The Note’s Ultimate Adelaide Beer & BBQ Fest Guide
Just one more sleep until the madness of Adelaide Beer & BBQ Fest kicks off at Adelaide Showground! With three days of massive feeds, 1000 boozy drinks and big bands to get through (plus so, so, so much more!), we’ve pulled together all the must-see activities, vendors and secret stages.
FRIDAY
LOLA
The best place to shake off your work day is moshing to local outfit LOLA. This four-piece bring endless energy to Beer & BBQ Fest and are set to open the weekend with their brand of DIY punk. Catch them christening this year’s Kevin Bacon stage at 5:10pm.
The Last Resort Stage
An honorary punk club dive bar in tribute to Big Day Out promoter Ken West. This hidden stage highlights some of the best emerging talent in the genre. We’ve helped handpick the six bands playing Friday night. Head to this spot from 5:45 until late to catch Fair Call, Pest Control, Energy Angel, Pity Lips, Looch and The Prime Ministers of The Commonwealth of Australia (who’ll close the night from 10:45pm). Get to know some of the bands here.
Birdman
Otherwise known as The Unexpected Virtue of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band, this Sydney-based outfit will whip through the decades worth of punk, rock, metal and hip-hop hits that make up the soundtracks of Playstation’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater games 1 to 4. A must-see set for ’90s kids. They play the Kevin Bacon Stage at 7:30pm
Australian Rock Collective
The Australian Rock Collective is what happens when you combine the pedigree of music talent from Powderfinder, Spiderbait, Jet and You Am I. The supergroup will play the Aussie rock hits that have soundtracked our lives in one massive set. A highlight of this year’s festival. It all kicks off at the Kevin Bacon stage at 9:50pm.
Secret Pickle Stage
The first of many hoedowns at this year’s all-new Secret Pickle Stage, Friday night brings sets from Brad Chicken & The Bootstraps, Henry Wagons (who’s also Beer & BBQ Fest’s official host!), and The Bures Band from 7pm. Where can you find said stage? Head to the entrance of the Main Beer Hallway and follow the twangy guitar sounds. The Secret Pickle Stage will be kicking on Saturday night too – stay tuned for Matt Ward & The Rising Sons, Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits, and Eric Tooch Santucci.
ON THE MENU
We’d place bets on your belly rumbling the moment you walk through Adelaide Beer & BBQ Fest’s gates. On Friday, you’ll find us chowing down on a meaty feed Flamin’ Grillas Low & Slow. The award-winner Queensland smokehouse is wheeling their signature Wheel of Squeal – a ferris wheel contraption that roasts pork over a flaming fire – all weekend. What a way to make an Adelaide debut?!
As for drinks, catch us carving out our own pub crawl between stalls in the main beer hall. Our hit list for Friday night includes Shifty Lizard Brewing, Alice Springs Brewing Co. and the trusty West End Brewery.
SATURDAY
Markets Galore
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, we’ll be hitting up Beer & BBQ Fest during the day to check out some of the market stalls from Crackle and Pop Records, Old Uncle Moe’s Hot Sauce and Black Match Candles. If we’re feeling brave, you might even find us getting some fresh ink from 1891 Tattoo Studio.
Beer University: Keep It Weird
Time to fire up your neurons! The masters of the brewing world will be hosting industry talks at Beer University, casting light on the opportunities, developments and challenges in the scene right now. On Saturday, we’ve pencilled in attending the Keep It Weird class at 2:45pm – a celebration of boundary-pushing brews that are breaking the rule book.
Beer Bod Wet T-Shirt Championships
A highlight in the Beer & BBQ Fest schedule, the Beer Bod Wet T-Shirt Championships returns to the Kevin Bacon Stage. What more could you want than watching big burly men drench themselves in yeasty booze while trying to impress judges with their rigs? Not much. Stand front row if you want to be in the splash zone!
Silent Disco
A silent disco so quiet you’ll have to embark on a scavenger hunt to find it. Our only clues are that it’ll be somewhere near the main beer hall and that it’ll be a lot of fun. We’re curious - are you? Keep your eyes peeled for this fun little activation all night.
Untapped Battle of the Bands
The anticipated finale to the Battle of the Bands competition. Catch Esketamine, Purée, Tommy Marsh and The Flying Squad going head-to-head to secure $1000 (delivered as a huge ass novelty cheque of course) and a set on a future Beer & BBQ Fest-produced festival. Get to know some of the bands here.
The Last Resort Stage
Punchy sounds and piercing lyrics are two things to expect from the second night of the Last Resort stage. Curated by General Admission Entertainment, Saturday will see Sexy as Shit, TONIX, Jongo Bones & The Barefoot Bandits, AGAPANTHER and The Cha Cha Chas play back-to-back from 6:45pm.
C.O.F.F.I.N
Also known as Children of Finland Fighting in Norway, C.O.F.F.I.N are bringing their distinctive brand of punk to Beer & BBQ Fest on Saturday night. From 7:50pm, these Sydney-siders will blare their signature wall of noise, howling guitars and lyrical activism.
Floodlights
Floodies are a fave band in The Note office. Following a breakthrough 2023, the five-piece will bring their standout rock sound that reflects the people, places and skies of Australia to the Kevin Bacon Stage at 8:50pm. Find out more in our feature interview with the outfit here.
Bad//Dreems
SA rock royalty will close out Saturday night on the Kevin Bacon stage from 10pm, with a few friendly faces making some extra special guest appearances. But instead of their usual rough-and-tumble set, Baddies will be playing tracks from
ON THE MENU
Arrive hungry on Saturday. Must-try vendors include Mr. Charlie’s, the California-via-Sydney vegan Maccas, Cheekies Hot Chicken and Goldieboy Burgers. We’re also very keen to eat our way through the World’s on Fire activation, curated by BBQ Ambassador Alana Brabin. Taste flavours from the Caribbean, Jordan/Palestine, Thailand and Indigenous Australia. For drinks, there’s more than 60 independent names popping up in the main beer hallway. Take advantage of this and see how many weird brews you can find — we’d recommend starting at Shapeshifter Brewing Co.
SUNDAY
Beer University: You Drank What Now?
A bit of hair of the dog to kick start your Sunday session. Head to Beer University at 12:45pm for a blind taste challenge dedicated to discovering who has the wackiest beer at the festival.
Dog Fashion Parade
Are you the owner of the best-dressed dog in Adelaide? Put it to the test at the Dog Fashion Parade, which takes place at the Kevin Bacon stage. Cute pooches will strut their stuff to claim the title of the most stylish from 1pm.
Peter Combe and Newspaper Mama Band
For kids young and old, the iconic Peter Combe will be performing alongside his Newspaper Mama Band from 2:45pm on the Kevin Bacon stage. What a perfect headliner for the family and dog-friendly Sunday sesh? Big smiles all round.
Riot City Wrestling
Who doesn’t love to witness a few back slams and skin-on-skin action? Riot City Wrestling will be at Beer & BBQ Fest on Saturday and Sunday and doing live demonstrations at 1pm and 2:45pm. Saturday is pretty packed, so we’ve pencilled in time to see the professionals grapple on Sunday – it might make your sore head feel a little better!
Vili’s Pie Eating
An icon of South Australia, Vili’s Pies are a favourite feed for a reason. How many can you scoff in a matter of minutes? Put it to the test at the Vili’s Pie Eating competition, hosted by Henry Wagons on the Kevin Bacon Stage at 4pm.
Tickets to Adelaide Beer & BBQ Fest 2024 are still on sale. Grab final release tickets online here.
