I can't say I've truly experienced Bonfest because I never made it as far as Kirriemuir, stopping to park at the festival site and not exploring beyond (I've still not seen the Bon Scott statue - another time, perhaps). This was mainly due to timing. I couldn't leave the house before lunch and couldn't check into my hotel room until 3 pm. My incentive to attend, though, was not to see the many AC/DC tribute acts but to catch The Hot Damn! and These Wicked Rivers (Girlschool being an added bonus).
Parking at the event was straightforward. I drove down a massive grass field and was directed to a parking space by an attendant. He then informed me the main site wasn't open until 5 p.m. and that I'd missed the now-closed ticket office in town. I could catch the free happy bus into Kirriemuir if I wanted, but all the pubs would be rammed. I decided to hang around.
Clutching my ticket printout, I wandered down the car park field for a reconnaissance. The campsite tents were on the right, and beyond them, lines of camper vans. On the left stood a large white tent, with food vans, a seating area and a line of toilet cubicles in the gap. The massive arena tent dominated the back.
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| Main Arena tent and benches |
The fencing beside the food vendors was open, so I wandered in, with no security around to stop me. The Hot Damn! were playing their soundcheck in the arena tent so I ordered a bratwurst and sat at a bench to listen (the arena tent was officially closed). As I lifted the sub roll from the card container, the paper napkin it rested upon went flying, such was the strength of the freezing wind blowing through the festival. I was so glad I'd decided to wear extra layers, despite the weather back home not requiring them.
After I finished my food, I explored the rest of the area, peeking into the beer tent, which was still being set up, and then into the merch hall, where drink tokens could be purchased for £5 a pop. I showed the guy behind the counter my ticket printout and was told they weren't ready yet, but to hang around. A second steward then politely told me I needed to leave as I didn't have a wristband. I went to exit the way I came in, only to discover the fence had been put back in place. I was trapped inside, so I had to find yet another security person to let me out. I realise this makes it sound like the organisation was poor, but it wasn't. My innocent exploration highlighted a glitch in their setup. The open fence should have had a security person present to prevent me from wandering in.
Anyway, I waited outside for another ten minutes, had my ticket scanned, and received a wristband and a free merch patch. I bought a programme and messaged an old school pal, whom I knew was also attending the fest, to see if we could meet up.
High Voltage, an AC/DC tribute act, started up in the VIP tent. I hadn't paid for VIP, but I didn't need to, as they were so loud they could be easily heard from the food area. Shortly before 5 p.m., I spotted others heading into the main arena, so I joined them, managing to snag a position at the front on the right. Away from the sun, the place was freezing.
The Hot Damn! were superb, despite how cold it was. The set they played was similar to the one they played supporting These Wicked Rivers, including the Merch Song to the tune of Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? I love the energy, attitude and party atmosphere the girls create for their shows. I was surprised by how small the crowd was to start, not realising how many fans were not yet on site.
After this, I finally got to see These Wicked Rivers, having missed them twice: the first time, after they called off for Maid of Stone; and then after my pal took ill before their 10th Birthday Bash. This time, I wasn't disappointed. I knew most of the songs and enjoyed their stage presence and powerful performance. Early on in the set, the singer faceplanted the stage, tripping over a cable. I thought the way he fell was odd, like a felled tree. He had to be helped up by a roadie. Only later, when I spotted him heading for the merch tent, did I realise he had mobility issues.
Having seen the two bands I most wanted to catch, I made my way out of the tent to find my school pal. I messaged him asking for a whereabouts update, and while I waited for his reply, I nipped back to my car for a snack and the opportunity to warm up. Getting his message, we finally met up for the first time in nearly thirty years. After a few failed attempts, his wife managed to capture the moment for posterity.
We missed the start of Girlschool's set as we were still chatting, but what I saw was good. The music felt a bit retro, especially the Motorhead cover, but I enjoyed their set. I was nowhere near the front and got to see just how drunk many of the attendees were, blissfully staggering to and from the tent.
I did my best to enjoy the day's final act, Sin City, but left after about half an hour, saying goodbye to Kev on the way out. Sin City played songs I liked, but it felt a bit too 'pantomime', with 'Bon' in a frightful wig and a plump 'Angus' in a bright red school uniform, replete with devil horn cap.
I drove back to the hotel as dusk fell. Little did I realise how tired I was and how little sleep I would get at the Premier Inn, thanks to the repeated clunking of a busy internal security door. I won't go into too much detail about the post-breakfast spicy diarrhoea episode that nearly derailed my journey home, other than to say it felt like someone was operating a bicycle pump on my intestines, persistent but growing weaker with every subsequent squirt.
The Hot Damn! Setlist (As far as I can remember).
Fizz Buzz CrashDance Around
About Last Night
Jukebox on the Radio
Live Laugh Love
Loud and Clear
Merch Song
Going Down
I Didn't Like You Anyway
These Wicked Rivers Setlist (not sure if I've missed any or the order they were played in)
Force of Nature
Shine On
Evergreen
When the War Is Won
Old Willow Tree
Black Gold
Horse To Water
Don't Pray For Me
Dance Around
I Didn't Like You Anyway
Old Willow Tree
The Riverboat Man
Don't Pray For Me
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| The view before the show |
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| Someone used a selfie stick to film up close and personal. |
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| These Wicked Rivers |
Ticket Price:
BONFEST 2025 - Saturday Single Ticket (FOR MAIN ARENA AND TOWN HALL)
£45.00 GBP
Service charge
£5.24 GBP
Total £50.24 GBP from Universe (a Ticketmaster company)
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