Mojave Experience 2027: Unida & Sons of Arrakis Join Lineup
Desert rock doesn’t get much more desert rock than Unida. And again, we see Mojave Experience 2027 doubling-down on blending new and old from the Californian desert while at the same time reaching beyond those confines of both biome and style with Montreal’s Sons of Arrakis. All along through these two-at-a-time initial announcements, that’s been the theme. Brant Bjork is certainly familiar, but Brant Bjork Trio is a new configuration. Big Scenic Nowhere, well, you’ve probably heard of Bob Balch (Fu Manchu, etc.) and Gary Arce (Yawning Man, etc.), but again, in this form, they’re doing something new. For the last few years, Unida has been putting fresh blood in vocalist Mark Sunshine and bassist Collyn McCoy to the test on one of the Cali desert’s most underappreciated catalogs. Familiarity, with a twist.
To be sure, Sons of Arrakis‘ progressive, melodic style will fit in just fine as well alongside HeavyTemple (also not a desert band in sound or geography), and that they’re making the trip has me wondering if a follow-up to 2024’s Volume II (review here) might be in the works. Given we’re nine months out from when this second edition of Mojave Experience will actually take place, I suppose there’s time to find out. Either way, the point is there’s no filler in the first six names on the poster, and plenty more to come.
From socials:
Mojave Experience – March 19–21, 2027
Unida
UNIDA has always done things its own way.
Built around the songwriting and guitar work of Arthur Seay, the band forged a sound that helped shape a generation of desert rock while remaining distinctly their own. Alongside vocalist Mark Sunshine, bassist Collyn McCoy, and drummer Mike Cancino, UNIDA continues to deliver the heavy grooves, soaring melodies, and unmistakable feel that have kept fans coming back for decades.
Their music carries a sense of movement. Long roads, distant lights, and the feeling that something waits just beyond the next horizon. Songs from Coping with the Urban Coyote and beyond still hit with the same power that made them essential listening for desert rock fans around the world.
UNIDA isn’t a band you stumble across every weekend. Their appearances are few enough that each one feels like an occasion.
Some sounds never really leave the desert. They drift through the years, gathering new listeners along the way. Next March, UNIDA brings that sound back to where it belongs.
Sons of Arrakis
Some music feels like a destination. Some feels like the road leading there.
Hailing from Montreal, Sons of Arrakis have built a reputation on massive riffs, hypnotic grooves, and songs that seem to drift somewhere beyond the edge of the visible world. Their sound carries the spirit of desert rock and heavy psych without feeling bound to either. It moves with its own momentum, creating a mood that lingers long after the final note fades.
There’s a sense of mystery woven through what they do. Not in a theatrical way, but in the feeling that each song is uncovering something buried beneath the surface. Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
As the circle widens for 2027, Sons of Arrakis take their place among the voices gathering in the desert.
Tickets on Sale Now!
Mojaveexperience.net
Artists Playing:
Brant Bjork Trio
Big Scenic Nowhere
Heavy Temple
Yawning Balch
Unida
Sons of Arrakis
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