Meats and Mastin: Get a slice of the sizzling hot inaugural AWM Bellarine Smoke-Off

Barbecues, bands, and the Bellarine; it’s a winning combination only heightened by the addition of rolling vines and uncorked bottles of wine.

At this point, beloved local winery, accommodation, and live music venue, Bellarine Estate know exactly how to pull in the crowds. Whether it’s their vine-laced twilight concerts featuring some of Australia’s finest performers from blues connoisseur Joe Camilleri, to the 90s Australia pop duo who brought us ‘Buses and Trains’, Bachelor Girl, through their on-site luxury glamping experience waking up to picturesque bay views, or through their mouth-watering Texas Barbeque meat banquet, Bellarine Estate know a thing or two about their audience. That’s not even tapping into the barrels that make Bellarine Estate what it is – the estate wine and the spirits from Thirty Acres Distillery or our new Ridge Spritz. The family-owned, family grown, and family made operation continues their hot streak, this time with the sizzle AWM Bellarine Smoke-Off.

Keep up to date with the latest in food and drinks across regional Victoria here.

 

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A vibrant celebration of all things barbecue, music, and community, the inaugural AWM Bellarine Smoke-Off is an event that’s sure to make waves across the region. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Bellarine Estate, this festival is a day to indulge in the ultimate sensory experience, blending the rich flavours of Australia’s finest barbecue with live tunes and family-friendly fun.

The Smoke-Off promises a full-throttle, action-packed day, kicking off with the highly anticipated barbecue competition, where top teams from around Australia converge to showcase their talent and battle it out for the coveted title of Grand Champion and a slice of the $15,000 cash prize pool from the Australian BBQ Alliance. Expect masters of the barbecue will be smoking meats like their life depends on it. Butchers Axe BBQ, Low-Co Barbeque, FireHouse Barbeque, Jimmy’s Brisket and the impeccably named Ashes to Ash’s BBQ are all lining up to test their grill skills. It’s only the best cuts of pork ribs, brisket, lamb, and beef that will be tabled for the cut-throat judging panel.

As the competition unfolds, visitors can stroll through the bustling festival grounds, where an impressive array of food stalls offers everything from succulent Brazilian-style BBQ to gourmet American smoked meats. Local food vendors add their own flavour to the mix, with everything from vegetarian options to handmade barbecue rubs, oils, and sauces perfect for the budding home chef. The skills from the grounds can also be taken home thanks to a series of masterclasses. Lance Rosen from Big Boy BBQ will be doing a brisket masterclass and the local team from Armstrong Creek BBQ showing their methods for cooking the perfect beef cheek in their masterclass. For the kids there’s a range of activities to enjoy including face painting to barbecue-themed crafts. 

 

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But it’s not just about the cooking. The festival’s vibe is as much about community as it is about competition. Market stalls brim with local artisans offering everything from beautifully crafted chopping boards and barbecue accessories to hand-blended spices and sauces, while live music fills the air with country, rock, and feel-good festival anthems. From the crack of dawn until the sun sets, the festival’s live music program ensures the good times keep rolling. Kicking off at 11:30 PM, the stage is set for a jam-packed lineup of Aussie talent. First up, TJR & The Longhorns, Melbourne’s favourite country covers band, bring boot-stomping tunes and feel-good vibes. They’re the perfect act to get the crowd fired up. On the tail end, The Screamin’ Eagles, a high-energy rock band, will deliver a set that’s all about crowd interaction and sing-along moments. Known for their festival-friendly tunes and larger-than-life presence, wrapping up the day on a high note. 

Sandwiched between the two is Reece Mastin’s Great Big Beer Band. Whilst not the most fitting name to join the winery stage, Mastin’s set will be red hot.

“I’m a booker of the bizarre events,” he laughs. “But for this one I’m excited. Thankfully I love a good smoked meat and drink. But I’ll be on my best behaviour during the day. If I have two glasses of wine it’s game over. It’s a problem because I really like wine so I’ll definitely not be having a wine before the show. As soon as I’m finished is another story!”

Having reinvented himself from teen pop idol to a powerhouse rock frontman, Mastin knows how to command a crowd with big anthems and all-out rock ‘n’ roll energy. Of late, the artist is shaking things up again, and adding some extra sauce to his sound.  

 

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“We’re going heavier for sure. It’s been a natural progression and very organic. I’ve always loved metal and listened to it, and was even in a metal band before all of this when I was younger,” he explains. “I think it was a commercial thing before that I couldn’t go too far away from but for this next chapter I have a very clear plan and am doing all of the releasing and marketing so I feel like it’s time to do something I really love.”

“The thing that metal music allows me to be is pissed off in a good way. I think everybody knows, at least in Australia, my past with big labels and how I was treated afterwards and blah blah blah – we don’t want to go back into all, but I would like for everybody to, at least with these first releases, really be able to capture a picture of who I am and who I was shaped into as an artist.” 

This new era begins with ‘Wembley’; a track that is equipped with all of the ingredients that make a brutal belter of a song – gut-punching drums, grimy basslines, frenetic guitar lines, and larger than life pipe power, heightened by the occasional growl and scream. The track itself is a ritualistic manifestation, with sniper vision on its beacon of its namesake.

“Wembley is about the journey. We’ve played stages to 50 people and then to a sold-out 500 people in the same weekend and it’s really about that touring journey with Wembley being this vacant lot for us to strive to. It’s become part of our pre-stage huddle where we go around and say something we’re grateful for as a band, and I always finish it with a cheers to Wembley.”

As he gears up for the next round of releases, with some more singles up his sleeve and an album in the headlights, Mastin will be treating his fans to a smorgasbord of his hits. Before they get to the big British beacon, see Reece Mastin’s Great Big Beer Band at the AWM Bellarine Smoke-Off on Saturday 28 March. 

Bellarine Estate has once again set the stage for an unforgettable experience that combines the best of Australia’s barbecue culture with the energy of live music and the spirit of community. Whether you’re a seasoned barbecue enthusiast, a music lover, or simply looking for a day of fun and food in the stunning Bellarine Peninsula, the AWM Bellarine Smoke-Off is a festival that delivers on every level. 

Get tickets to the AWM Bellarine Smoke-Off here.