Meatstock food and music festival is heaven for the hardcore carnivore. Hosted over two days at Olympic Park’s Sydney Showground, all you have to do is follow your nose to the big cloud of smoking barbeque.
Butchers, barbers, and bands — oh my! With three big stages, and headlining entertainment by The Tommyhawkers and The Delta Riggs, this festival is plenty reason to get yourself deep into a meat-induced food coma.
In anticipation for the festival all week, I texted my mate to start planning our day — ‘Where should I meat you?’. We were both delighted to spend a cracking 23-degree Saturday out in a field, with some of the best barbeque and beers, plus bands to boot.
Everyone knows a good barbie is a massive part of Aussie food culture, but it was impressive to see meat appreciation from various corners of the world. We tasted everything from mouth-watering Argentine Asado (beef spare ribs), to Spanish chorizo sausage, Texan pulled pork rolls, and my favourite — barbequed beef brisket — slow-cooked meat so tender it slips right off the bone and literally melts in your mouth. We even ran into award-winning BBQ pit-master ‘Big Moe’ Cason out by a food truck called ‘The Fancy Banger’.
The festival was packed with all the bells and whistles you might expect – Weber barbeques for sale, and everything from BBQ tools and accessories, special sauces, brisket rubs, and all-day live demonstrations — including shows called, ‘5 Pit-master Tips’, ‘Pork Ribs 101’ and ‘The Perfect Burger’.
The mechanical bull ride was hilarious to watch, and there was a dedicated area with games and entertainment for families with kids.
In the stadium arena, Meatstock hosted 3 rounds of very cut-throat Barber Wars, during which Sydney’s most talented barbers performed their best fades and freestyle cuts, with only 30 minutes on the clock. As an aside, you’ll want to check this festival out if you’re into bearded men. Or if you are a bearded man. But any true meat-lover will have themselves a smoking good time.
My friend and I ended the night snacking on barbequed corn, sipping on Canadian Clubs, while vibing to the Indie meets super-charged-folk sounds of The Tommyhawks girl band.
Tickets to both days of Meatstock sold out in Sydney this year, but keep an eye out for more food events like this one, until they meat again.
– Jill
Jill is a Sydney-based journalist who thinks a salad is a side dish. Follow her on: @jillamint
Find out more about Meatstock Festival via the official website. Missing the next one would be a huge missed steak.