The Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival (ABBF) ignited the winter season with a jam-packed weekend as over 21,000 revellers celebrated Australia’s biggest festival of beer, BBQ, and bands in the Southern Hemisphere.
 
Over 100,000 beers were poured, across the weekend of July 14 – 16, as over 80 emerging and established brewers, winemakers, and distillers from across Australia descended upon the Adelaide Showgrounds, alongside 50 performing artists across five stages, dozens of skaters, BMX and wrestlers, and crowd favourite, Humphrey B Bear.
 
Festival goes gorged on plates of ribs, burgers, fries, steaks, wings, and sausages over the weekend, delighting foodies with an epic BBQ offering. The outstanding highlight was undoubtably the ‘World’s On Fire’ international BBQ Collaboration, curated by Alana Brabin and Sarah Turner from Big Bad Wolf, seeing patrons feast on BBQ selections from around the world.
 
For the second year in a row, ABBF teamed up with its charity partner, The Adelaide Reclink Community Cup, raising over $10,000 through its plate donation program. The funds will go towards extending the charity’s ability to deliver its sports and arts programs to disadvantaged Australians.
 
The ABBF music program took center stage over the weekend, showcasing an impressive line-up of live music across five stages that featured the best of Australian talent. On Friday night, renowned Australian rock icons The Living End, Katy Steele, DJ Dexter, and Magic Dirt delivered captivating performances to a nearly packed audience. The crowd joined in with sing-alongs, revelled in guitar riffs, and immersed themselves in epic DJ sessions. 
 
Friday’s excitement reached new heights with a surprise appearance by football legend Tony Modra, who took to the stage with Adelaide Rockers Stiff Necks. Meanwhile, lucky attendees who stumbled upon the Sneaky Pickle Secret Bar were treated to a special collaboration when Chris Cheney of The Living End joined Henry Wagons. 
 
Saturday night continued the live music fervour with Dave Gleeson, frontman of Screaming Jets, rocking out with Pricey in the early evening. The Bennies then took the stage, electrifying the crowd with their energetic performance. The night reached its peak as Dune Rats closed the main stage with a phenomenal show, including a special guest appearance by Adelaide’s very own Towns. Inside the new ‘Miss Piggy’ Stage, 1300, Loose Units, and Dem Mob kept the audience buzzing throughout the night.
 
Adding to the excitement on Saturday, Mount Gambier’s Stokes were crowned the second annual ABBF Battle of the Bands champion. Thanks to the support of the SA Government’s Music Development Office, the group took home $1,000 in cash prizes.
 
Champions were everywhere at ABBF 2023, Mount Compass Meats were award the Australian Meat Industry Council’s Sausage King, and the Sunday saw Adelaide’s best-dressed doggies parade across the stage before the festival crowned its newest pie eating champion.
 
Quote attributed to Co-Director of Beer & BBQ Festival Gareth Lewis.
 
“This year’s festival was a proper celebration of flavour, community and unforgettable experiences. Brewer friends new and old, amazing talented chefs from all over the planet, especially the powerhouse World’s On Fire team grilling international flavours, and five stages of legends and soon-to-be legends. Every Beer & BBQ Fest is a year-long labour of love and when it all comes together it’s bloody lovely. And a special shout out to the glorious July weather!”