CNSP Festival Director Andy Hope commented on the news

I saw the band live in the 70s and got in touch with bassist and founding member, Pat Martin, to see if they would consider playing at this year's festival. This led to original members Pat and Ken Baker inviting guitarists Nick Powell and Chris Wiley to a jam session where, Pat explains, 

We haven’t played together since [original drummer] Pete Perryer died and It was the first time Ken had played in a band situation since the late 70s, but we felt the buzz and wanted to play live again. 

With former Skunk Anansie drummer Wayne Riches completing the line up the five-piece are now in rehearsal sessions for their set in the CNSP solar-powered Big Top on Saturday 10^th August. Following the path laid by bands such as The Byrds, Poco and The Eagles; Unicorn instilled their own British flair into country rock in the 1970s. Championed by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, they released albums in the UK and USA on Capitol Records.  

Festival Director Andy Hope commented 

I remember seeing Unicorn in my Uni days and thought they were great. I contacted Pat on the off-chance they might consider playing and was very pleasantly surprised when they agreed. This is the first time their fan base across the globe has an opportunity to see them play live in nearly forty years. I loved what I saw when I came across Unicorn in the 70s and I’m sure all our guests at Croissant Neuf Summer Party will do too! 

Unicorn was originally formed in 1963 as vocalist Ken Baker and bassist Pat Martin met at school. They were joined by Pete Perryer on drums and eventually guitarist Kevin Smith. In 1973, after limited success playing around the UK and Europe, Dave Gilmour saw Unicorn play at a friend’s wedding 

“I was impressed by their vocal harmonies, their tightness and the fact it was their drummer that sang lead vocals. It was the songs themselves I liked best. I invited them to my studio in Essex to record some demos. This was the start of an association that was to cover 3 albums over the next couple of years”   -David Gilmour 

Following a signing with Capitol Records in the USA and Harvest in the UK and the recording of their first album, Blue Pine Trees, the band embarked on a US tour. This started with news from Capitol Records that the album was number one in the FM action charts and was followed by gigs supporting Fleetwood Mac and a then unheard of Patti Smith supporting them. 

The band went on to record two more albums. The song There’s No Way Out of Here from the album Too Many Crooks was re-recorded by Dave Gilmour on his eponymous debut solo album in 1976. A UK tour followed but from 1977 Unicorn became a casualty of the emerging punk rock scene and decided to call time on the band. 

Despite playing no more live shows the popularity of the band has remained intact, leading to the release of The Best of Unicorn in 1999 which continues to be popular with music lovers around the world. 

Croissant Neuf Summer Party 2013 takes place at Near Usk, Monmouthshire between Thu 8th to Sun 11th August 2013 tickets on sale here.