Returning to the Cedar Falls forest for the third iteration of Lost Woods Music Festival felt like stepping into another dimension—a place where we could escape the chaos and stress of the real world for a single night of bliss. The brainchild of Iowa’s hardest working musicians, the Cedar Falls based indie pop group Salt Fox, Lost Woods 2025 went bigger and better while retaining its authentic, intimate, identity.
Glenn Houlihan
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: An unforgettable night at Gabe’s, courtesy of Seth David, Oh My God Am I In Public Right Now!? and Track Zero
Seth David’s appearance at Gabe’s was part of The Englert’s Track Zero initiative, a concert series launched in the fall of 2023 designed to “introduce Englert audiences to fresh, rising artists who are defining the next wave of alternative music.” The brainchild of The Englert’s former Programming Coordinator, Elly Hofmaier, Track Zero has already delivered some memorable shows to Iowa City.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Englert programmer Grace Merritt: ‘The arts are the exact antithesis to what’s going on nationally’
Grace Merritt came to Iowa City for college and stayed for the vibrant arts scene. “Growing up, I didn’t have that kind of music community,” she said. “Music in my hometown is like, ‘Do you want to go see the high school’s band?’” Merritt describes her hometown of Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago, as […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: Sophie Mitchell brought CD stacks, Lana vibes, a Mitski cover and her mom to Gabe’s for a joyful album release show
Heading to Gabe’s in Iowa City in what felt like a positively balmy January night (every winter here makes me regret leaving London), I was pleasantly surprised by the early turnout for Sophie Mitchell’s album release show.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Almost too magical to be true, Lost Woods Festival brought stellar Iowa musicians, cozy furniture and spellbinding vibes in its second year
A mysterious secret location? Tick. A stunning line up of Iowa’s best bands? Tick. Delicious local food trucks? Tick. What’s not to love? With this in mind, I started the ninety-minute road trip from Iowa City to Cedar Falls with high expectations.
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review + Q&A: Joytrip — ‘Mr. Time and the Joyful Ploys’
“You said you didn’t want love. You said that you didn’t want nothing. I don’t think it matters at all,” wistfully recites Joytrip’s Michael Schodin on “Taken Aback,” the infectious opening song of the band’s debut EP, Mr. Time and the Joyful Ploys. Schodin, Joytrip’s vocalist and guitarist, describes the band’s sound as “road trip […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Chaircrusher — ‘Distelfink’
Distelfink by Chaircrusher Iowa City’s very own Chaircrusher (a.k.a. Kent Williams, a regular LV contributor) is back. By Chaircrusher’s frantic standards — four albums in 2021, three each in 2020 and 2019 — 2022 has constituted a hibernation of sorts; an Eastern Gray Squirrel tucked away inside a tree hollow with nothing but an analog […]
