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Bonfest organisers say interest in this year’s Kirriemuir AC/DC celebration is sky for the event’s 20th anniversary.

It is also 80 years since the birth of the Australian rock band’s legendary frontman Bon Scott.

What began as a small gathering of fans in honour of the Kirrie baker’s son has grown into a three-day global invasion of the Angus town.

Community group DD8 Music has been its driving force from the beginning.

Charity manager Scott Ferguson said excitement around the first weekend in May is building.

The main area line-up includes Glastonbury rockers Reef and ex-AC/DC drummer Chris Slade.

Scott has also landed young Britain’s Got Talent guitar sensation Olly Pearson.

The 11-year-old proclaimed AC/DC’s Angus Young as his guitar hero on his way to a golden buzzer in last year’s show.

“Olly’s appearance has been really well received,” said Scott.

“He absolutely exploded after appearing on the show with an AC/DC cover.

“We got in touch but the schedule last year didn’t work so we’re really glad to get him.

“It also fits perfectly with the work we do with our kids through DD8 in Kirrie.

“We’re starting to do a lot more than music so we’ll be looking to get Olly to sit down for a podcast.”

AC/DC tribute LiveWire will bring the Sunday night curtain down on three days of high voltage rock ‘n’ roll.

Scott added: “This year we also have Atomic Freak coming from Brazil and the United States.

“It says a lot about Bonfest that it will be costing them a lot of money to come and play at the festival.”

On site motorhome and camping pitches at the main festival site are already sold out.

“We actually extended how many campervan spaces and camping pitches we could offer.

“And we could sell more if we could get more, but there isn’t the room.

“Weekend tickets are already through the roof.”

Scott added: “Last year was the first time we brought in some different things and many said they thought it was the best ever.

“We are really trying to get the Dundee and Tayside market in a big way this year.

“We run the Happy Bus from Dundee and it’s done well for us but we’d really like to see a lot more people coming up to Kirrie for the festival days.”

To book tickets for the event, visit https://bonfest.com/tickets

This article appeared in The Courier on 5 February 2026