Lockren
Amanda

Amanda has been singing since she was 12 years old when she saw her friends perform in a local talent show and she decided she wanted to give it a try too. She sang in public for the first time at her school's 6th grade variety show. She then entered a local talent show and tied for 2nd and she has been singing ever since.

Amanda took every opportunity she could to sing in public. She would sing karaoke wherever kids were allowed and she entered talent and variety shows. Amanda also sang the National Anthem at sporting events around the area including stock car races and Kernels, Rough Riders, and River Raiders games. She performed as the opening act for several local bands and made guest appearances performing with the band New Country Generation at the 2003 Northeast Iowa Steel Guitar Jam and the band Diablo at Let’s Dance in Cedar Rapids.

Amanda started her own business, “Amanda Entertainment”, to organize and promote her own Talent Showcases. These variety shows gave her a chance to do what she loved and also allowed her to help other musicians that were looking for a place to perform. These shows were held at the Coggon Opera House in Coggon, Iowa and other venues and an impressive total of 45 different performers participated in these Talent Showcases. The shows featured a wonderful variety of country, gospel, pop, classic rock, and acappella.

In the Spring of 2005 Amanda started the next phase of her career with the debut of the band LOCKREN at the Coggon Opera House. LOCKREN quickly gained popularity and Amanda was thrilled to be able to bring her love of music to a broader audience. Since 2005 LOCKREN has played venues all over Eastern Iowa and parts of Western Iowa and Illinois. The band has had the privilege of being the opening act for Jason Michael Carroll, Randy Houser, Tracy Byrd, Rodney Atkins, Craig Morgan, and Gary Allen. For Amanda, though, the greatest part of the shows is the fans. She loves meeting and personally getting to know them, signing autographs, seeing them in the crowd wearing “LOCKREN” T-shirts, and getting out on the dance floor with them at breaks.

Amanda knows that music is an unpredictable industry and it is important to have diversified interests. Amanda is finishing up classes this year to get her college degree. She also has been learning to play the Bass Guitar. The fans can see her playing a handful of songs on stage with the band and she is continuing to learn more. Amanda recently purchased her own karaoke system and has started her own karaoke business, “Neon Nites”. She has several venues where she is already running karaoke and the response has been great. She is thrilled that over ten years after she started singing she is still able to share her love of music with others.