Nick Lutsko headlines Levitt Amp Concert Series tonight

What gimmick do Nick Lutsko and the Gimmix have lined up?

Only one l ocal act, Nick Lutsko, was chosen to headline a Levitt Amp concert series, which is being held over 10 consecutive Thursday nights at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.

Lutsko, in combination with Midnight Promise, t he l ocal opening act, will draw attention to the talent the Scenic City is producing when they take the stage tonight, Sept. 28.

Shane Morrow, concert organizer, says Lutsko is a rising star whom he felt needed to be placed in the spotlight.

“People questioned not having a nationally known act that night, but I said, ‘You mark my words, this kid is going to be national sooner than we think,’” says Morrow, who is executive director of Jazzanooga.

Lutsko is t he i ndie prog-rock artist who won the 2016 Road to Nightfall, and whose l atest claim to fame is writing songs and creating videos for the producers of Super Deluxe website. His video, “Donald Trump’s Tweets as an Early 2000s Emo Song,” drew national attention to the local artist.

Although he’s still working his day job at Bayner Media, Lutsko says his free- lance songwriting has almost become a full-time job. He’s hoping to make the transition to playing music full-time as a career by the end of this year.

“We were very excited and honored,” Lutsko says of his and his band’s reaction when learning about their selection as a Levitt Amp series performer.

“We went and checked out Kool Moe Dee the first week of the series. The people turned out, the energy was really great and it showed me we are really going to have to bring it. The whole lineup has been very exciting,” he says.

Lutsko says his band, The Gimmix, will be with him tonight, and they’ll be wearing their Muppet- style costumes. Lutsko and the Gimmix will play mainly original songs mingled with some covers. He teases they’ve a couple of surprises planned for the audience, as well.

Show time is 7 p.m.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Nick Lutsko and the Gimmix.