Unida Announce European Tour with Mark Sunshine on Vocals
As regards filling shoes in heavy rock and roll, filling John Garcia‘s seems like it would be only the most significant of tasks. That duty — for the duration of Unida‘s upcoming Fall European tour of festivals and club dates — falls to Mark Sunshine, last heard from on New Jersey-based RiotGod‘s third album, Driven Rise (discussed here), for Metalville Records. His work there and on that Monster Magnet-affiliated band’s prior two outings proves dude has some pipes, but even so, to step into John Garcia‘s role as the frontman for a landmark act in no small part because of his performances act? No small feat. Not to say it can’t be done, just that I’m surprised it is.
The band will play Desertfest Belgium, Into the Void in the Netherlands, Tabernas Desert Rock Fest, Rockthrone Fest in Barcelona and Keep it Low in Munich, not at all in that order, and more shows besides. I hear great things about Vortex in Siegen, for what that’s worth, and there’s that one open day on Oct. 8. That’s a Saturday, so I have to imagine there’s another show or festival in or around Germany that will fill that slot that just hasn’t been announced yet. Wasn’t Heavy Psych Sounds doing something around then?
Anyhoozle, glad to see Unida getting out, in any form. Been nine years since I was lucky enough to catch them in London (review here) and Arthur Seay consistently knows how to put on a show, so it’s easy to imagine this’ll be a good time. Album? Slow down. They posted a clip of a new song last year, but I haven’t heard much of anything about it since. Could happen, hasn’t yet.
From socials:
Unida European tour in oct, John will not be singing but gives us his blessing, he is not out of the band either lol, we welcome our brother @marksunshine from RiotGod who is killing it on vocals!
We will be playing Wayne Gro and Urbam Coyote in their entirety!!! Plus more.
Says Mark Sunshine: “[Rockthrone Festival is] The first date in the 2022 Euro tour for Unida, the band I will be accompanying, as vocalist, for their return to the stage and circuit. It will be some hard work and attention to detail, especially for me but my goal is to put forth the best live experience possible. For the band to tour without their legend vocalist John Garcia — makes this a multi-faceted challenge — which I would like to think motivates all involved — focusing on gittin’ down — letting the music shine. 110% #unidatour2022”
Unida European Tour 2022
30/09 Barcelona Spain Rockthrone Festival
01/10 Tabernas Spain Tabernas Desert Rock Fest
04/10 Torino Italy Spazio 211
05/10 Livorno Italy The Cage
06/10 Mezzogo Italy Bloom
07/10 Munich Germany Keep it Low Fest
08/10 TBA
09/10 Leeuwarden Netherlands Into the Void Fest
11/10 Dublin Ireland The Grand Social
12/10 Belfast Northern Ireland Voodoo
13/10 London UK Nambucca
14/10 Siegen Germany Vortex
15/10 Antwerp Belgium Desertfest
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