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Kirriemuir’s Bonfest is hoping to ride the wave of excitement created by AC/DC’s return to Scotland for the first time in 10 years.

The band announced a Murrayfield stadium gig as the only UK date on their Power Up 2025 tour.

It is a long-awaited return for the legendary outfit formed by Glasgow brothers Malcolm and Angus Young.

And the charity behind the annual Angus celebration of former AC/DC frontman Bon Scott says it hopes it will bring a Bonfest boost to their event which is being staged from May 2-4.

“We’re aiming for this year’s Bonfest to be bigger and better than ever,” said DD8 Music manager Scott Ferguson.

“The line-up this year is probably the best we’ve had since Bonfest began,” added Scott.

Bon was a Kirrie baker’s son who emigrated to Australia as a young boy before becoming the lead singer of AC/DC.

Lovetrain, from Dundee, will kick off the main arena offering on Friday.

And across each of the three nights there will be four bands on stage.

“That’s 33% extra Bonfest for the fans this year,” said Scott.

It includes all-girl acts The Hot Damn!, Girlschool and Back:N:Black.

Hardbone, from Hamburg, Wildhearts, and renowned tribute outfit Sin City are also coming to Angus.

Scott continued: “We really hope to get 1,600 people in the main arena each night.

“We’ve kept 2024 prices across the board.  The plan was to get more people to come, rather than charge more those who do come.”

Bonfest is an anuual mecca for AC/DC fans from across Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.

But DD8 would love to see more folk rock up to Kirrie from closer to home.

“The Bonfest Happy Bus runs to and from Dundee to the festival site for all three nights, so we’d love to get music fans there motivated for this year,” Scott added.

“Tickets sales have been going well.  We’ve already seen the impact of the Murrafield announcement on our own socials.

“Bonfest could be the perfect warm-up for that gig.”

Tickets are available at bonfest.com 

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Meanwhile, new stamps are being issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking debut album by AC/DC.

Royal Mail said the set of eight stamps captures a sample of the band’s “electrifying” live performances and some of its most famous album covers.

A further four stamps presented in a miniature sheet features the covers of its debut album, High Voltage, as well as Highway To Hell, its sixth studio album, released in 1979, Back In Black, the biggest selling rock album of all time, and Power Up, the band’s triumphant return in 2020.

David Gold, Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and policy, said: “AC/DC is one of the most successful rock bands in the world.  Over the past half-century, they have recorded some of the best-known rock anthems and have given us Back In Black – the biggest selling rock album of all time.

“These stamps carry an example of their electrifying live performances, along with some of their most iconic album covers, and celebrate their significant contribution to the world of rock music.”

The stamps go on general sale from February 18.

AC/DC becomes the eighth music band to feature in a dedicated Royal Stamp issue, following on from The Beatles in 2007, Pink Floyd in 2016, Queen in 2020, The Rolling Stones in 2022, Iron Maiden in 2023, The Spice Girls in 2024 and The Who in 2024.

This article appeared in The Courier on 6 February 2025.