The sky over southern Ohio is gray and pensive as we arrive early for the Everwild Music Festival. A new art piece, depicting a spider spinning a web that reads "Forever Everwild," echoes the sentiment of the attendees. Now is the time to be Forever Wild. In just four short years, Everwild has evolved from an intimate gathering hosted by Tropidelic into the Midwest’s preeminent reggae event. As a devoted attendee myself, I wanted to understand what makes this festival so special. Like any good recipe, all the flavors must come together in harmony.
When the event first started, it wasn’t just a rebranded version of Freakstomp; it was a carefully planned replacement. Guests can choose to arrive early, before the big crowds on day one, when no music is ‘planned.’ This early arrival allows revelers to reconnect with old friends before the festivities kick into high gear, which is essential to the overall vibe. This isn’t just a music festival—it’s a family gathering. Bands and staff meander about, preparing while guests meet and reacquaint themselves. Somewhere, a sound check turns into an intimate, impromptu mini-concert. The roux starts to bubble.
As with any great dish, top-quality ingredients are essential. Most festivals book up-and-coming local bands as openers, but not at Everwild. The quality starts strong in the morning and continues through the late-night sets. Early fare includes bands like Arise Roots, Sensamotion, Rubix Groove, The Palmer Squares, and Ballyhoo!—all heavy hitters right out of the gate and total professionals. The acts hit the stage with the intensity of the burning sun, performing as if they were headliners. The crowd devours the treatment. Ballyhoo! had us all eating out of their hands as we enthusiastically acted out "Middle Finger," not in anger, but in camaraderie.
It’s during this early part of the day that I meet the grand master of ceremonies, Ryan Tobbe, better known as Tobyraps. He has been with the event since its inception, and I sought his insight into the festival’s direction. I caught up with him on the walkway between introductions, and we sat down for a quick chat. Toby believes the event has helped him grow, just as he has helped the event grow. He is an affable young man whose infectious personality makes every word feel heartfelt, which is why he is such a large part of the weekend. When I asked how the festival has grown so quickly—doubling in attendance for the third year in a row—his response was, “Precision pays off.” He says he wants to be doing this show forever. Again, forever Everwild. I see the pattern.
Another strength of Everwild is how it builds up the bands. The dinner sets are composed of up-and-coming acts, many of whom began their ascent after playing at Everwild. This year’s lineup reads like a fine wine list: Little Stranger, Soja, Hip Abduction, Kyle Smith, James Begin, and the amazing hometown favorites, The Quasi Kings. I could say more about Hip Abduction, Kyle Smith, and Soja, but what more is there to say? They bring the heat of the sun whenever they take the stage. Every year, the crowd for Little Stranger gets larger and louder. This year’s audience was incredible, filling the entire viewing area, and the show they put on validated the crowd’s enthusiasm. James Begin, Tropidelic’s rapper-trombonist, brings a palpable love to the audience, which they immediately reciprocate. He has assembled a fine group of friends, allowing newcomers to collaborate with the best in the genre—but more on that later.
I had a special moment with Zack and Benny Coleman, the frontman brothers of The Quasi Kings. Zack had just finished a set with James Begin, while his brother Benny could be seen at the side of the stage recording the performance. I asked the duo what makes this festival so magical. “Everyone works together and helps out,” says the accomplished saxophonist Zack, who had just finished a set where he was asked to rap. Benny, who missed last year’s festival, was taken aback by the sheer growth of the event. They both hope it continues to grow, but realize that growth may take away some of the intimacy. I can’t help but marvel at talking to two such like-minded individuals who connect the dots between Dave Brubeck’s "Take Five" (used to open their set) and the music of Steel Pulse. If you haven’t heard this band, find them. They’re going places.
Time to grab a little grub for the body to go with all this food for the soul. The food vendors are spot-on. Though smaller in number than the offerings at mega festivals, it feels like even the vendors were chosen for their top-notch quality. I find myself torn between the ever-popular Disco Pizza, fried chicken from Gyro Deluxe, or a smoothie. I opt for the famous Korean tacos and, as luck would have it, end up in line with Jinari Kemet. Time to grab a little soul snack while waiting on tacos.
Jinari is a rising star from the Cleveland area. He has the chiseled good looks of an action movie star and a commanding voice, yet his demeanor is sweet and humble. I ask how he’s enjoying the weekend, and he is over the moon. He says that getting to work with so much talent and being treated so well by the community has been really good for his psyche. The real treat was ours, as we discovered during his set with James Begin. Pairing established talent with rising stars like Jinari allows up-and-comers to be discovered by larger crowds. Get out and see him now so you can be one of the lucky ones who can say, “I knew him when.”
The main course arrives with a tour-de-force of the best bands around today: Tropidelic, Bumpin Uglies, and Wookiefoot representing the Midwest/East Coast, and Stick Figure, Rebelution, and The Movement bringing that West Coast sound to the venue. Devoted fans were treated to some of the best performances from each of these bands as they played into the night. In a true show of professionalism, Tropidelic forfeited their spot on Thursday night due to weather concerns for the fans, allowing Stick Figure to rock the night away, albeit in a set split up by thunderstorms.
I waited until Friday night to meander through the Artist Village—a true dessert for the senses. An amazing fire show took center stage behind the permanent volcano from Lost Lands. While a young lady spun in a circle of fire, a multitude of glassblowers, painters, and other visual artists plied their craft, all while late-night musicians entertained with subdued sets, perfect for the night air. I was delighted to see the Coleman brothers on the small stage, bathed in blue light, while the crowd swayed to guitar and sax, finishing out the night.
There you have it: a weekend of music and friendship that is hard to match. Everyone left with great memories to last a lifetime and a hunger to return next year to reconnect and make new friends. My favorite memory from this year? Stick Figure singing "Angels Above Me" a cappella while the storm raged above. It was truly nourishment for the mind.
