One of Perth's busiest roads will be closed for up to 10 hours during the March long weekend for a marathon tribute to AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott on the 40th anniversary of his death.

Key points: Bon Scott, AC/DC's volatile frontman, grew up around Fremantle

Bon Scott, AC/DC's volatile frontman, grew up around Fremantle The pioneering rock band played several venues in the area, including the Raffles

The pioneering rock band played several venues in the area, including the Raffles Scott died in 1980 after a partying bender, cementing his place in hard rock legend

The unique event on March 1 will be one of the centrepieces of the next year's Perth Festival.

Dubbed the "Highway to Hell", the musical tribute will see Canning Highway transformed into a 10-kilometre entertainment precinct featuring bands performing AC/DC songs from the back of flatbed trucks and semi-trailers as they travel along the route.

Festival-goers will be encouraged to picnic along the highway from Applecross to Fremantle, which will have four activity and entertainment zones, roving performers, community choirs, and food and market stalls.

Canning Highway will be closed to traffic for up to 10 hours for a marathon tribute to AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott on the 40th anniversary of his death as part of the Perth Festival. Pic date unknown ( Supplied: Perth Festival )

A diverse selection of bands including Finnish bluegrass outfit Steve 'n' Seagulls, Japanese rock trio Shonen Knife, Amyl and the Sniffers, the Pigram Brothers, the WA Police Pipe Band and the Perth Symphony Orchestra are among those performing.

There will also be what's been dubbed "the world's largest karaoke rendition" of the band's classic song Highway to Hell at Tompkins Park in Melville.

Festival shakes off the elitist tag

In the face of stiff competition for audiences from the brasher Fringe World festival, Perth Festival has for years been trying to shed a perception that it is elitist, and new festival director Iain Grandage will be hoping the Highway to Hell event will aid the cause.

Mr Grandage said the event would appeal to fans and families alike.

"For years, Bon walked this iconic southern stretch of Canning Highway from the Leopold Hotel in Palmyra to Fremantle, and AC/DC lit up the Raffles Hotel with legendary gigs," he said.

Bon Scott (left) with bandmate Angus Young. ( Supplied: National Portrait Gallery )

"The idea of closing down the highway to celebrate a favourite son is an exciting way to celebrate our city and bring the curtain down on the 2020 Festival.

"Everyone is invited. As Bon Scott sings in the song that inspired this event: 'And all my friends are gonna be there too'."

Key intersections along the highway will remain open during the event to enable access to streets on both sides of the highway, and extra public services will be provided.

Hope for a tourism boost

The event will be sponsored by the State Government through Tourism WA as part of a new four-year funding agreement, and $700,000 for the event will come from Lotterywest.

The Government is counting on the event to lure thousands of interstate and international visitors to Perth, potentially injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia described Highway to Hell as "a high-profile celebration of epic proportions".

"This free event presents a fantastic opportunity for not only the people of Perth, but also those travelling here from interstate and overseas, to share in a unique homage to an iconic Australian musician Bon Scott, and possibly one of the world's most famous rock bands," he said.

Bon Scott's grave is at Fremantle cemetery. ( AAP: Warwick Stanley )

Scott, who died on February 19, 1980, was the original frontman for the legendary hard-rocking, hard-living band.

Born in Scotland, he emigrated to Australia with his family at the age of six and lived in Melbourne for a short period before moving to Fremantle, where he went to school.

He joined AC/DC as lead singer in 1974 and they released six albums together, including Highway to Hell in 1979 that propelled them into rock and roll stardom.

Scott died in London from acute alcohol poisoning, his body found in the back of a car.

Scott's grave is at Fremantle cemetery, not far from Canning Highway, and a statue of him singing on top of an amplifier was erected at Fremantle's Fishing Boat Harbour in 2012.