Rolling Coverage: UNIFY 2019 Confirms, Clues, Predictions and more…
The countdown is on until the Lineup and Tickets for UNIFY GATHERING 2019 are released on August 9th and with so much going on, it’s hard to keep track of everything, so we’ve decided to keep you informed with all the news as it happens, including confirmations, official clues and potential bands we predict will be featured. Here’s what we’ve got so far:
Date, Venue + Early Access Camping
UNIFY GATHERING 2019 will be held from January 11 to 13 at Tarwin Lower, South Gippsland, Victoria. The new venue is on a Private Farm just a few kilometers from the original site, boasting more space for camping, campervans, toilets, coverage, food and market stalls and a larger stage area.
Also, for the first time, a limited number of campers will be able to gain Early Entry to the Campgrounds on Thursday, January 10th to help ease congestion into the event on the first day. More information about how you can snag an early entry will be revealed soon via the website BUT is this where the first potential band playing the festival was revealed?
Newly signed UNFD band Thornhill provided the soundtrack with their song ‘Reptile‘ on the promotional Early Access Camping video teaser we saw all over UNIFY’s social media accounts. Considering there were also posters of the band around this year’s event, you can most definitely guarantee their spot on the 2019 roster, right?
You’ll have the option to arrive and set up camp a day earlier in 2019!
More info on this, as well as the rest of your ticketing options will be with you shortly ☀️ pic.twitter.com/K4VjW0se95
— UNIFY (@UNIFYgathering) July 30, 2018
Ticketing Options and On-Sale Time – *NEW*
This year with the inclusion of Early Access Camping and Campervans, additional packages will be available. Tickets will go On-Sale at Midday (AEST) on Thursday August 9th via website. For full ticketing details head over here
– GA Tickets: $229 (inc. all fees)
– Early Access Bundle: $229 + $150 (inc. all fees)
– The Complete UNIFY Experience: $229 + $300 (inc. all fees)
Lineup Hints
Not too long ago a statement/wrap up of the 2018 edition was released and it indicated what fans can expect when the lineup for the 2019 event drops in early August. In that statement, a whole bunch of hints were dropped about some of the bands featuring next year, some flying to Australia to ONLY perform at UNIFY (like Architects this year), they were:
“In 2019, we’ll have a bunch of International artists doing EXCLUSIVE shows, we’ll have some special album shows from multiple artists, exclusive reunion and throwback shows, and of course some sets by the artists that released the best heavy records of 2017/2018 on there as well.”
Fake Poster
As with every year (and every music festival), a fake poster was released online and speculation was official underway about how close to the real deal it would be. UNIFY organisers have confirmed some of the bands featured on the fake poster will be playing at the actual event, who might they be though?
While this poster is obviously fake (we would have many more Australian acts in prime slots on a UNIFY lineup), we are happy to confirm you’ll be seeing a couple of these bands in 2019. pic.twitter.com/Is9N9y2l0z
— UNIFY (@UNIFYgathering) July 11, 2018
Lineup Reveal – *NEW*
The official lineup will be revealed Thursday August 9th at 9am (AEST) via UNIFY. At the moment they have only offered hints/clues via us and their social media accounts. Nothing is confirmed and everything else is just speculation at this point in time. Once it’s all out in the open though, that’s when we’ll all know for sure, so check back in then.
Disclaimer: Wall of Sound have absolutely no idea who is on the lineup. We, like you, are only speculating who we think we be included going off the clues we have been provided or that have been shared by UNIFY Gathering’s Crew.
We’ve dropping hints to my guy pauly. He doesn’t know anything other than the hints but he’s keen to speculate with you all! https://t.co/oxuadT78O6
— Luke Logemann (@lukelogemann) August 2, 2018
Teaser Poster – *NEW*
The UNIFY gang released their teaser poster for the 2019 edition sans lineup. Some clues/hints could be in the crowd. Ocean Grove have a song called ‘Beers‘ and they have played the festival before so, could that be another potential band maybe?
9AM Thursday… pic.twitter.com/zTiMQ9I9A2
— UNIFY (@UNIFYgathering) August 5, 2018
Confirmed Bands
Trophy Eyes – Confirmed to be playing via UNFD‘s Luke Logemann via Twitter and Clue
I Killed The Prom Queen (2005 lineup) – doing an EXCLUSIVE 2003-2005 Reunion Performance – Confirmed via The Faction (Details Here) REMOVED
Underøath – Confirmed via Short Fast Loud
Crossfaith – Confirmed via Short Fast Loud
Official Clues
Taking Back Sunday – “an international artist will be playing one of their early 2000’s albums in full” (Confirmed by UNIFY Crew to Wall of Sound)
Thornhill – 🥀 ⛰️ (Emoji Clue confirmed by UNIFY Crew to Wall of Sound. See Original)
Dream State – ☁️😴🗾 (Emoji Clue confirmed via UNIFY Social Media Pages)
Dream State – “an up and coming Welsh band will be a part of the festival”
(Confirmed by UNIFY Crew to Wall of Sound)
Underøath, State Champs, While She Sleeps, Crossfaith, The Plot In You and DreamState – “there will be 6 international bands performing exclusively”
(Confirmed by UNIFY Crew to Wall of Sound)
Turnstile – ↩️💃 (Emoji Clue confirmed by UNIFY Crew to Wall of Sound. See Original)
Trophy Eyes – 🏆 👀 (Emoji Clue confirmed via UNIFY Social Media Pages)
Hand of Mercy and I Killed The Prom Queen – “There will be 2 exclusive reunions at UNIFY Gathering 2019” (Confirmed by UNIFY Crew to Wall of Sound)
Hand of Mercy – 👋🙌 (Emoji Clue confirmed by UNIFY Crew to Wall of Sound.)
Our Predicted/Potential Bands
Northlane – with new single ‘Vultures‘ out and no more Australian shows for the foreseeable future, could this be when the boys make their live appearance again? Even if just for one, exclusive show OR a ten year throwback set, considering the band will be celebrating a decade in 2019?
Misery Signals – The original Scooby Gang are back including frontman Jesse Zaraska, lead guitarist Ryan Morgan, drummer Branden Morgan, rhythm guitarist Stu Ross and bassist Kyle Johnson. Earlier this year at a Music Festival in Iowa, Zaraska revealed the band were, in fact, making new music together and the album’s style: “will probably be a lot like of Malice” (aka the band’s 2004 debut album Of Malice and the Magnum Heart). What better way to re-introduce themselves to Australian audiences than via a Reunion/Throwback or Exclusive Show at the festival.
Thornhill – featuring on promotional videos for the festival AND the fake poster, could these newly signed UNFD members be the first name to tick off the list?
Avenged Sevenfold – 20th Anniversary Set. The band formed in 1999 and will celebrate two decades together in 2019. They haven’t been to Australia since co-headlining Soundwave back in 2014 (with Green Day) and since then they’ve released their 2016 album The Stage which Australians are yet to see in concert. Could Birthday celebrations be happening down under?
The Offspring – While we’re on the topic of Birthdays, The Offspring have a little album called Americana which will turn the big 2-1 next year too. They’ve already done an Anniversary Tour for Smash back in 2014, but could they Exclusively head to UNIFY for a Throwback set to get everyone keen as fuck?
High Tension – Having opened the first ever Download Festival in Australia and played at Splendour in the Grass, these heavy AF legends from Melbourne could quite easily make their debut at UNIFY in 2019 too, especially after the release of their new album Purge.
Pagan – The same can be said for these fellow Melbournians who also just put out their equally impressive debut album Black Wash. They are fast becoming one of the best upcoming black metal acts Australia has ever produced and they certainly know how to get the party started. They last appeared at the festival in 2017 and like a fine, red wine, have only gotten better with age.
State Champs – Our photographer Renae Egan caught up with the lads in Pomona, California when she was shooting the Vans Warped Tour for us and they alluded to the fact they were heading back to Australia in January. With no other tour in sight and their new album Living Proof released back in June, you can pretty much say they’ll be included right?
Sum 41 – The pop punk legends are touring for the 15th Anniversary of their 2002 album Does This Look Infected? Goddamn it’d be great if they’d bring that down under too considering the last time we saw them here was 2013 on Soundwave, the guys are definitely overdue for a trip to Australia, considering Dave Baksh aka “Davey B the Brownsound” rejoined the band prior to the release of their latest album 13 Voices.
Boxcar Racer – If this is going to happen it needs to be done right. Tom Delonge, Travis Barker (somehow), David Kennedy and Anthony Celestino playing the band’s 2002 self-titled debut album. They haven’t played any live shows since 2002 and never made it outside of America. Long shot but hey, UNIFY did say an early 2000’s album in full.
Crossfaith – Speaking of, they release their new album Ex_Machina this week and could be heading our way again for one of the Exclusive Show slots? They were only here last year supporting In Hearts Wake and Polaris, but with new music under their belt, that almost guarantees them a spot on the festival, especially since they’re signed to UNFD.
D.R.U.G.S. – Please for the love of all things heavy let these guys put their differences aside and be the exclusive reunion show… pleasssssee!!!!! They first formed in 2009 and only released one album, so, you know, it’s not much to relearn for a set.
Beartooth – They’re dropping their new album Disease in September and could potentially fall into the category of the Exclusive Show set. On another note, they’ve also toured Australia three times already, always as a support act though, so if they’re added on the lineup, let’s hope there’ll be a headline tour included as well.
Hands Like Houses – New Album -Anon out October 12th via UNFD. Yes they played this year’s event but not being a headliner means they could come back for another shot in 2019, especially with new music under their belt.
Silverstein – The guys just announced their When Broken Is Easily Fixed 15 Year Anniversary Tour across America with Hawthorne Heights, As Cities Burn, and Capstan. The band were just here in May with Comeback Kid, but could they return sooner than expected with their 2003 album set + Greatest Hits?
Steel Panther – Their debut studio album Feel The Steel turns 10 in 2019 and featured the classics ‘Death To All But Metal‘, ‘Community Property‘, ‘Asian Hooker‘ and ‘Party All Day (Fuck All Night)‘. If a possible contender (although, a little out of place), they’d be right up there for the “Special Album Show’ slot.
Lamb of God/Burn The Priest – LoG put out the Legion: XX album under their former name Burn The Priest this year and in 2019 it’ll be 20 years since they first formed. If that doesn’t scream they’re included, then I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.
Bleeding Through – The band reformed this year and released their new album Love Will Kill All in May. Another band that will be potentially celebrating 20 years since forming in 2019. At UNIFY though?!
Falling in Reverse – They were just here for Download Festival and sideshows with Good Charlotte but they’ve also released new music since then too so could they be returning to showcase them for fans at UNIFY?
Ocean Grove – No strangers to UNIFY, having played in 2017 already, the boys told us at Download Festival they’ve recorded new material and wouldn’t the best place for them to premiere some of this new music be at the event?
Casey – An up and coming Welsch band clue could fit these guys really well. They’re from South Wales and would be suited to the lineup perfectly
Dream State – As above, they’re an up and coming band also from South Wales too.
Neck Deep – Could you call the ND boys up and coming? Well since they’ve only been together since 2012 I’m going to say yes and they’re another great Welsch band so we’ll put them down for a possible appearance, despite the fact they’ll be here in December for a headline tour.
Backwards Dancer – Off the back of the latest clue featuring a U-Turn and a Dancing Woman emoji, we discovered (thanks to you guys) this band who have a great post-grunge/alternative-rock sound to them.
Turnstile – Also a contender on the back of the aforementioned emoji combination. Hardcore punk at it’s finest and regular visitors to Australia, could their next trip be for UNIFY?
Hand of Mercy – The boys called it a day back in 2015, however in our Final Interview with bassist Michael Dawson, he stated: “We’re not gonna do a John Farnham reunion within the next year, but in the same token if we wanted to play a show or a party or jam together, there’s no reason why we wouldn’t do it.” Chuck them in the maybe pile.
Skyway – The Gold Coast pop punk legends have been on a break for a few years now, reuniting every now and then for shows with international bands when they can. Back on April 1st (April Fools Day), they teased something on Facebook coming on 08/08/2018, but can we really believe anything posted on that day? If so, they’re a possibility.
Probable Ruled Outs/Not Appearing
Parkway Drive – Not only did they appear at this year’s event playing a Horizons Anniversary show, but the Byron Bay icons will have just wrapped up their Reverence Tour alongside Killswitch Engage and Thy Art Is Murder. I also doubt they’ll book the same headliner two years in a row.
The Amity Affliction – Yes they have their new album Misery coming out August 24th, but they’ve also got a whole bunch of free tour space between August 5th and September 28th so you can bet they’ll do an Australia Tour there and quite possibly a Regional Tour towards the end of the year as opposed to headlining UNIFY again, same rule from above with Parkway applies for Amity.
Tonight Alive – Appeared on the 2018 lineup.
Enter Shikari – European Tour kicks off January 10 2019 so no chance 🙁
A Day To Remember – Denied by UNFD’s Luke Logemann on Twitter
We will keep adding to the list when more information makes its way to us, until then keep an eye on our Social Media pages for the latest, up to date information on UNIFY 2019
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