This coming November, the SoCal hardcore scene will come together at Scribble in Highland Park for Forever Wildland, a benefit show aimed at raising funds and awareness for the federal wildland firefighting community. The first batch of bands announced are Romper (Ventura), Beach Waste (San Pedro), Monk (Los Angeles), and Sweat (Los Angeles), with more being announced in the coming months.
"The event started off as a small comic book release, and by our second year it had grown to feature live bands and comedians from around the country," says Brandon “Robo” Robles, the organizer of Forever Wildland. "I hadn’t seen anyone else doing it, and with such a huge punk and hardcore crowd in wildland fire, I was surprised no one had brought it all together yet. I’m stoked to be one of the first to make it happen."
A wildland firefighter himself, Brandon explains how he connected the cause with hardcore punk. "I never played in any band that really left a mark, but the music shaped who I am. Through writing — both on Substack and in a comic book I created about my time on the fireline and the stories of other firefighters — I ended up connecting with Grassroots Wildland Firefighters. We’d been following each other for a while, and it was only a matter of time before our paths crossed.
"Grassroots is one of the hardest-working nonprofits out there, fighting nonstop for wildland firefighters — for better pay, better mental health support, better housing, and more. Their mission has the same heart, grit, and DIY spirit that drew me to hardcore and punk in the first place."
I asked Brandon about the first few bands Forever Wildland has announced for this year's forthcoming installment in November. "So far, we’ve lined up four hard-hitting bands representing the best of LA and Ventura County. Beach Waste, from Torrance, brings raw energy and grit; Romper, from Ventura — part of our first wave of announcements — delivers melodic, hook-driven punk.
"Our second wave introduced Monk, a fierce Zen-inspired hardcore band from LA, and Sweat, a tough, uncompromising mix of rock ’n’ roll and hardcore."
Though it isn't scheduled for a few months from now, it sounds like Brandon is still putting a ton of work into the event. "Right now, we’ve announced the core lineup, which I’m really proud of. If we’re able to bring in more sponsorship support, there’s definitely room to add more bands. We’re really looking at this year as the foundation for what we hope will become a show people look forward to every year — not just because of how sick the music is, but because it brings together two communities that have given me, and all of us, so much: hardcore and the wildland fire world.
"If you’re a band or someone who wants to sponsor, please reach out — we’d love to hear from you. Even if you can’t join this time, you can still help: look up Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, spread the word about the work they’re doing, and donate if you’re able. Every bit of support helps us keep pushing for the people on the fireline — not just during the fire season, but during the off season when they need us the most."
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The third annual Forever Wildland will go down on November 8th, 2025 at Scribble in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Get more information about the event, including the upcoming band announcements, at this link.
Forever Wildland on social media: Instagram
Tagged: beach waste, monk, romper, sweat
