AC/DC fans power up with pre-show pop-up

Those getting ready to rock on Sunday night at Princess Auto Stadium, can prime their engines at AC/DC’s PWR/UP Pop-Up this weekend.

Fans lined up all the way down Fort Street south of the Pyramid Cabaret for a special preview event on Friday night.

“We’re so excited,” said Marcella Ceron shortly after getting into the Pyramid. Ceron and her husband were hoping to win tickets to Sunday’s concert, one of a number of promotions running throughout the pop-up’s tenure at the downtown bar. “We were in line since 5 o’clock.”

According to organizers, the venues across Canada have been handpicked – including the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver and Foufounes Électriques in Montreal, among others — owing to their reputations as “places where fans already gather and music culture lives.”

“This is really made by the fans, for the fans,” explained Aeli Qahlwyn, one of the organizers.

The set up inside the Pyramid includes one of Angus Young’s iconic stage-worn schoolboy outfit, props, including a cannon used during the band’s 1991 Donington gig, which was released as both a concert film and live album, and more.

“It’s great to meet the community. It is a community. There are fans all over the world,” said Stefan Heismann, who has seen AC/DC 110 times since 1982. Heismann was travelling with his buddy Stefan Lang, who has seen the band over 250 times, from Germany. Over the years, the pair have seen the band in countries around the world. “For me, though, the tour stops with Winnipeg.”

Along with time-tested, battle worn stage gear, there’s also a stage where fans can take photos with a replica of Young’s guitar and enter for the chance to win the guitar, which will be signed by Young, at the end of the North American tour. Visitors can also enter to win tickets to Sunday’s gig, enjoy some AC/DC themed food or drinks – such as the Thunderstruck cocktail, a mix of vodka, blue curacao, Sprite, lemonade and lime juice — or grab some Winnipeg specific tour merch and limited edition vinyl ahead of the show, including a wide variety of t-shirts (starting at $70), enamel pins, and more.

Will Ewanchuk and his wife Maxine, their son and his girlfriend waited in line over an hour and a half to get into the event.

“Just coming to check it out, see what I can get,” he said. “I’m not set on anything. Maybe get a picture with the old cannon.”

After the event, Ewanchuk and family are hitting the highway in the name of rock n roll.

“We’re off to the States to see Iron Maiden and Megadeth (in Shakopee, Minn.),” he said. “Then we’re coming back for Sunday’s show.”

Franklin Hjorliefson waited in line nearly two hours to get into the event.

“I’m going to show on Sunday, never seen them,” he said, adding that he wasn’t planning to buy any merchandise just yet. “I’m saving my money for the concert itself.”

The AC/DC PWR/UP Pop-up is open at the Pyramid Cabaret on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and before the band’s big show on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. All ages are welcome.

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