Meatstock 2018

Overview

After attracting more than 10,000 meatheads to the inaugural event this year, Meatstock will return to Auckland for two days of animal celebration and extreme protein consumption.

Part meat expo, part music festival, the event will feature things like a gladiator-style barbecue cook-off, a show down where talented butchers show off their knifemanship on animal framework and a cooking throw-down using a traditional backyard barbie. Over 50 teams from across New Zealand have already signed up to show off their skill behind the grill.

Helping punters get their meat fix will be: Ponsonby pit smokers Miss Moonshines, low 'n' slow food truck Dixie Barbecue and sausage aficionados Black Stag Deli, with more vendors to be announced.

International pit masters Tuffy Stone and Hillbilly Wes will make an appearance to run barbecue classes and demonstrations for competitors and the public. Known as "The Professor", Stone is one of the most successful participants on the US barbecue circuit, boasting 37 championship titles.

Dropping by for the second year, Australia's Hillbilly Wes Griffiths is a man with the words BARBECUE tattooed across his knuckles. After training knee-deep in barbecue sauce with some of the best low 'n' slow establishments in Austin, Texas, Griffiths set up his own interpretation in Sydney: Bovine and Swine Barbecue Co.

Music is also a key element of the festival and a specially curated stage is expected to showcase the best in blues, country, rock 'n' roll and everything in between.