Lost Woods festival continues to grow

Michael Rogers is singing the opening act as the time hits 8:30 p.m. Andy Fuchtman gracefully plays the guitar. Jacob Pauli plays the keys/beats. The sound can be heard from cars passing Lone Tree Road.

The fourth year of Lost Woods Musical Festival happened last weekend on Friday kicking off for the Lost Woods Music Festival. Friday the event’s doors opened at 6 p.m. There were performers from 6:30 until around 11.45 p.m.

Pauli from the band Salt Fox said, “We created Lost Woods to bring something totally new to the Cedar Valley. We wanted people to walk into the woods and see/feel something different.”

Pauli said, “Salt Fox has been writing, recording, and performing since 2020.” 

In 2016 Salt Fox first formed the band in Cedar Falls. They were having an outdoor barbeque when they started playing music together and ended up forming a band called Salt Fox. The three members are Rodgers, Fuchtman and Pauli. They released their first debut album on July 15, 2022, titled Places, and since then one more full length album. The band has also released several standalone singles since 2022.

For the Lost Woods event, Pauli said, “We research bands all year, we try and fail to book many of them. The goal is to introduce the community to new music but also to showcase some Midwest talent as well.”

Pauli said, “Michael named the event. It seems appropriate as the space has grown and the potential to get lost has become more real.”

The performers on Friday were Almir M & Tribun band and Emir Đulović. Almir M & Tribun band are from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The band formed in 2002. They all have a shared love of performing music. Almir Medija is the lead vocalist and plays guitar, Admir Čaušević plays keyboards, Emir Vatrić does the percussion and the drums. Nermin Bukva plays bass keyboards.

Almie M & Tribun band first released an album in 2007 titled Tamo Gdje Si Ti. The album has nine songs lasting 32 minutes and 42 seconds. The band has released two albums throughout their music career. Almie M & Tribun has released 13 standalone single tracks since Oct. 26, 2010. 

Đulović uses Bosnian sounds with modern styles. He started his music career in 2003 when he won the Obn Folk Talent competition in Bosnia. Elmir is from Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. His first album he released in 2006 titled Magija Ijubavi. Emir has released more than 80 songs in their music career.

 Pauli said, “Ticket sales fund the event but we have also gotten quite a bit of help from the community this year through donations or sponsorships.”

The Lost Woods main event doors opened at 2 p.m. The music started at 4 p.m. On the main stage Daniel Xavier & co performed at 4 p.m. Next Sallyforth performed at 4:50. Then Jim Swim & friends performed at 5:55 p.m. Next Flake performed at 7 p.m. Finally, Salt Fox performed at 8:30 p.m, and then Magic City Hippies performed at 10 p.m.

Pauli said, “We are always willing to take donations to keep the event alive.”

Lost Woods is located 1400 Lone Tree Rd Cedar Falls. There is a main parking lot for the event; however, when it is full there is another place to park across the street. General admission was $74.75. VIP was $192.50. The Saturday camping pass was $57.50. The two night camping pass was $165. 

Pauli said, “We get so much help from volunteers, dirt movers, graphic designers. It’s what makes it so community driven.”