Everwild Festival, the annual camping soiree held ever summer in Ohio’s lush Legend Valley and produced by Cleveland-based band Tropidelic, has a cult following.
Courtesy Everwild/Matt Brown
Visit the festival’s Facebook page and you’ll find everything from Tropidelic-themed tattoos, jewelry, and drink koozies to ride shares, merchandise trades, and threads discussing every aspect of the festival in great detail at dizzy length. The festival has a staggering rate of repeat guests, who’ve created a community (or “family, as they say) for themselves.
With a week to go until the festivities begin, we wondered: what makes Everwild so special? Besides the life-size dinosaur installment, Vocalist/rapper/trombone player/sometimes percussionist James Begin explains,
“Everwild is something you just have to experience for your self. It’s a place where communities collide, lifelong friendships are made, and we can celebrate the music that brings us together and gets us through the rest of the year”
The Pier sat down with lead vocalist and Everwild producer Matthew Roads for a few rapid-fire questions to help us get to know the festival a little better.
Courtesy Everwild/Matt Brown
TP: What is the brief history of Everwild?
MR: We threw a weekend pool party festival with friends in the beginning of August in Atwater, OH in 2015. After a few years of that and partnering with JSG Live, we established the event formally under a different name which lead us to Everwild [as of 2021].
TP: Favorite thing about Legend Valley?
MR: It’s legendary in the community and run by great people. There’s tons of amazing history there plus dinosaurs.
TP: Artist(s) you’re most proud of booking?
MR: This year? Stick Figure, Rebelution
TP: What do you hope festival-goers take away from Everwild?
MR: Community. We’ve been blessed to have built an incredible network of friends and family out here in the Midwest but also around the country. This is the place where we all come together.
TP: How did you build such a tight-knit community around the festival?
MR: Relentless touring. Also just being accessible and regular
TP: One thing you wish people who have never been to Everwild knew?
MR: Dinosaurs
TP: Which theme night are you most excited for?
MR: 90’s night FOR SURE
Limited tickets including single-day, weekend, and camping passes are still available.
Courtesy Everwild/Matt Brown