New Music and Barbecue Festival Lights Up Central Texas Town

A New Festival Brings Music and Barbecue to Temple, Texas

A fresh festival is making waves in a city that many Austinites rarely visit: Temple, Texas. The Tanglefoot Festival, set to take place on September 12-13, promises an exciting blend of live music, top-tier barbecue, and community support. The event aims to raise funds for flood victims in Central Texas, making it more than just a celebration of food and music — it’s also a gesture of solidarity.

The musical lineup has already been confirmed, featuring some of the most popular names in country and Americana music. Among the performers are Parker McCollum, Cody Jinks, Robert Earl Keen, Randy Rogers Band, Corey Kent, Mark Chestnutt, and Jack Ingram, with a total of 21 acts scheduled to perform over the two days.

In addition to the music, the festival will showcase a variety of barbecue joints from across the country. There will be 16 participating pitmasters, many of whom have appeared on Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ Joints list. Some of the notable restaurants include B4 Barbecue (Mabank), Bar-A-BBQ (Montgomery), Miller’s Smokehouse (Belton), Panther City BBQ (Fort Worth), and Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue (Harker Heights). Several other establishments, such as Brick Vault Brewery & BBQ (Marathon) and Hill City Chop House (Tolar), have also received honorable mentions.

What makes this festival unique is the inclusion of pitmasters from outside Texas. Travelers like Edge Craft Barbecue from Oklahoma, Southern Smoke BBQ from North Carolina, Fork Grove Barbecue from South Carolina, Owens & Hull from Georgia, and Meat Mitch from Kansas will bring their distinct styles to the event. This rare opportunity allows attendees to experience a broader range of barbecue traditions.

Barbecue will not be included in the base ticket price. However, guests can access food trucks through the standard ticket. For those interested in sampling the best barbecue, there is an optional "BBQ Time @ The Smoke Stack" add-on available for $25 (plus fees). This add-on grants unlimited samples for one day. VIP ticket holders will have access to this feature without needing to purchase the add-on.

This is one of two “BBQ-focused fan experiences” offered at the festival. A portion of the proceeds from these add-ons will go toward supporting flood victims in the region. Another option for dedicated barbecue enthusiasts is the “Pitmasters Privilege,” starting at $100. This package includes unlimited tastings during daily BBQ hours, a private demo and Q&A session with the pitmasters before the gates open each day, and a commemorative shirt and photo opportunities. Participating pitmasters include Corey Mikes of Fat Boys BBQ, Chef Tim Clowers from Nashville, and the team from Panther City BBQ in Fort Worth.

“We wanted the BBQ at Tanglefoot to be just as unforgettable as the music,” said festival director Steve Clayton in a press release. “These pitmasters represent the best of the best — and most of them don’t normally travel too far from their firepits. To have them here in Temple for one weekend, sharing their craft while also coming together to help our Texas neighbors impacted by the recent floods? Now that’s something worth celebrating.”

Ticket prices for the Tanglefoot Festival start at $108.51 for a single day, including fees. Two-day tickets begin at $209.35. Additional options include VIP tickets, which start at $295.73 for one day, and various add-ons such as parking, private party deck access, and all-access passes. Special discounts are available for military personnel and college students. Tickets and more information can be found at eventhub.net.