Raffles Hotel Powers Up for AC/DC Tribute Festival Honouring Bon Scott's 80th Birthday
The iconic Raffles Hotel on Canning Highway is set to jump on the Rock N Roll Train this April with a special AC/DC tribute festival. The event coincides with what would have been the 80th birthday of the band's legendary late lead vocalist, Bon Scott, bringing a night of high-voltage celebrations to Perth's riverfront.
A Night of Classic Hits and Local History
Venue manager Simone Rea confirmed to PerthNow that the tribute act, The Australian AC/DC Experience, will perform all the beloved classics, from Back in Black to You Shook Me All Night Long. The festival is part of global celebrations marking Scott's milestone birthday, with the Raffles joining in the festivities while the weather remains favourable for an alfresco setup.
"We've seen similar events around the world celebrating the would-be 80th birthday of Bon Scott, and we wanted to join in," Ms Rea said. "We have plans for the event to be held in our front alfresco area, so we decided to celebrate a bit earlier while the weather is still good."
Expanding Capacity for a Rocking Crowd
To accommodate the expected influx of fans, the venue will extend across the front car park and possibly the grassed area. This expansion will increase capacity from the usual 800 patrons to welcome around 1000 visitors, ensuring a larger audience can experience the tribute night.
Ms Rea highlighted the deep historical connection between AC/DC and the Raffles Hotel. Long before the band became a global stadium-filling powerhouse, they were regulars on the local Western Australian pub circuit. The Raffles, known for its live music space called Raffs in the mid-1970s, was a favourite pit-stop for the band during their early touring years.
"Before AC/DC became globally huge and sold out major arenas, they played in their early days at pubs, clubs and hotels across Australia to crowds of around 1000 local punters, Perth rock fans, and the wider WA live music crowd," she explained.
A Legacy of Live Music and Community Ties
The Raffles Hotel sits at a unique intersection of live music history, Bon Scott lore, and Perth's pub-rock identity. Ms Rea noted that the venue has historically hosted major acts like AC/DC, The Angels, and The Divinyls. It also plays into the local mythology of Canning Highway as the Highway to Hell strip, a reference to AC/DC's iconic song.
This isn't the first time the Raffles has been involved in tributes to Bon Scott. In March 2020, the venue was a key player in the Highway to Hell event, which transformed 10km of Canning Highway into the world's longest stage to mark the 40th anniversary of Scott's death. That event saw a tremendous turnout, with crowds and rock bands streaming down the highway, including performances by The AC/DC Experience band.
Ms Rea recalled, "We had the AC/DC Experience band playing during that event. Crowds were from the Raffles Hotel down to the Leopold and beyond. It was basically the Canning Bridge Highway to Hell the whole way through."
Honouring a Local Legend and Evolving with the Times
Bon Scott, who spent part of his youth in Melville and was laid to rest in 1980 at Fremantle Cemetery in Palmyra, remains a cherished figure in the community. The City of Melville has been engaging with local schools, artists, heritage groups, and residents to co-design a public tribute for Scott, reflecting his enduring legacy.
Meanwhile, the Raffles Hotel has evolved from its roots as a live music pub into an art-deco heritage waterfront venue focused on dining, functions, and events. Despite surviving demolition threats in the 1990s due to community support and undergoing redevelopment in the 2000s that closed the band room, the venue still nods to its history. Lightning bolt brand marks featured throughout the venue and on staff uniforms pay homage to AC/DC's iconic imagery.
Ms Rea emphasized that the upcoming tribute event is both a shared local story and a significant piece of Melville's history. "It's important to remind the community of their rock n roll roots," she said. "Applecross has some amazing offerings, and bringing people to the area helps to highlight the amazing suburbs."
The event also aligns with the Raffles Hotel's own celebrations, as it marks its 130th birthday this year. "We want to celebrate the City of Melville and the history of Canning Highway in a big celebration. This is just the first of many events to celebrate our history," Ms Rea added.
Event Details and Additional Performances
The AC/DC tribute festival will take over the Raffles Hotel on Sunday, April 26. Doors will open from 3pm, with the band kicking off at 6pm. For those unable to attend, The Australian AC/DC Experience will also perform another tribute at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre in Thornlie on Friday, May 8, ensuring more fans can experience the high-energy show.
This festival not only honours Bon Scott's legacy but also reinforces the Raffles Hotel's role in Perth's vibrant music scene, blending nostalgia with contemporary celebrations for a rocking good time.
