Meet Meatstock, Sydney's Massive New Meat Meet

Looking for something romantic and unapologetically meaty to do on Valentine's Day? It would appear that you're in luck. Rolling into the Sydney Showgrounds for the very first time, Meatstock is a brand new two-day barnburner for all things barbecue. We're talking meat, beer, bourbon, meat, music, meat, beards, meat and of course, meat. Because nothing says 'I love you' like a plate of pork ribs bigger than your partners head.

Part expo, part music festival and part gladiator-style cook-off, Meatstock will welcome the prime cuts of the local barbecuing fraternity to showcase their skills behind the grill. Headlining the event will be the A&E Sydney Barbecue Wars, in which 40 teams from all around the country serve up their best pork, beef, chicken, lamb and seafood for their chance to win more than $8000 in cash and prizes. They'll also be on the lookout for Australia's best butcher and its best barber — the latter in a competition called the Cutthroat Barber Wars, which doesn't sound terrifying at all.

Meatstock will also welcome a number of special guest speakers and chefs, including Carnivores Ball creator Jess Pryles, Fancy Hanks' head honcho Mike Patrick and Bovine & Swine Barbecue Co. founder Hillbilly Wes. But the biggest get would have to be Tuffy 'The Professor' Stone, one of the most celebrated names in American competition barbecue and a judge on the reality TV show BBQ Pitmasters. Stone will be hosting a day-long cooking school on the Thursday before Meatstock begins.

Of course, no one goes to an event called Meatstock just to learn about cooking barbecue. Let's face it: if you're there, you're there to eat. Catering will be handled by a range of carnivorous cooks, including The Smoking Brothers, Parilla Argenchino and Rangers Texas BBQ. And once you've eaten yourself into a stupor, you can waddle over and check out the live music offerings — a rip-roaring lineup of new bluegrass, rock and roll, country and everything in between: think The Snowdroppers, Henry Wagons, The Buffalo Grass Boys and The Beards.

For more information about Meatstock, visit their website.