Just when you thought the season of blues and barbecue events was over, this one will no doubt pull you back into the lifestyle of ribs and riffs. The 2008 Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival will launch in downtown Columbia, Missouri at 5:00 p.m. on three stages and on the grills of the various backyard chefs who are coming to claim the title of Kansas City Barbeque Society State Champion.
All comers to the festival will be able to hear some great tunes by the likes of Buddy Guy and Del McCoury or observe the barbecue contest over the course of Friday, October 3rd, and Saturday, October 4th.
While the festival may seem to strike a very vernacular, self-effacing tone with its title, the event nevertheless makes for a quite ambitious undertaking. $15,000 in cash prizes will be handed out to winners of the BBQ championship, where contestants will compete for the title of best griller of either brisket, pork, chicken, sausage or ribs. Organizers are even being strict enough to bar competitors from selling or giving their dishes to fans before the winner is crowned. Luckily for those who came expecting to actually eat some barbecue, there will be plenty of separate vendors lining the festival's two main drags of Cherry Street and Elm Street in downtown Columbia.
Regarding the musical aspect of the second annual festival, there will be over 25 performances reflecting an approach to lineup programming that toes the line pretty well between the two emphases the festival advertises, roots and blues music. The lineups of each of the festival's three stages will be formulated according to these emphases, with its Shelter Insurance Stage catering to blues fans, its Mediacom Peace Park stage for those with eclectic tastes (there will some reggae and rhythm & blues performers, such as People's Army and Primitive Soul), as well those who want a steady balance between blues and roots throughout the day, and the Verizon Wireless Flat Branch Park Stage for those who come for the folk and bluegrass.
One simple reason why R,R, & BBQ is such a good way to finish off the food/music festival circuit is the fact that admission into the festival grounds is free, with vendors setting their own prices for food and drink. However, if you're willing to shell out $250, the resulting Whole Hog Package will no doubt deliver on your expectations. Starting the experience with valet parking, Whole Hog festival goers then get access to private performances by Ruthie Foster and the Music Maker Relief Foundation on the night of the 2nd, as well as free cocktails, barbecue, and meet-and-greets with artists throughout both the 3rd and 4th as well as more private performances which are TBA. The Package also grants access to beverage tents conveniently located to the side of the Peace Park and Flat Branch stages. Finally, Whole Hog fans can visit the local Blue Note music club where artists-- it's unclear how many of them will be performers from the festival, or "outsiders"--will have a late-night jam session on both Saturday and Sunday. To purchase the Whole Hog tickets, go to the festival's own online ticket page.
To find out more about Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ, go to rootsnbluesnbbq.com.
