Avid readers may remember that, around 3 months ago, we here at Travel2Ireland ran a piece suggesting the mighty AC/DC were being heavily tipped to play here during 2024.
Here’s the link to refresh the memory, anyway: “For Those About to Book…AC/DC ‘Nailed On’ to Return to Ireland in 2024”
The good news is that – while this still hasn’t been confirmed – those rumours have been steadily heating up since October, with talk of a massive gig at Croke Park surfacing before Christmas.
AC/DC are heavily tipped to hit the road this year in celebration of their 50th anniversary and to rectify the fact that they were forced to cancel touring plans for their 2020 album Power Up due to the Covid crisis.
An appearance at Rock in Rio Lisbon in June seems to be on the cards; and the mayor of Munich recently “let slip” that the band are booked to play that city’s Olympic Stadium also in June, the starting point of a potential 3-month European jaunt that could end in Ireland.
As things stand, Croker is set to hold 5 gigs this year – 4 by Coldplay and 1 by Bruce Springsteen. But, it has been reported that a planning application for an extra licence to hold a sixth gig has been lodged with Dublin City Council; and the rumour to go with it is that it’s with a view to accommodating AC/DC.
The Anglo-Aussie rock gods made their live return last October – headlining one of the nights at the Power Trip Festival in Indio, California; a weekend of maximum rockage also featuring such heavyweights as Guns N’Roses, Judas Priest, Metallica, Tool and Iron Maiden.
Given that AC/DC’s set ran for 24 songs – and was heavily rejuvenated from previous set lists – it seems the band is fully refreshed and ready for more.
As a well-informed industry insider told T2I back in October: “If they DO tour next year, they’ll definitely visit Ireland – and in light of their last couple of appearances here over the last 10 years, or so, at Aviva Stadium and Punchestown Racecourse, it’ll be a massive venue! AC/DC has played Ireland on four of their last five world tours; it’s a market they simply don’t delete from their tour itinerary. If they’re heading back out, Ireland is a nailed on certainty to be included; you can be sure the contracts are simply waiting to be signed!”
