As Kirriemuir prepares to mount a major celebration of Peter Pan creator Sir J. M. Barrie, the town is also looking towards making an annual salute to another of its successful sons Bon Scott.
In October, local organisation DD8 Music will stage its fifth annual tribute to Scott, the baker’s son who found worldwide fame with legendary rock band AC/DC.
Scott is commemorated on one of the stone slabs in the town’s Cumberland Close honouring prominent Kirrie citizens, the unveiling of which coincided with the first tribute event in 2006.
Since then, thousands of fans have travelled from across the globe to visit the musician’s home town, many of them to enjoy the DD8 event.
“We have continued to run the tribute gig every year and will carry on to do so for as long as we can,” said a group spokesman.
“The event now has more of a festival feel as we have arranged for pubs in the town to play host to local bands through the day, followed by the main event in the town hall at night.”
Bon’s Balls will headline the Saturday, October 30, event in the town hall on what is shaping up to be another busy weekend for the community and attractions such as Kirrie’s Gateway to the Glens museum which has a permanent display of Scott and AC/DC memorabilia.
“Local businesses welcome the visitors that this event attracts and are always very accommodating,” added the spokesman.
“This really adds to the atmosphere of the whole event. For one weekend every year Bon’s disciples descend on the wee red town of Kirriemuir and it comes alive!”
The festival is part of a busy programme for DD8 Music, founded five years ago with the aim of encouraging local young people in musical activities such as writing, rehearsing and performing.
The town’s former aviation museum in Bellie’s Brae has been secured as their permanent home and this year the group landed a £23,000 Rural Tayside LEADER Action group grant to assist in the development of the initiative.