Image: Adelaide’s Beer & BBQ Festival
Australia’s largest beer, BBQ, and music festival, which has been a highlight in Adelaide since 2015, is set to make its debut in Mt Gambier in 2024.
The Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival, known for attracting over 20,000 attendees annually, is a vibrant celebration of the best in brewing, culinary delights, and music. It has been a stage for world-class brewers, BBQ chefs like the legendary Matty Matheson, and a host of Australian indie rock and punk acts, including The Living End, Hockey Dad, and many more.
The festival’s expansion to South Australia’s Limestone Coast marks the launch of the inaugural South East Beer & BBQ Festival (SEBBF) in Mt Gambier. Scheduled for the 2024 March long weekend, the event promises an unforgettable experience at the Railway Lands. Tickets are already up for grabs via Moshtix at www.beerbbqfest.com.
SEBBF will feature two distinct days of festivities. Saturday, March 9th, is an 18+ event, while Sunday, March 10th, welcomes families and dogs, offering a diverse array of beers, BBQ, and live entertainment. Headlining the festival are The Smith Street Band (VIC), Regurgitator (QLD), Bad // Dreems (SA), and Magic Dirt (VIC), ensuring a high-energy atmosphere.
The festival’s beer selection is a brew aficionado’s dream. It will showcase a mix of local and national breweries, including Pirate Life, Big Shed, and Mismatch from Adelaide, alongside interstate pioneers like Sydney’s Bracket Brewing and Melbourne’s The Mill. The Limestone Coast’s own Woolstore, Loophole, and Little Rippa will also feature, with a full lineup to be announced in three parts.
On the BBQ front, curator Alana Brabin collaborates with the South East’s top chef, Kirby Shearing, to present a tantalizing array of BBQ options. Attendees can look forward to dishes from Burn City Smokers, Smokey Uppercuts, and Lumberjack’s BBQ, among others. A special highlight includes a collaboration between Pirate Life Kitchen’s Rocky Oliveria and Mayura Station, known for Australia’s finest beef.
The music lineup is equally impressive. The Smith Street Band and Bad//Dreems are set to headline Saturday, with Regurgitator and Magic Dirt taking the stage on Sunday. The festival will also showcase rising talents like DEM MOB and local acts such as Sexy As Shit and Stokes, all hosted by Double J’s Henry Wagons.
But SEBBF is more than just beer, BBQ, and music. It will feature BMX and skating demos, BBQ championships, masterclasses, a hot dog eating contest, axe throwing, a tattoo parlour, markets, a silent disco, and the debut of the Beer Bod Wet T-Shirt Competition in the region.
Gareth Lewis, Co-Director of the Beer & BBQ Festival, is excited about bringing the festival to the South East. He’s aiming to create an event that reflects the unique identity of the Limestone Coast. “We are stoked to bring Beer & BBQ Festival to the beautiful South East. We have felt nothing but supported by each and every person we have consulted with in building this event concept and feel privileged to be welcomed into the area. South East Beer & BBQ Fest is not a half-baked version of the Adelaide event but kind of like a ‘greatest hits’ of all the things we love. We hope it develops its own unique identity tied to the Limestone Coast and the great producers, bands and people who are lucky enough to call it home.”
South Australian Minister for Arts, Andrea Michaels, has also highlighted the government’s involvement saying “The Malinauskas Government is committed to bringing more live music to South Australians right around the state and we are thrilled to be supporting the inaugural South East Beer and BBQ Festival in Mount Gambier in 2024 with a grant through our See it Live program.”
With the backing of the South Australian State Government’s Music Development Office and support from the City of Mt Gambier and Limestone Coast Tourism, the South East Beer & BBQ Festival is poised to be an unforgettable event. Tickets for single days or the ‘Whole Hog’ weekend pass are available now at www.beerbbqfest.com.
