- Free family friendly High Voltage festival to rock the streets of Fremantle on 7 May
- Full details of the street route and festival program released including more than 50 performances and events which will attract eventgoers, support jobs and businesses
- Festival pays tribute to legendary AC/DC singer and Fremantle local, Bon Scott
Western Australia's new free homegrown High Voltage rock n' roll festival inspired by local legend Bon Scott will take to the streets of Fremantle in a huge celebration of local talent and creativity.
There will be more than 50 performances and events along a 5km street circuit and three festival sites during the historic one-day festival on Sunday, 7 May.
Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of Fremantle in what is intended to become a major annual tourism event.
High Voltage is a State-owned event delivered by Tourism WA and produced by Perth Festival's new out-of-season Special Projects arm and supported by the City of Fremantle.
The centrepiece of the festival will be a procession of bands playing on seven flatbed trucks over two hours while doing a lap of Fremantle from Fremantle Oval to South Beach then back to central Fremantle, passing the Esplanade near the Bon Scott statue along the way.
The line-up playing on separate trucks will include multi-ARIA Award winning rock and blues legend Diesel; post-punk female rockers Body Type; one of Australia's best-known entertainers and actors, the WAAPA-trained Eddie Perfect; Perth soul and blues star Natalie Gillespie; and the critically acclaimed Cash Savage and the Last Drinks.
They will be complemented by a diverse range of entertainment playing at three festival sites in Fremantle including Katy Steele, Dan Sultan, Southern River Band, Whole Lotta Love, DICE, Barry Morgan, DJ Bee Rizzi, Junkadelic, Billy Damage and The Jinja Assassin, Datura4, the Perth Saxophone Rockers and more.
As well as the bands performing on trucks, there will be three different festival sites, each providing a unique experience:
- Fremantle Oval for all music fans where artists such as Katy Steele, Dan Sultan and Southern River Band will be performing;
- Wilson Park at South Beach which will have a chilled beachside vibe with legendary local bands and DJ; and
- Esplanade Park which will have a focus on family activities and fun for all ages.
More information will be available at https://www.highvoltagewa.com.au/.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"The energy and sheer fun as Highway to Hell transformed Perth back in 2020 is now back in black as High Voltage.
"This is a free family friendly festival that will be distinctly Western Australian.
"Just like trailblazing Bon Scott, it is going to have a big impact well beyond WA.
"Well done to everyone involved in overseeing the creation of High Voltage."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"Our strategy is all about staging a wide variety of major events - especially exclusive events - that will attract visitors and engage locals.
"High Voltage fits the bill in every way.
"There is nothing else like it in the world - bands on a flatbed truck pumping out music along a 5km street circuit while passing by three unique festivals around Fremantle.
"Just like Bon singing the song all those years ago, High Voltage is going to start with a rumble and build into a roar that will be heard around the world.
"High Voltage is going to be a fantastic experience for local families and music fans of all ages as well as local businesses and tourism operators."
Comments attributed to Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"Tonight WA is hosting huge shows by Ed Sheeran and Bjork so it's also fantastic that we celebrate our own musical legends with a new homegrown music festival in Fremantle celebrating the enduring impact of Bon Scott.
"Music in WA is one of our strongest creative industries and the recent success of the band Voyager in its bid for Eurovision success is just one example of the exciting energy and talent that is out there.
"And let's not forget the economic impact - arts jobs are real jobs and this new event will create hundreds of jobs and have a lasting economic impact."
Comments attributed to Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"The celebration of all things AC/DC offers something for everyone.
"What better place to rock out than through the streets of Fremantle, where locals like to claim Bon Scott as one of our own.
"We know how to put on a party in Freo, and we look forward to welcoming fans from around the State and seeing some excellent air guitar on 7 May."
Comments attributed to Bicton MLA Lisa O'Malley:
"I can't wait for High Voltage which will build on the electrifying legacy of 2020's Highway to Hell.
"Highway to Hell was dynamite for small businesses and traders, and High Voltage is sure to provide more than just an encore for the local economy."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Tourism Minister's office - 6552 6500
Culture and the Arts Minister's office - 6552 5400
