Next year’s Valentine’s Day will be a time to express your undying love whether it to be for another person, another food, of just some damn good Australian music. In Sydney, you’ll be able to do all three at the same time as the inaugural Meatstock Festival pops-up for two days – 13th and 14th February 2016 – at the Sydney Showgrounds. Touted as a “Music and Meat” festival, the event promises a packed program full of bands, BBQs, beards, butchers, bourbon, barbers, and beer.
Couples who purchase a $26 adult ticket are given the option of a free children’s pass as well, so they can join in on all that wondrous meat-eating mayhem that will undoubtedly unfold at the venue.
“It’s five events in one big battle ground” said event co-organiser Jay Beaumont, “we have BBQ wars, butcher wars, barber wars, the meat and BBQ expo, and our awesome line-up of Blues and Country bands”.
World Barbecue Champion Tuffy Stone is being flown in for the event, and he’ll be on-hand to teach those looking to perfect their BBQ skills (essential in Australia) with the “Cool Smoke Cooking School” prior to the start of the festival.
Jess Pryles, better known as “BurgerMary”, will be hosting the Sydney Butcher Wars on a live stage where some of the country’s best will battle it out by breaking down a half a leg of lamb and half a saddle of pork within 45 minutes, making the rest of us feel like we’ve got a long, long way to go to mastering the art of the barbecue.
Bands scheduled to hit the stage over the two days include The Beards, The Snowdroppers, and Henry Wagons, soundtracking the event’s many features, which include the “A&E Sydney Barbecue Wars” in which 40 teams from a cross Australia battle it out for $8,000 in cash and prizes.
Mr Beaumont said the contest will be about variety “The barbecue competition is based around the cooking method of Low and slow over wood and wood products. Traditionally that includes Pork, Pork Ribs, Beef and Chicken.” he said. “For this competition, we’ve broadened the criteria adding Lamb and Seafood. We want to bring different styles together that are Australian.
Tickets for Meatstock are $26 and available through Meatstock.com.au. Every adult ticket that is purchased comes with the option of a free child ticket.
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