AC/DC is firing up its PWR/UP tour in Madison this Sunday with a full-on stadium show at Camp Randall, and The Pretty Reckless is on deck to open. The band’s arrival is set to turn the UW-Madison campus into a one-night rock festival, with heavy traffic and long lines expected around the stadium. Fans can look forward to the band’s trademark pyrotechnics, Angus Young’s schoolboy shtick, and a career-spanning run of hits. If you are heading to the show, start planning your arrival now - this is a high-demand stop on a largely sold-out tour.
Show time, gates and opening act
The concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. this Sunday, with doors opening earlier so crews can move the crowd inside. According to Ticketmaster, the AC/DC date at Camp Randall is listed with a 7 p.m. curtain, while local station WJJO reports that gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Either way, count on security lines and slow-going around the concourse, as the university’s downtown streets will be busier than usual.
Camp Randall rules: bags, kids and medical items
Camp Randall enforces a strict clear-bag policy. Approved options are a clear plastic tote no larger than 12×6×12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch up to 4.5×6.5 inches. Per Wisconsin Athletics, diaper bags are allowed when a guest is accompanying a child, and medically necessary bags must be inspected and tagged at designated gates. There is no bag check-in at the stadium, so the athletic department recommends leaving non-approved items in your vehicle.
Tickets and getting there
Tickets are still available through major sellers and resale markets, with Ticketmaster listing inventory for the Madison stop. Visit Madison and the stadium’s event guides urge concertgoers to use nearby downtown ramps or rideshares, since on-site parking is limited and day-of passes often sell out. Expect road closures and heavier-than-normal traffic before and after the show, and plan to arrive early if you want to tailgate or grab dinner downtown.
Tour snapshot and what to expect onstage
The North American leg of AC/DC’s PWR/UP run resumed on July 11 in Charlotte, according to NextMosh, and Madison is one of the early stadium stops on that routing. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes AC/DC had not played in Wisconsin since 2010 at Milwaukee’s Bradley Center and reports that face-value tickets were listed from about $79. The current touring lineup features Angus Young, now 71, alongside Brian Johnson and newer members including bassist Chris Chaney and drummer Matt Laug, with Stevie Young having formally joined the band in 2014. Fans can expect three-plus decades of hits, a massive sound and a spectacle tuned for a stadium-sized crowd.
