Music City Barbecue Festival gets fired up

(Credit: Ricky Rogers/ The Tennessean)

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When it comes to being known for barbeque, Memphis has that honor sewn up tight in Tennessee. Even tiny little Lynchburg, home of the Jack Daniel's distillery and its yearly invitational barbecue tournament, is better known for its smoked meats.

But the organizers behind the Music City Barbecue Festival, a new event happening this weekend, want to change that.

For starters, they've gotten the governor to proclaim that the winner of the festival's overall category will be an official state barbecue champion. Take that, Memphis in May.

"Nashville's not quite yet on the barbecue map, but this is certainly a step in the right direction, especially if we get some good local support," said Pat Isbey, co-owner of Jimmy Carl's Lunch Box, which started serving barbecue inside the Station Inn earlier this year. Jimmy Carl's will compete in this weekend's tournament.

More than 70 teams from nine states will compete in the pork shoulder, ribs, brisket, chicken and whole hog categories, plus festivalgoers will vote on a people's choice award. The overall winner gets a bid to the Jack Daniel's invitational tournament in October.

The difference between this and the many barbecue events around the state is that it's a proper festival, with the requisite hours upon hours of music.

"How do you have anything in Nashville, Tennessee, and not have music involved?" said co-organizer Tom Kiermaier, who formed the festival with friends Brian Hamilton and Frank Platt, competitors on the barbecue circuit with a team called the Peg Leg Porkers.

Speaking of team names, among those scheduled to compete this weekend are Sweet Swine O Mine, Rub Me Right, Manwagon, Critter Cookers and Nice Racks.

Jack Cawthon, who owns Jack's Bar-B-Que, isn't competing but said he hopes the festival develops into a big downtown draw.

"I think if they can get though this first one, the next one will really bring a lot more attention, I'm sure," he said. "Our reputation's becoming better and better, and this is just going to help it that much more."

Music City Barbecue Festival. 5-11 p.m. Fri., Aug. 28, and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat., Aug. 29 at Riverfront Park.Tickets are $10 per day or $15 for both days. All food and drink costs extra. Children 11 and younger admitted free. Details: 732-9910, www.musiccitybbqfestival.com.