The Edinburgh show is currently the only UK performance the band are set to play on tour, with other dates across Europe beginning in June. 

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The ‘POWER UP’ album, after which the tour is named, marks AC/DC’s first musical effort since the passing of founding member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in 2017. Released back in 2020, the band’s plans to tour the album were derailed by the pandemic but have since established a steady stream of tour dates, the ‘POWER UP’ tour officially commencing in early 2024. Representatives of the band stressed the importance of the latest European 2025 show dates, stating: “The band will play 12 dates across 10 countries – including Edinburgh, Scotland, the home nation of the Young clan.” 

Formed in 1973, AC/DC have long-established themselves as one of the most successful hard rock bands of all time, selling over 200 million albums worldwide and conducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Although the line up suffered many permutations in their formative years, the ‘Back in Black’ icons centred around the Young brothers, drummer Phil Rudd, bassist Mark Evans, and the late singer Bon Scott – replaced in 1980 by Brian Johnson after his sudden death from alcohol poisoning. 

The choice in UK venue honours the band’s “big connection” with Scotland – acclaimed members Malcolm and Angus Young were born in Glasgow in 1953 and 1955 respectively, as well as Bon Scott in Forfar, county town of Angus in 1946. In previous conversation with BBC Scotland, lead singer Brian Johnson commented on the significance of the country for the band, stating: “There was definitely a big connection, Scotland and Australia together.” Johnson also reflected on positive memories, as well as sharing that the country is the only place they ever play their rendition of Loch Lomond: “We went to Loch Ness together in 1982 or something, and we got awful drunk at night at the hotel…What a state we were in. But we were just laughing, great times.”

The 2025 European installment of the ‘POWER UP’ tour commences June 26 in the Czech Republic and concludes at the much anticipated Edinburgh show August 21.

See below for the full list of European tour dates:

June 26 – Letňany, Czech Republic @ Prague Airport

June 30 – Berlin, Germany @ Berlin Olympiastadion

July 4 – Narodowy, Poland @ Warsaw PGE

July 8 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ Düsseldorf Open Air Park

July 12 – Madrid, Spain @ Madrid Metropolitano Stadium

July 20 – Ferrari, Italy @ Imola Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino

July 24 – Tallinn, Estonia @ Tallinn Song Festival Grounds

July 28 – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Ullevi

August 5 – Oslo, Norway @ Oslo Bjerke Racecourse

August 9 – Paris, France @ Paris Stade De France

August 17 – Karlsruhe, Germany @ Messe Karlsruhe

August 21 – Edinburgh, Scotland @ Murrayfield Stadium

Tickets will be available from 10:00 on February 7 on the AC/DC official website. 

GMVs staged over 162,000 events in 2024, contributing £526 million to the economy, yet they effectively subsidised live music by £162 million while operating on razor-thin margins. A concerning 43.8% of venues reported losses in the past year, with emergency response cases rising by 19%, meaning nearly a quarter of venues face the threat of permanent closure. The report underscores the urgent need for enhanced financial support and stronger protections to safeguard the sector’s future.

The following graphic from the report illustrates the different percentages for reasons for closure of these small independent venues:

In the UK live music sector, the primary touring circuit consists of locations that host more than two-thirds of national grassroots tours, typically encompassing major cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Meanwhile, the secondary circuit includes venues in smaller cities and towns that host at least one-third of national tours, playing a crucial role in supporting emerging artists and local audiences.

The report highlights a dramatic shift in the scale of UK tours over the last three decades. In 1994, the average tour comprised 22 stops; by 2024, this number had dwindled to just 11. Cities such as Leicester, Edinburgh, and Wolverhampton have disappeared from the circuit, leaving large swathes of the country—particularly in Wales and Scotland—without convenient access to live music or the nurturing environments that GMVs provide for aspiring artists.

Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust, commented on the findings: “The 2024 Annual Report recognizes that after 10 years of work by MVT, a very broad consensus has been built among politicians, industry, artists, and the public that grassroots music venues must be protected, supported, encouraged, and nurtured. […] Venues, despite all the very welcome good intentions and acknowledgements they are receiving for their vital work, are still closing, still under extreme and totally unnecessary financial pressures, still failing to be recognised, as everyone agrees they should and must be, when government designs policy, taxation, and legislation. It isn’t good enough to keep saying how much we all value them, we’ve got to practically do something about it. We need action, not words.”

The report makes it clear that without decisive action, the UK’s grassroots music scene could face an irreversible decline, stripping communities of vital cultural hubs and emerging artists of essential opportunities.

Jill Brown has been intermittently working in Barlinnie Prison for the last 10 years, organising performances and shows for inmates. From this involvement with the prison, Jill began to arrange songwriting workshops for prisoners with an interest in hip-hop and rap music. In addition to the Barlinnie workshop, Jill has embarked on a publishing project. Conviction Records is a label, formed in late 2021, that focuses on giving those with a criminal history the support they need to pursue a career in music. While the label remains in its early stages of development, secured funding from Creative Scotland marks the beginning of the Conviction Records project. 

Speaking to the BBC, Jill said: “The workshops are designed to give the guys who take part a voice, because a lot of people who are actually in jail have never had a voice.” This is a significantly different perspective than one heard last year from Edinburgh Live and the Daily Record. In May of 2023, a video of several inmates rapping in Midlothian’s Addiewell Prison surfaced on TikTok. Reports from both outlets were scathing, calling the prisoners “Shameless”. Although this video was by no means sanctioned by prison staff and was recorded on a smuggled smartphone, it does reveal that many behind bars need some form of creative outlet. It is this need that Jill Brown aims to serve, making prison a more productive and rehabilitative environment for people who often lack the opportunity to integrate back into society. 

Speaking to the BBC about the workshop program, one inmate said: “It’s gave me something to look forward to, and it’s something I’m going to follow up on when I’m out. It’s came at the right time. It’s gave me a chance.” Projects like these are few and far between but hopefully the success of Jill’s work in Barlinnie will inspire other facilities to take a leaf out of her book. 

We are THRILLED to announce PULP as your headliner for Concert in the Gardens 2023!

We know you will remember the first time you brought in the bells under Edinburgh Castle, like the Common People with PULP! pic.twitter.com/MmltePENfH

— Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (@edhogmanay) September 26, 2023

Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of the New Year, and typically involves gift giving, bonfires and other festivities. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival is one of the largest of its kind, and was even recognised by the Guinness Book Of World Records in their 1996-97 edition as the largest New Year’s party, with approximately 400,000 people in attendance that year.

The upcoming event will mark pop band Pulp‘s first live show in the Scottish capital in over 20 years. Attendees will be able to celebrate the New Year as they watch Pulp perform against the surreal backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

Pulp lead singer Jarvis Cocker said on the band’s upcoming appearance at ‘Concert In The Gardens’, “When your grandkids ask “Do you remember the first time Pulp played Edinburgh’s Hogmanay?” What will your answer be? Come along & start 2024 in the very best way possible. Oh yes.”

Directors of UniqueAssembly, which creates and produces Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Reaching the milestone 30th anniversary for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a phenomenal achievement, which since 1993 has welcomed millions of party people to celebrate at the Home of Hogmanay.

“We wanted to make sure that this year was extra special for our audiences and are thrilled to welcome Pulp to the party. This will be the hottest ticket in town, and we recommend people grab their tickets fast to make sure they don’t miss out.”

Other events taking place at this year’s Hogmanay festival include a street party, silent disco, a torchlight procession and many more activities yet to be announced.

Tickets for the 30th anniversary of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay go on sale this Friday (September 29th) at 10am, which you can purchase here.

For those registered with the Hogmanay website, a pre-sale for the ‘Concert In The Gardens’ will be available from 10am on Thursday 28th September.

The singer is undoubtedly running on top gear this year, taking a roaring 58 live gigs to the table. He will be carrying his performances around the world including USA, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Ireland, UK, Spain and Canada. He is kicking off this Tuesday, 14th February in Hollywood in the Hard Rock Live venue. The continuous shows will run through the next few months until he’s majestically gone around the whole globe finishing in Niagara, Canada on the Saturday, 2nd September at Fallsview Casino.

His 31st studio album, The Tears Of Hercules, was a great success and, considered by the writer himself, some of the best work he has ever created. Whether the legendary rockstar is on a busy roll because of its great outcome is unknown, but it is definitely a great way to recognise his significantly stunning work throughout the years.

He will be bringing the show onto UK roads on the Saturday, 24th of June in Plymouth at the Home Park Stadium, and will proceed to travel through Northampton, Durham, Bristol, Hull and finalise officially in Edinburgh. However, the legendary singer has come back this summer to drop-ship an unforgettable set of live experiences in “under the star” settings within astounding venues such as rugby and cricket stadiums, estates and even castles. As he states himself: “I’m impatiently awaiting this summer playing at a variety of special venues – football, cricket and rugby stadiums, estates and castles! We’ll all be dancing under the stars.”

The UK will be waiting to hear his famous raspy voice with open arms. Stewart has been pinned as one of the best singers of his generation and has received a number of deserved awards including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting and most importantly was knighted by Prince William in the 2016 Birthday Honours after generating 10 number-one albums and 31 top-ten singles in the UK, six of which reached number one.

His presence is always a celebration for the music industry. This year is set to be a big one for Rod Stewart.

Click here for tickets.

Rod Stewart UK tour dates:

24/06/2023 – Home Park Stadium – Plymouth
28/06 – Cinch Stadium – Northampton
30/06 – Seat Unique Riverside – Durham
02/07 – Badminton Estate, Worcester Park – Bristol
04/07 – Sewell Group Craven Park – Hull
06/07 – Edinburgh Castle – Edinburgh