Power Up!: AC/DC Concert Review

Bri D
Dec 18, 2025
6 min read

We’re ending our 2025 year of live music with an explosive bang by seeing one of Australia’s longest enduring and hardest rocking bands, AC/DC, at their final leg of the Power Up tour until next year! The Australian band (who have become an intercontinental rock n’ roll force) has been crafting powerful rock hits for over half a century now, with no signs of slowing down or stopping yet. Their latest album was released in 2020 and it’s been well worth the wait to see them tour the album alongside their greatest hits in this headbanging finale to their Australian shows.

This is what happened at AC/DC’s Power Up show at Suncorp Stadium on December 18^th, 2025!

HEADSEND

Our first support act for the evening was Byron Bay band, Headsend, who made an exclusive appearance at the Brisbane shows of the Power Up tour. The band is formed by Rasmus King (vocals, guitar), Kyuss King (bass), and Ben Soric (drums), who work brilliantly together on stage to deliver an exhilarating rock set. Their cool on-stage presence and exciting instrumentation captures the attention of the crowd, feeling like a throwback to the glamorously grunge 90s rock n’ roll scene, elevated for the modern day. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the EP they mentioned was coming soon!

Fave song: Stove

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just as excited for Amyl and the Sniffers as I was for AC/DC themselves. The 70s-inspired pub rock band features Amy Taylor (vocals), Bryce Wilson (drums), Declan Mehrtens (guitar) and Gus Romer (bass) delivering powerhouse punk with an Australian flair. Their extended support set had the crowd around the stadium enthralled. Amy’s enthusiasm on stage was infectious as she ran, danced and rocked across the length of the stage throughout the set. On their instruments, Bryce, Declan and Gus delivered a formidable performance. The band is incredibly cohesive, bouncing off on each other throughout the show and never restraining themselves and their energy. They already sell out most of their Aussie shows and inspire riots (albeit, unintentionally!) – I’m keen to see Amyl and the Sniffers continue on the up-and-up as one of Australia’s favourite music acts (and hopefully manage to get tickets to their next tour)!

Fave song: U Should Not Be Doing That

AC/DC

As the lights went down over Suncorp Stadium, the flickering red devil horns peppering the crowd on the floor and around the upper seats were the only light to be seen by, until a rip-roaring car ferrying us down the highway to hell lit up the stage screens. The band arrived with the opening notes of If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It) – Stevie Young (rhythm guitar) and Chris Chaney (bass) flanking Matt Laug at the drumkit at the back of the stage. Arriving in full uniform, cap and guitar included, was the sole original member of the band Angus Young. The fanfare was spectacular, welcoming home this icon of Australian music. Following him on shortly after was longtime lead singer, Brian Johnson. After an explosive introduction, they got straight into their greatest hits set with Back In Black.

It's after this that we get our first taste of Power Up live with Demon Fire. The classic heavy rock beat quickly gets the audience stomping, swaying, jumping or fist-pumping in time to the beat. Johnson’s gritty and raw vocals itch a scratch you didn’t know you had and he and Angus are overflowing with energy, making use of every inch of the stage and its catwalk throughout the show. Although Thunderstruck had a bit of a rough start, once the band kicked it into gear the show revved right up from there on, with each moment of music maintaining that triumphant high, a given for a band that has fifty-year stronghold on rock n’ roll.

After the fun and friendly Have A Drink On Me, an ominous, mournful tolling began to echo across the stadium as the band’s iconic bronze bell signified the start of Hells Bells. We got our next feature from Power Up, with Shot In The Dark next. With a catalogue as extensive as AC/DC’s, it’s gotta be hard to decide just what makes the cut for a concert setlist. With only a brief glimpse into the album, I was left wanting more of their most recent release. The compromise is that we were treated to the best of the best of AC/DC.

Featuring a very cool, almost country twang and rhythm, was Stiff Upper Lip. And then, things got very hot all of a sudden as Johnson and Angus led us down the Highway To Hell, the stage lighting up in flames. After that dependable and familiar beat, came the soaring highs of Shoot To Thrill and its exciting instrumentals building up tension and excitement in the crowd, reaching boiling point in the surprisingly-cool December evening. The Aussie fans were treated to the first live performances of Jailbreak in three decades, something the final audience of the Aus-leg was not deprived of either. The song had Stevie and Chaney contributing their deep, guttural vocals in a unifying moment.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, with its steady drumming, crunchy guitar, and more laidback style (up until the instrumental break and its elevating guitar) seemed to offer a brief rest point to the crowd, where we could store up our headbanging energy. This was much needed for High Voltage. The celebration of AC/DC continues, with the intro to Riff Raff paying its dues to the incredible impact of Angus Young as he becomes the focal point of the song’s intro, dancing across the stage. His guitar keeps up the heavy rock energy, while a classic 50s rock n’ roll beat creates a nice throwback and a great backdrop for dancing.

The classic rock n’ roll themes of girls and fast cars came next in Johnson’s lyrics for the fun You Shook Me All Night Long. The night was coming to its inevitable close, but not without a fight. First came Whole Lotta Rosie and then, after we’d already had a whole lot of rock, Let There Be Rock. This was a tribute to Angus’s enduring role in the band as he had a MASSIVE guitar solo that saw him make full use of the stage, running up the catwalk and being elevated while confetti showered the crowd in front of him. It was an exhilarating performance, showcasing the powerhouse guitarist he is and just why he’s recognised as one of the greatest guitar players worldwide to this day.

Of course, after taking us to those incredible highs we couldn’t simply be let off there. After a brief backstage rally, the band took the places again for an empowering encore with T.N.T. and For Those About To Rock (We Salute You). There’s a reason for AC/DC’s enduring success and this concert is proof of their fortitude and unrestrained passion for rock n’ roll at its finest. There’s a reason AC/DC is internationally recognised as Australia’s best music act and one of the best rock bands worldwide, with tonight serving as undeniable evidence that they’ve still got it, that they’ve always had it, and that they’re not likely to give it up anytime soon.

Fave song: Highway To Hell

SOUNDS GOOD?

AC/DC stand out for their worldwide success and unbridled ability to craft rock n’ roll anthems. However, they’re far from the only great rock band in Australia, emerging in an era where rock had a solid grip on the local landscape. If you like AC/DC and haven’t heard of these bands, what have you even been doing?! Check them out below:

The Angels – Another 70s rock band, this time forming in the city of churches, Adelaide. Their pub rock is heavy energy, but often with a light-hearted flair. They’re beloved with some iconic hits that unite the crowd every time.

Jet – Jet’s slowly been coming back on the scene in the past couple of years. The fun and thrilling rock band made waves with their initial releases in the early 2000s, and their music brings that classic, rock out feeling in their instrumentals with some mellower vocals making the band feel very hip.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – King Giz are internationally adored for their genre-blending psychedelic rock n’ roll tunes. Artistically, they’re unconstrained and explorative, with so many exciting songs, without losing that ability to get deep into the heavy rock vibe and let loose.