The third annual Bon’s Birthday Bash will take place Thursday, July 9, at The Cutting Room in New York City, the only U.S. tribute event officially authorized by the Bon Scott estate. The event falls during Bon‘s 80th birthday week — the late AC/DC frontman was born July 9, 1946, in Forfar, Scotland.
Performing on the night are Corey Glover of Living Colour, Constantine Maroulis, Steve Brown of Trixter, Jimmy Kunes of Cactus, and additional vocalists to be announced. The house band features Paul McGilloway on lead guitar, John Jackson on rhythm guitar, Ivan Bodley on bass, and Kenny Soule on drums. Rock radio personality Terrie Carr will host the evening.
The show will also feature a Morrison Hotel Gallery pop-up presenting never-before-seen photographs of Bon Scott by rock photographer Steve Joester, with prints available for purchase. Tickets are on sale here.
The Birthday Bash arrives on the heels of Bonfest 2026, which took over Bon‘s hometown of Kirriemuir, Scotland from May 1–3. Now in its 20th year, the festival drew fans from across Europe and around the world for a weekend of music, processions, and tributes. Among the weekend’s defining moments was the traditional “It’s a Long Way to the Top” procession — a callback to AC/DC‘s 1976 Melbourne flatbed truck performance — during which Bon‘s friend Gabby, who was present for the original filming, joined the march through Kirriemuir.
AC/DC‘s 2026 North American “Power Up” tour launches July 11 — just two days after the Birthday Bash — at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., giving fans a natural run of Bon-adjacent celebration across that week.
Scott spent his childhood in Kirriemuir before the family emigrated to Australia in 1952. He played drums in the Fremantle Pipe Band before fronting early acts The Spektors, The Valentines, and progressive rock outfit Fraternity. He joined AC/DC in 1974 and recorded six studio albums with the band before his death in February 1980.
