(Cushing, Okla.) You could smell the barbecue and hear the sounds of music. The 19th Annual BBQ & Blues kicked off at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 14th at the festival grounds located on West Grandstaff just north of Cushing off of Highway 18.
The Festival was a free family event, with free activities for the kids, barbecue taster’s kits for $5, and music from LiveWire and Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers. Helicopter rides were also available.
The barbecue was prepared on the World’s Largest Permanent Smoker. Thanks to the generosity and hard work of Larry Brewer and his Matrix team, the smoker has 15 arms extending from the firebox that the participating companies used to hang their grills from. Each company designed their own unique grill to prepare the 100 plus pounds of brisket they served to the barbecue aficionados who came out this year to enjoy the food, live music and children’s activities.
Winners of the BBQ & Blues cook-off were from Plains and the Judge’s Choice and NGL for the People’s Choice.
On the stage from 5 – 7 p.m. was LiveWire, a Missouri band with local ties, that entertained with past singles such as “Tater Fed”, “Whiskey Sunday” and their latest single “Drivin’ You Outta My Mind.”
Following LiveWire on stage – Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers! With their “soul-drenched vocals” and “blistering licks on harmonica” Dirty Red and the Soul Shakers “captures the spirit” of the Oklahoma blues scene.
From barbecue to blues – this year’s Festival was one you wouldn’t want to have missed!
KUSH was live on air “and” on location at BBQ & Blues.
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