Hold on to your heads, UNIFY is gearing up for its glorious return after two hugely successful years as Australia’s newest punk, hardcore and metal festival. 2015 and 2016 saw punters gobble up tickets at an alarming rate, with both events selling out within hours.
This time around though, UNIFY have upped the ante, bulking up the festival to a mammoth two day celebration of all things heavy music. Fittingly, they’ve beefed up the bill too, pulling a sleuth of international heavyweights to play alongside some of Australia’s best acts. You can check out the monolithic lineup below.
Following the demise of Soundwave and Big Day Out, a celebration of heavy music has never been more important.
Alexisonfire
We weren’t kidding when we said that UNIFY 2017 had pulled some big guns when it comes to international acts, the cream of the crop being Canadian post-hardcore heroes Alexisonfire. The band haven’t been here since their sold-out 10th anniversary tour way back in 2012.
Five years is a long time for fans to wait, and seeing as the band have only made a handful of special appearances in that time, their headline set at UNIFY is going to be one for the ages.
UNIFY Is Going Boutique
‘Boutique’ might not be the most befitting term for a festival with as much guts as UNIFY, but there’s no doubt the festival has a special air to it this year. Taking place in the gorgeous Tarwin Meadows in Gippsland, just a cruisey two hour drive from Melbourne, the festival is unlike any other heavy music celebration past or present.
The festival organisers are on the ball this time around, taking in specific feedback from past punters and implementing a whole bunch of changes as per their requests. UNIFY organiser Luke Logemann has promised “more toilets and shade, less dust [and] lots of new food options”. There is a also a VIP option this year, as requested by past ticket holders.
The Local Talent
UNIFY is focused on showcasing the potency of Australia’s own heavy music scene. They’ve not only handpicked some of the buzziest Aussie acts going around, but also some staples from the past who will no doubt be getting those nostalgic juices flowing. For instance, The Getaway Plan will be playing their 2008 breakthrough album Other Voices, Other Rooms in it’s entirety for the first time ever.
Another blast from the past, House vs Hurricane will be reforming to play for the first time since 2013. These are just two of the 20 Australian acts on the bill, ranging from bands who are killing it right now like Violent Soho, Northlane, Thy Art Is Murder and Luca Brasi, to punk heroes Bodyjar and up-and-comers like Polaris and Bare Bones. UNIFY 2017 is all about the local talent.
Camping Festival Vibes
Aussie rock events like Soundwave and Big Day Out have always been synonymous with sweltering concrete festival grounds, devastating set clashes and one hellish train ride home. UNIFY circumvents all those things.
With the expansion into a two day camping event, the festival promises a more punter friendly atmosphere with fewer set clashes, plenty of time and space to chill out, plus it’s BYO. The beach is also a snappy 10 minute drive away if you need to wash off.
UNIFY Are Flying The Flag For Heavy Music In Australia
There really isn’t a whole lot happening when it comes to large-scale punk, hardcore and metal events in Australia right now. While there are certainly smaller pockets scattered around the country where heavy music is bubbling away nicely, the demise of Soundwave in 2015 has left a huge crater in the Australian landscape.
But UNIFY are vehemently sticking their flag where Soundwave used to be, and picking up the slack very quickly. With tickets flying out the door, its clear that punters are hungry for a festival exactly like it, and three years in, UNIFY have hit hit the nail on the head again and again. The event has a long, bright road ahead; jump on the wagon now.
UNIFY Gathering 2017 will take place over two nights and three days from Friday the 13th until Sunday the 15th of January at the Tarwin Meadows in Gippsland, Victoria.
You can get your tickets here. Tickets include camping.
Check out the full lineup below!
ALEXISONFIRE
VIOLENT SOHO
NORTHLANE
EVERY TIME I DIE
THE GETAWAY PLAN
LETLIVE
THY ART IS MURDER
LUCA BRASI
HOUSE VS HURRICANE
I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN
MOOSE BLOOD
STORM THE SKY
COUNTERPARTS
DEEZ NUTS
TROPHY EYES
KING PARROT
OCEAN GROVE
SAVIOUR
COLUMBUS
THE DIRTY NIL
POLARIS
THE BRAVE
BARE BONES
JUSTICE FOR THE DAMNED
DROWN THIS CITY
OCEAN SLEEPER
