Kirrie becomes the ‘place to be’ as AC/DC family rocks into town

Band’s drummer among highlights as famous son is saluted

A small Angus town was Scotland’s “place to be” at the weekend as thousands of rock fanatics came to celebrate the life and legacy of a music icon.

BonFest saw thousands of fans and rock bands from all over the world come to Kirriemuir for three days of music and celebration of the late singer Ronald “Bon” Scott.

Bon was born in Forfar and lived in Kirriemuir before moving to Australia, at the age of six, where he would eventually end up singing with AC/DC.

The 11th BonFest welcomed the global “AC/DC family” for three days and two wild nights.

Organiser Graham Galloway of DD8 Music said: “It’s absolutely the place to be and people are travelling from all over the world to our wee town in Scotland. They come together for their love of Bon and Kirriemuir welcomes them all.”

Capacity crowds flocked to big top events headlined by AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd, Live Wire and Hayseed Dixie with three afternoons of music at the town hall, including Her Way To Hell, Emerald Sunday and Restless Natives.

Meanwhile, a host of free gigs went on at pubs and a busking competition was held at Bon’s new statue in Bellies Brae.

Even the Scottish Government was represented, as local MSP Mairi Evans volunteered on the door.

Tribute act Stinger kicked off Saturday’s event with the now traditional recreation of the Long Way To The Top video, performing the song on the back of a vintage flatbed lorry that made its way round the town in a procession.

Phil Rudd, who anchored AC/DC for eight years, has the longest history of any musician with the band after Angus and Malcolm Young.

“All the bands put on amazing performances and we’re very proud,” Mr Galloway added.

“It was a high point to have someone that’s been such an important part of AC/DC’s history up on stage at BonFest. It is absolutely incredible. He played a few of their songs as part of his set and it went down an absolute storm.”

Bon was born on July 9 1946 and his father Charles Scott worked in the family bakery on Bank Street, Kirrie.

Pictures: Kim Cessford. Young fans Callum and Bethany Crawford show their rock credentials in Kirriemuir’s Town Square as BonFest gets into full swing.

Saturday’s event started with the recreation of the Long Way To The Top video, with Stinger performing the song on the back of a vintage flatbed lorry.