There's a new BBQ-fest coming to town: Called the Lone Star Smokeout, it's a 3-day event combining BBQ and country music that'll debut outside of the AT&T Stadium in Arlington in May as an offshoot of the Windy City Smokeout, an award-winning annual festival in Chicago from Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants.
According to a release, the three-day event will take place from May 2-4, with BBQ staples from 14 pitmasters, live music performances from country music acts, and other retail pop-ups and sponsor activations.
Of the 14 pitnasters, 10 are from Texas, and five are from DFW, as follows:
- Dayne’s Craft Barbeque from Aledo
- Hurtado Barbecue from Arlington
- The Original Roy Hutchins Barbeque from Trophy Club
- Michelin-recommended Panther City BBQ from Fort Worth
- Slow Bone BBQ from Dallas
- Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue from Harker Heights
- The Salt Lick BBQ from Driftwood
- The Original Black’s BBQ from Lockhart
- two-time James Beard-nominated and Michelin-recommended 2M Smokehouse BBQ from San Antonio
- two-time James Beard semifinalist Curry Boys BBQ from San Antonio
- Little Miss BBQ from Phoenix
- Meat Mitch Barbecue from Leawood, Kansas
- Pappy’s Smokehouse from St. Louis, Missouri
- Wright’s Barbecue from Fayetteville, Arkansas
In a statement, Lone Star Smokeout Culinary Director Max Robbins says the festival is about highlighting the influence of Texas BBQ.
"For our first year, we’re bringing in some of the best BBQ talent from across Texas, including a few familiar faces from past Smokeouts,” Robbins says. “To top it off, we’ve got four pitmasters from neighboring states, each showing off their own regional twist on BBQ and how Texas has inspired them."
Each featured BBQ vendor will be selling two items throughout the festival. Pitmasters will be spending the majority of their day at their booths, having the chance to interact with guests.
General Admission tickets do not include the price of food.
Lone Star Smokeout also recently announced its daily music lineup, featuring a selection of top country artists and homegrown Texas talent hand-picked by ACM-award winning promoter and festival co-founder Ed Warm. The full lineup can be found below, with three-day and single-day tickets available for purchase at lonestarsmokeout.com/tickets. Friday (5/2): Cody Jinks, Randy Rogers Band, Josh Meloy, Ian Harrison, Grace Tyler, JoJo DiSalvo Saturday (5/3): Jon Pardi, Dylan Gossett, Tucker Wetmore, Tanner Adell, Lauren Watkins, Catie Offerman Sunday (5/4): Midland, Wyatt Flores, DJ Pauly D, Eli Young Band, Hudson Westbrook, Kaitlin Butts, Kashus Culpepper
Featured in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes, Country Living, Food & Wine, MTV and more, the Windy City Smokeout was created in 2013 and is operated by Lettuce Entertain You, an independent, family-owned restaurant group based in Chicago that owns, manages and licenses more than 120 restaurants nationwide.
Beyond the music and BBQ, Lone Star Smokeout will showcase a variety of fan-favorite retail purveyors, including on-site pop-ups from Tecovas, Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, Hale House Boutique, and a custom hat bar Flea Style. Attendees will also be able to enjoy a robust cocktail and beer program, featuring products from Miller Coors, Grey Goose Vodka, Flecha Azul Tequila, Dos Hombres Mezcal, and more.