Photos + Review by Sharon Steele – There are some bands that know exactly what their audience wants, and AC/DC is one of them. The Power Up Tour returned to Vancouver for its second BC Place date of 2026, bringing a packed stadium together for a night of straightforward, hard-driving rock ’n’ roll. There was no attempt to reinvent the formula—just the riffs, rhythms and songs that have made AC/DC one of rock’s most enduring bands.
Opening the show, The Pretty Reckless delivered an energetic set, with singer Taylor Momsen confidently commanding the stage and warming up the crowd for the headliners.
When the lights went down, red devil horns appeared throughout the stadium before AC/DC launched into “If You Want Blood.” There was no slow build. The band went straight into the familiar combination of hard riffs, driving rhythms and gritty vocals, immediately giving the crowd what it had come to hear.
“Back in Black” followed, along with “Hells Bells,” complete with the enormous bell descending from above the stage. The 21-song setlist is by now well established, but that is hardly a problem for a band with a catalogue as strong as AC/DC’s. The crowd knew virtually every song and was more than happy to sing along.
The production was relatively simple, featuring a large centre ramp, a smaller side ramp and three video screens. Cannons and confetti provided some additional spectacle without distracting from the music.
The band featured drummer Matt Laug, bassist Chris Chaney and Stevie Young on guitar alongside Angus Young and Brian Johnson.
At 71, Angus Young remains the centre of attention. Wearing his familiar schoolboy outfit, he moved around the stage with surprising energy and still managed his trademark duckwalk. His guitar work was a highlight, particularly during the extended solo in “Let There Be Rock.” Some may have found it a little long, but the crowd clearly had no complaints.
For me, one of the evening’s standout moments came during “Shoot to Thrill,” when Young used his tie to bow the strings of his guitar, much like a violin. It was a classic bit of AC/DC showmanship and exactly the kind of unexpected flourish that makes his performances so entertaining.
Johnson’s voice has inevitably changed over the years, but the grit and character remain. His performance worked well within the band’s familiar sound, and the audience clearly had no complaints.
The encore of “T.N.T.” and “For Those About to Rock” brought the night to a fitting conclusion, with the familiar cannon fire providing the final punctuation.
As the crowd made its way out of BC Place, the reaction was clear. Fans left with merchandise in hand, sharing favourite moments and, in some cases, looking a little worse for wear than when they arrived.
AC/DC didn’t come to Vancouver to reinvent the wheel. They came to play the songs people wanted to hear, and they did exactly that.
After more than 50 years, the formula still works.
