Dates for the Diary: Grillstock

Grillstock, the UK’s hottest BBQ and music festival, will return to Bristol and Manchester this summer for two weekends of Meat, Music and Mayhem.

Grillstock festival will dock at Bristol’s Harbourside on 7th and 8th June before heading North to Manchester’s Albert Square on 28th and 29th June. With a smouldering hot US style low 'n' slow BBQ competition, over 25 acts playing across two music stages and craft beer bars, Grillstock is the hottest festival in the UK, attracting over 17, 000 meat and music lovers seeking some southern hospitality.

The festival invites you to kick back to the finest blues, rockabilly, bluegrass and country rhythms this side of the American South. Foot stomping rockgrass legends and Grillstock favourites, Hayseed Dixie, top the Sunday bill at both festivals with Vintage Trouble taking to the stage to headline on Saturday night in Albert Square. The Bristol Saturday headline act is yet to be revealed.

Festival goers can witness over 40 BBQ teams battle it out in the 'King of the Grill' international BBQ contest across the two cities. The US style ‘low and slow’ BBQ competition puts the teams through their paces as they show off their culinary skills over the smoky coals. The competition allows festival goers the chance to interact with the teams, taste the food and experience their passion for authentic barbecue. Increasing the heat, legendary Dr BBQ (aka Ray Lampe) will oversee the judging.

Grillstock festival would not be complete without its epic Chilli and Frank’s Hot Sauce Wing eating competitions which are not to be entered by the faint hearted. This year will also be extra special as they pay tribute to the buffalo wing celebrating 50 years since its invention. Making its first ever entrance will be the hot-dog eating competition.

BBQ experts Weber will be on hand with their informative and entertaining cooking Academy for visitors to pick up tips and tricks from the best in the business, which will leave them King of the BBQ.

Brooklyn’s finest draft beer will be served in a special New York style pop up bar, with specially imported craft beers to help wash down and accompany the food and music.

For tickets please visit www.Grillstock.co.uk, Twitter @Grillstock, facebook.com/GrillstockBBQ.

Bristol festival – 8th & 9th June
Manchester festival – 28th & 29th June
Tickets: Saturday £22.50, Sunday £18 or £30 per weekend with early bird discounts available on-line.

I am so excited to be going to Grillstock this year! 'Real' BBQ is our absolute favourite, as you may have noticed from my 'meat feast' quests in London, The Big Feastival and also the pretty awesome Hangfire Smokehouse (review up soon). I also love Country music, my favourites are Blues and Bluegrass. Me and my Mother are big fans of Alison Krauss, Joe Bonmassa, Beth Hart and shows like Nashville (Country songs galore) and we are desperate to visit a local cafe, known for hosting Country music called The Chattery. So I can't wait to see acts like Danny and the Champions and Hayseed Dixie (to name just a few) and broaden my knowledge of good ol' Southern music! The pricing of the tickets is one of the most reasonable I've seen too- for so much going on, so win-win!

There are so many things going on in Grillstock that I haven't covered in this post. But keep coming back for more details and a review. We'll be going to the Bristol event, if I could manage to go to both I would! It's right up our street! Are you going? What are you looking forward to most? Give me a shout over at @LovelyAppetite to let me know what you think.