More Good News About The Unity Fest 2026 Tres Amigos/Amigas in Paraiso, Mexico…that’s Ixtapa & Zihua, by Tequila Rock n Blues Explosions Festival
The full text of our November 5 public news release is below the videos
Yes, The Unity Fest 2026, Tres Amigos/Amigas, a Come Together celebration is ready to roll. Here’s our second news release as we lockdown most of the details about the January 22-25, 2026 event in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa, Mexico. Our Paraiso, soon yours too!
It’s presented by Tequila Rock n Blues Explosions Festival. Since 2018, we’ve been successfully working together with locally owned Mexican venues, Mexican, Canadian and American performers, and great fans from all three countries and elsewhere. Big Hearts all, full of love. . We’re please to stand for Unity in 2026. Standing tall, we hope you’re ready to join us in that too. Lots of fun and great music all along the way.
Check out the chorous of our full Unity Anthem we will launch at the Fest. Join in and punch the sky in unison as we sing and shout “We Are Unity, We Are One”
We Are Unity, We Are One…The Chorus!
Our Most Popular Video On Youtube. By a Distance. Because That’s What Our Great Fans Are Saying. That’s What We As Volunteers and Organizers Are Saying. Yes Performers Too!
English Text Version of our November 5 News Release Below
_____________________________________________________________________________
November 5, 2025
Our Contact Info:
Contact: Bob Rempel, Managing Chairperson. Team Tequila Social Club, Residence & Office Address: Ixtapa-Zihua, Mexico. Phone/W.A:+52 755 101 5989 Emails: tequilabluesfest@gmail.com & bobrempel@gmail.com
Website: https://tequilabluesrock.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/tequilabluesfests/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tequilabluesrock/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/tequilabluesrockfestmexico/
***Enquiries About Attending Fest 2026 For Fans & Media-Go Here
Get Ready, We’ve Got More Good News For You…Listen to the full Fest Song Here Short Chorus Version Here
Introductory Note: When The Fest Director Was In High School, All The Tall Seniors Had Left And The Basketball Team Needed A Center. George, the hot shooting guard, said “Use Bob, he can play Center”. Then Coach Pete said “BUT CAN HE PIVOT”
We have made some changes from our first News Release of July, 2025. It’s On Our Website If You Want To Check It. Due To Circumstances that Arose, Or Never Materialized, Or Opportunities That Presented Themselves. The Answer For The Unity Fet 2026 Is “Yes We Can Pivot” “And Score”
-Evelyn Rubio, originally of Mexico City, now Houston, Texas, Geoff and Chris Dahl of the Toronto region, Canada and Lorena Cabrera Bernal and her bands from Mexico City, Mexico, headline our Unity Fest 2026. A Quality Mystery Headliner will be added as well just prior to the Fest to create more fun and anticipation.
-A Fan-Led Niche Blues And Rock Festival in Mexico Says Music And Big Hearts Full Of Love Can Reunite North America—One Shot, One Song, One Cause at a Time
-It’s Now Officially Called The Unity Fest 2026. Tres Amigos & Amigas Juntos, by Tequila Rock n Blues Explosions Festival.
-With An Official Sing-Along Anthem To Be Produced, So That Mexico, Canada and USA Fans, Performers, and Venue Owners Come Together And Sing In Unison, “We Are Unity We Are One” As They Punch The Sky And Hug Their Neighbour. And The Unity Anthem Rocks And Gets Bluesy Too, Of Course…It’s Who We Are. Listen to the Proposed Chorus in advance of full production here.
Today we are pleased to also announce that together with our local partners, Audio Keeper Sound and Lighting and Madana Restaurant and Bar we are pursuing a plan to have a free public music event at Zihua Centro, mostly likely at the Basketball Courts or nearby, on Sunday January 25 with a late afternoon start, with all Fest Performers and the best of Local Performers who want to join us performing.
We propose to call it “ZeeStock”…you know, as in Woodstock 1969, an event that changed everything. It’s meant to be a show of Unity with the audience of Mexicans, Canadians and Americans all joining in as we play the “We Are Unity, We Are One” anthem.
We say what a wonderful moment this can be for all of us who live that way day to day, who love and respect our neighbours across borders. What a great demonstration to the world about the magical qualities of togetherness that Zihuatanejo and the region, Mexico have. We look forward to the support of the City of Zihuatanejo for this plan so it can proceed.
We Have Additional Performers
We’re going to bring 80s Rock n Blues to be front and centre. YEM, from Mexico City, the all ladies 80’s Music band celebrating the music of female rock icons, featuring Lorena Cabrera Bernal on lead vocals. Sample their version of Barracuda by Heart here. Link to their Instagram here.
Reiner Piehl of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, brings us saxophone and keyboard talent and both lead and backing vocals.. Originally, with the band The Emeralds from Edmonton, who were famous worldwide for their song “Bird Dance” he would get us in the mood for rockin’ each event with a great mix of classic rock hits like the Beatles, CCR and more. Plus, he has invited a guitarist you know and love from our previous events to join him. We’ll make that our possible Mystery Guest #2 We said then why not add a female singer too and a drummer. So who knows we may even have a Reiner and Friends Band instead of a solo or duo.
It is with sincere regret that we have to announce that we have to make a deletion from the lineup. Joanna Connor will not be with us. We’ve decided it would not be a good fit for us or the fans. After months of discussions and what we thought was a firm agreement to appear … .we wouldn’t have announced it if we didn’t have it, including her video, suddenly, things changed. So we will move on.
It’s addition by subtraction, we say. More time for Evelyn Rubio, more time for The Soul Brothers, more time for Lorena Cabrera Bernal, and all the other Performers. Including our Youth Performers. As we’ve said many times, we only want to work with Performers who want to be with us in our blessed paraiso too.
More Fest News
Here’s what your 2026 Souvenir Fest Shirt will look like. Exactly. We’re using a DTF printing process this year. BUT…We’re only ordering limited quantities… you’ve heard about a Fest organizer’s biggest nightmare…merch with the previous year’s date on it. To guarantee you get the size you want, please order in advance of the Fest.
All shirts are in men’s sizes, and you can choose sleeveless or sleeved. They will come in black or dark navy. The order form will be on our website at the same location as advance ticket sales. Advance Sales T-Shirts & Event Tickets. Great way to say “I Stood Up/I’m Standing Up For Unity”
The Schedule of Events
There have been changes to the schedule due to unforeseen technical issues with the event in Troncones. Troncones and La Mexicana are just on pause, we assure you. We love it there.
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Here’s our planned schedule, marked as tentative TBA if not firm at the moment
January 22 7:00 pm Villas Paraiso Rock Room Ixtapa. Meet and Greet Performers and Live Rehearsal. Free For Advance Ticket Holders or 250 Pesos If You Don’t Want To Go Festing..
January 23 5:30 om with Youth Group or 6:00 pm Madana Restaurant and Rock and Blues Bar, Zihuatanejo. 2 for 1 Margaritas Promo 5-7 pm. Buy Tickets Now…Almost Sold Out
January 24 1:00 pm Beach Party Festing at the Ocean, Coco Ixtapa Beach Klub, Playa Linda, Ixtapa. Big Group Last Year…They’re Ready For More Fans This Year.
January 24 6:30 pm Villas Paraiso Rock Room, Ixtapa, Dress Up (or not) Theme Night. Black and/or WhiteTheme Night. Let’s Yourself Go! The Dance Party Continues. Special Promo To Be Announced.
January 25, Rock Me On The Water, Fest Performers and Fans Fishing Excursion and Live Music. Searching for the Fishing and Rock Yacht Continues. Tentative TBA
January 25 4:00 pm Either. Free for all Public ZeeStock Event with Fest Performers and Local Musicians Together at Zihua Centro At or Near Basketball Court…SUBJECT TO APPROVAL FROM THE CITY OF ZIHUATANEJO …local sound and lighting firm that we have worked with before, Audio Keeper, are leading the request for approvals on this sincere offer to stage a Free For All Public Festival for UNITY ( Or) Tentative TBA
January 25, 4:30 pm Festival Closing Event at Madana Rock and Blue Bar in Zihuatanejo. Full Show. Ticketed Event. Tentative TBA
The Performance Schedule January 23
Here’s what Friday night, January 23, 2026 at Madana Bar and Restaurant in Zihuatanejo looks like now, subject to some possible minor changes
5:00 pm Doors Open for Margarita Promo for Fans
5:00 pm Youth Music Clinic Front of Madana (vocals, guitars, saxophone) by Fest Performers
5:30 pm Local Youth Performers On Stage (we continue to search for these performers..please advise us if you have someone to recommend…18 and under)
6:00 pm Raise Your Glass Salud, Hug Your Neighbour, Let’s Rock Official Opening
6:05 pm Reiner Piehl and Friends, Classic Rock Hits
6:45 pm YEMGirlsRock 80’s Hits by Female Rock Queens
7:30 pm Evelyn Rubio-Saxophone and Vocals, Soul Blues
8;15 pm Soul Brothers-Blues Brothers Tribute Show
9:00 pm Holding This Spot For Our Mystery Guest
9:45 pm Tangerine-The Music of Led Zeppelin, plus some Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and others.
10:30 pm Closing Collaborations, All Performers
For All Remaining Shows and Venues, Set Lists Will Be Changed And the Order of Performance Will Be Changed. Each Show Will Be Designed To Be Unique.
Pro Tip: If you want AC-DC Music and ZZ Top Music, We’d Recommend You Head Over the Beach Party To Do Your Tube Snake Boogie or to get Thunderstruck and Back in Black.
Buy Advance Tickets And Your Fest Shirts Guaranteed Size Here At This Link On Our Website
Why Buy In Advance
- You Get A Free Event on January 22
- You Help Festival Organizers With Their Cash Flow Needs Prior To The Event
- You Will Get The Best Opportunities For Seating That Suits You With Our Help. More Strictly Enforced This Year. Early Supporters Deserve Privileges.
- Double Salud Shots if you want it, and better Hugs from Fest Volunteers.
More Events
Our “Happy for More Than 1 Hour. Wednesdays” Mixers For First Times and Oldtimers, Just Come And Chill, Talk To Us, Buy Tickets or Merch, Meet New Friends, Listen to Recorded or Live Music, Take Advantage of Venue Promos, Will Start on November 19 at Villas Paraiso in Ixtapa.
Here’s The Schedule
November 19, Unity Mixer Wednesdays, Villa Paraiso Restaurant 4:30 pm
December 3, Unity Mixer Wednesdays Coco Ixtapa Beach Klub, 3:00 pm
December 17, Unity Mixer Wednesdays & Christmas Spirit Event, Madonna Bar and Restaurant, 5:00 pm
January 14, Unity Mixer Wednesdays, Location To Be Announced.
Our Christmas Spirit Event is a real Christmas Party for all, in the Unity Spirit will be held on the same date as the Mixer Wednesday. December 17 at Madana Bar and Restaurant. We’ll start our Drive for Hospital Supplies for the Nursing Station at Zihuatanejo General Hospital At This Event. Here’s What We Want To Start Collecting
Whaaat…Tequila or Mezcal Bottles or Canadian Tire Money For Tickets Too…
Yes We’ve Gone Loco in Mexico!
Si Amigo/Amiga To Confirm If You Don’t Buy Your Tickets In Advance, You Can Get Tickets At The Door Or Earlier At One Of The Mixer Events With Pesos, USD, CAD or PayPal. You Don’t Have To Bring in a Reposado or Anejo Bottle (full and sealed obviously) of Tequila or a quality bottle of Mezcal, but you can! (Applies All Events except Opening Night) You don’t have to pay with Canadian Tire money (+25 per cent over Canadian price equivalent for the kids and animals) but you can! (All events except opening night)
Tequila Mezcal Mountains Project
That’s our “Bring An Unopened Bottle of Reposado or Anejo Tequila or Quality Bottled Labelled Mezcal To All Events Except Opening Night And Get A Free Ticket or More Depending On The Quality As Determined By Our Certified Tequila/Mezcal Quality Inspectors. Let’s Build A Mountain. Some for Sippin n Samplin, Most for Draws To Benefit Our Causes.
Neutering Clinics for Street Dogs and Cats
It was our hope to have a free Neutering Clinic for street animals plus puppies and kittens at our January 24 afternoon beach party. There may be technical (sanitary medical) reasons that may prevent this. However we are committed to supporting Neutering in the region. We will contribute up to 500 pesos per animal at the vet of your choice, subject to pre arrangements with us by email or whatsapp. Another option for no fee neutering where we deal directly with the veterinarian after pre approval from us is to go to Las Palmas Veterinary Services in La Puerta del Sol. In all cases we will need a pre neutering and after neutering photo for our so called “Happy Life Neutering Wall”
This link has more information on our Community Fund and the ccmmittments we have made. https://tequilabluesrock.com/we-make-firm-committments-for-local-and-regional-community-support-for-street-animals-and-kids-that-want-to-rock/
The Backstory
There is no big hero story about the Fest. No one grandiose gesture. Just common folk from all three countries with a mission to leave a little something behind in the community and region where they hold their events. To steal a title from a great Sean Rowe song.
Just the other day, one of our volunteers saw two just-born puppies lying by the side of the road. Abandoned, thrown away. Almost dead. Sadly true of what often happens with younger animals. He brought them to the mini animal Rescue Shelter in rural Ixtapa we support. One died on the way to the vet, but Koko (named after Koko Taylor, the famous Chicago female blues singer) was revived and treated. All animals are named after male or female rock and blues performers.
Now growing slowly every day, but missing her sister, it’s obvious. There is the story of Sandy and her cancerous tumours, where we took action by paying for costly medical bills to prolong Sandy’s life. Unfortunately, the cancerous tumours were too far along, and she succumbed in time. But her next six months were maybe the best she’s ever had. There is the story of Blackie and his rear fully broken leg. Our campaign to support Blackie’s medical treatment was successful and after a pin was installed in his rear hind leg, he is now active and thriving on four legs.
With the ongoing help of its fans and supporters, the Fest has been able to commit to a 3-year program of neutering street animals and young animals, both in clinics it will organize and in one-on-one treatment.
Clinics for local youth musicians are being held in association with Festival events, and we hold spots on our lineup for youth musicians from the local community and elsewhere in the country since we started in 2018. “Imagine local youth guitarists getting an instructional clinic from one of our many big stage experienced guitarists”, Rempel said. Or a saxophone clinic from Evelyn Rubio. Or vocals from Lorena Cabrera Bernal and Evelyn. Keyboard from Reiner. Not an opportunity they will ever likely have again.”
Revisiting Our Headliners
Evelyn Rubio USA/Mexico soul blues, blues rock and rock-saxophone and vocals
https://youtu.be/3LUL4N2w2DQ https://youtu.be/tifP1h_iwi4
https://evelynrubio.com (website)
Geoff & Chris Dahl-Canada. The Soul Brothers are also assisting the Fest Director as Musical Directors. Tribute to the Blues Brothers & Cheap Sunglasses Tribute to ZZ Top
Lorena Cabrera Bernal-Mexico City, bass guitar and vocals. The music of Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick), Heart (Anne Wilson) and more 60’s & 70’s & 80’s music.
Tangerine-Mexico City-the music of Becoming Led Zeppelin
Dirty Freaks & Deeds MX-Mexico City-the music of AC-DC On Tour
Our YouTube Channel
@tequilabluesrock
Official Audio For 2026 Event
Cur Most Popular Songs
I’ve Been Waiting All Year For January
Captain Amigo…Please It’s Time For Heroes
What Do You Think About (Going) To Tequila Rock n Blues
Hey Amigo Hey Amigo ( the 3 Amigos official Fest song)
Love Lives Here In Mexico (the official Fest Causes song
Your Future Festing (in January) Is Here (the official let’s go Festing song)
Baby Please Let’s Go To Mexico (the second official Let’s Go Festing song
Come Fest With Us. In Mexico. Come Rock and Get Bluesy With Us!
New Fans…We Love Questions. Once We Know Your Particular Situation or Needs, We’ll Offer As Much Assistance As Possible. Fans of a Particular Performer and Coming As A Group…Let Us Know. Discounts For Group Buys On Tickets. Contact Us by WhatsApp text message (+52 755 101 5989) or Email (tequilabluesfest@gmail.com) and let’s talk. Don’t forget sunscreen, sunhats, and cheap sunglasses (ZZTop music reference, too)
Working Media…Or Even Media That Need A Mini or Not-so-Mini Vacay. How Can We Help? Our Contact Information Is At The Top Of This News Release. Come Fest With Us!
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Contact Information At The Top
