Rush tribute band Lotus Land, marking two decades since its formation, returns Friday to Penn’s Peak, located on Maury Road, Jim Thorpe.

The trio’s lineup consists of Chris Nelson, lead vocals, bass guitar, keyboards and midi pedals; Mark Dalton, drums and midi drums; and Bob Chartrand, guitar, backup vocals and midi pedals.

Lotus Land takes its name from a lyric in the Rush track “Freewill,” from 1980’s “Permanent Waves” album. The latter, along with albums such as 1981’s “Moving Pictures” and 1991’s “Roll the Bones,” ranks among the progressive rock band’s dozen top 10 titles on the Billboard 200.

Formed in 1968, Rush released its self-titled debut studio album in 1974. The group’s classic tracks include “Working Man,” “Closer to the Heart,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Limelight” and “Tom Sawyer.”

Rush, whose 19th and most recent studio set arrived in 2012, features lead singer/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. Drummer/lyricist Neil Peart, who replaced original drummer John Rutsey in 1974, passed away in 2020.

Rush’s Fifty Something tour, with drummer Anika Nilles, commenced in Los Angeles in June. The roadshow, also visiting Europe and South America, runs through spring 2027.

Born in Franklin, Massachusetts, Nelson answered music’s call at age 14 when he had the chance to play with a drummer for the first time.

“I played Led Zeppelin’s ‘Misty Mountain Hop’ riff, and when he came in with the drums, my future was laid out in pristine clarity.”

Regarding influences, “David Cassidy was my gateway drug to Zeppelin, and I was obsessed with Jimmy Page. Soon after came Jeff Beck, David Gilmour and Alex Lifeson.”

As a teen, Nelson met Herb Reed, founder of R&B vocal group The Platters, at one of his shows. The two clicked, and a few years later, Reed tracked down Nelson and “took me on the gig of a lifetime.”

Nelson traveled the world with the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer from 1994 to 2009, also getting to play with other Hall of Fame artists. The experience strengthened Nelson’s confidence in fronting a band.

“As a natural introvert, there was a familiarity and level of comfort when Lotus Land started playing to bigger audiences.”

When Nelson was singing Led Zeppelin, Beatles and U2 in bands, “without fail, people would tell me how much I sounded like Geddy. Being a crazy Rush fan, it occurred to me to give this tribute a go.”

A major concern, though, “was I was mainly a guitar player, and if I were going to do this, I want to be as authentic a tribute as possible. So, I shifted all my focus to bass guitar. Fortunately, Geddy too was a guitar player early on, and he plays so aggressively, it came somewhat naturally.”

When Nelson joined the then-four piece Lotus Land, the act became a trio. In 2009, with a new guitar player needed, Dalton recommended Chartrand, with whom he had played in a band years earlier.

Lotus Land members have seen Rush live numerous times since the 1980s. Nelson enjoyed a quick interaction with Lee a few years back on his book-signing tour.

“He was gracious and funny; everything you want in your heroes. I’m excited to be seeing them in Boston come September.”

Peart’s passing left Nelson feeling the lyrics “to a deeper degree. It’s sometimes challenging to get through ‘Time Stand Still’ and ‘The Garden’ without getting slightly verklempt.”

As for “amazing drummer” Nilles, Nelson finds her “the perfect choice. I had seen her on Jeff Beck’s last tour and was blown away. The energy she brings is undeniable. I’m hoping they record with her.”

Nelson, considering his go-to Rush music, favors 1987’s “Hold Your Fire.” The album, which still turns Nelson “into that 15-year-old fan-boy,” features singer-songwriter Aimee Mann on “Time Stand Still.”

The songs Nelson, who writes and records with various musicians, enjoys playing most “are those which my natural vocal register gels with best. Anything from the ’80s.”

Lotus Land, playing about 25 shows a year, tries to shake up setlists, as “we have loads of repeat fans,” though “if you don’t play six to eight of their big songs, we’ll hear about it in the meet and greet.”

Key gigs, aside from Lotus shows, include AXS TV’s “World’s Greatest Tribute Bands” in 2016 — from Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California — and playing fan event RushCon three times.

As for future endeavors, Nelson someday would love to “roll out an original project where I could swap out guitar and bass duties. Stay tuned.”