Dave Sweetmore's Blog - 20th Feb 2025

As far as rock nights go,  one of my favourite nights of the year returns tomorrow night (Friday February 21st) when legendary AC/DC tribute 'Livewire' return to play an intimate gig at Uppermill Civic Hall.

I will be DJing the full night once again, when the hugely successful tribute to one of rock music’s greatest band's AC/DC take to the Uppermill stage, complete with cannons, a wall of Marshall Speakers, and over two hours of High Voltage Rock ‘n’ Roll in a show critically acclaimed for its closeness in look and sound to the real thing. Originally fronting AC/DC was legendary front man Bon Scott, a wild man of rock and roll, whose untimely death shocked the World in 1980. This event came at a time when the band were sampling global success for the first time. AC/DC turned to Brian Johnson in order to fill the void left by Bon. Brian’s searing vocals iced Back in Black, one of the best-selling rock albums of all time. Podge Blacksmith, a double take for Brian, gives a vocal masterclass in Livewire's show which is un-paralleled and brings it bang up to date with all of the classic tracks right up to AC/DC’s hugely successful recent music. The thundering freight train of a rhythm section keeps it all meticulously together with Dan as the metronomic Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar and Ed appears as the mercurial Cliff Williams on Bass Guitar. Paul sits behind the kit as Phil Rudd and Chris Slade rolled into one. With the Rhythm section locked in the freedom of the stage and the music is given to Simon as Angus Young who delivers an uncanny performance with meticulous detail in appearance, energy and his note for note heartfelt renditions song after song. Simon honed his craft over many years and is a livewire himself during his two-hour plus Axe fettling duck-walking extravaganza of bedevilled Rock and Roll. Livewire really do  put you slap bang in the middle of the show with hit after hit from AC/DC's 18 studio albums, anthems such as 'Back In Black', Thunderstruck' 'Whole Lotta Rosie', 'For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)', and 'Highway To Hell', along with one or two gems thrown in for the aficionados! AC/DC themselves start a huge world tour in April, their nearest date being at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium in August, but if you want to see and hear the hits of the rock legends live and loud in a hot, sweaty, grassroots venue with a brilliant rock fans atmosphere, i'd highly suggest picking up one of the few remaining tickets to see Livewire live tomorrow night at Uppermill Civic Hall. Tickets are on sale on ticketlight, with doors opening at 7pm. The event is over 18's only, and a handful of door release tickets will be on sale on the night, and I can promise you it will be an amazing night to remember. For Those About To Rock - I'll see you in Uppermill tomorrow!