screens for viewing games, and tables named in honor of various area law enforcement agencies. In the back is an area where local bingo players come for their weekly fix.
And the top floor serves as a playful tiki bar, with tropical themed decor and even a few swings as seating options. Redemption Bar & Grill seems to act as a magnet for people who like good food and good times.
But Lusk, of course, hopes people will focus on the performance area this Friday. She goes on at 9 p.m., and people who buy tickets to her show will have their names entered into a drawing for two coveted tickets to Saturday’s Utes versus Cougars football game. (Those who don’t win are welcome to return to Redemption’s main floor on Saturday to watch the game at what the owners call “Utah’s Sports Bar on Steroids!”)
For more information about Redemption Bar & Grill, including its menu and events schedule, follow this link.
To get tickets, $15, for Lusk’s Redemption show, go here. For more details on Lusk and how to find her music, click here.
