It was that time of year to get your jam on with meat and music at Auckland’s Meatstock Festival.

As live bands and solo artists Sola Rosa Sound System, Katchafire, Cookin On 3 Burners, Jessy & The Volunteers, Swamp Thing, Recliner Rockers and Abby Wolfe performed on stage to the sun baked crowd, tens of thousands of carnivorous kiwis descended upon varying stands, stalls and food trucks.

Displaying various ways to char-grill, sizzle and sauté white and red meat there was also action on the inside of Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds.

A barber competition for the more hairier attendees who could volunteer to get their mop chopped and ca large area devoted to classic cars, trucks and bikes.

Comparing our attendance last year and the year before showed that Meatstock is definitely one of the largest music and food gigs in New Zealand as the growth in attendance was epic, with Saturday having been totally sold out.

An astounding weekend, amazing food and almost non-stop rhythms to keep you chewing that brisket to the beat.

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The meat was sizzling and the live music was blaring.

The weekend of the 16th and 17th of February 2019 saw thousands descend on ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland for the annual BBQ, Social and Music festival; Meatstock.

From retailers and wholesalers differing ways to cook up a storm in the summer sun were on offer aswell as live food displays, hair cutting competitions, lotions for your beard and food, food, food.

The sprawling layout took you from food vendors to food vendors, IPA Beer stockists and condiment stalls.

Inside muscle car and suped up vintage autos were lined up as if ready to drag race eachother.

Then, there was the live stage.

Over both days (Saturday and Sunday) live bands and artists were belting out tunes to the crowds who had seated themselves in the sun with their hearty supply of cooked meats and IPA’s.

Jon Toogood from Shihad, Lady D, The Whittakers, Henry Wagons and more offered a diverse playlist that catered for all tastes with two standout performances; Jon Toogood and the Recliner Rockers being my picks for both days. The mix of music went from contemporary, rock through to hillbilly rock and beyond.

Each band or artist having a one or two hour set – the endless stream of live music really set the tone for the weekend and made it definitely one of the more enjoyable and relaxing events to attend.

Meatstock, now in it’s third year, having started in Australia is the one event for all foodies, budding chefs and those that love a kiwi summer barby.

If you missed this year, make sure to mark it on your calendar for 2020.

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The heat of New Zealand’s summer bore down on the massive crowds as the twelve hour music festival kicked into action.

Samsung New Zealand invited us from STG to attend Auckland City Limits which boasted both local and big name artists across six massive stages (six including the Kiddie Limits area).

Local groups such as SWIDT, Katchafire, P Money, Scribe and more played alongside international giants; Justice, Beck, Sigrid and the legendary Grace Jones.

Photo taken on Samsung Galaxy S9

In all there were over thirty five bands or artists catering for most genres from indie to pop through to hip hop and electric, spread across the stages at the massive open area that is Western Springs Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

As with any large outdoor festival it was a case of checking the play schedule online and traversing across the green to each stadium to catch the acts that you had come to see.

Tash Sultana interacted with her audience and displayed her amazing array of musical talents, Sigrid played a selection of her well known tracks and DJ Tina Turntables had the crowds pumping.

Photo taken on Samsung Galaxy S9

While U.S. rap artist Justice failed to impress with his low key energetic performance. Head Like a Hole did not fail to deliver and Beck overly impressed his captivated attendees… and then there was one of the final acts of the day; the pioneer-ess, the legend that is Grace Jones.

Myself and the entire crowds at the Aroha Stage were left wanting more as Grace both engaged and mesmerized us with her artistry, spontaneity and a mix of her new material and signature classics such as ‘Pull Up to the Bumper’ being her outro song.

Photo taken on Samsung Galaxy S9

Auckland City Limits was a day for music fans of every genre. A day for families, friends and those that just wanted to kick back and chill on the grass.

Our mates at Edifier also featured with a non-stop Silent Disco.

Auckland City Limits was THE music event of 2018 and if you weren’t among the thousands of attendees, you have twelve months to prep yourself to be at the next one.

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The music was pumping, the crowds gathering and barbecues were smouldering.

Meatstock 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand was the weekend event to unleash both your inner wild carnivore-ism and fine tune your muso instincts.

While the indoor and outdoor stalls were retail-centric, selling BBQ’s and anything you can imagine that would go with meat, there were enough food stalls sizzling away all types of meat and meat products to keep the crowds well fed.

Then there was the craft beer tent where indie label beers were either flowing or sold by the can.

But through the charcoal black smoke of searing beef and under the hot New Zealand sun was the grassy area dedicated to the free music from the well set up stage.

Playing one hour or thirty minute sets alternative and up and coming bands played their top playlists as those that attended Meatstock laid about in the summer heat devouring steak sandwiches, strips of Biltong, trays of brisket and gravy and more, while guzzling down on their craft beers.

Artists such as Shem and The Butlers played hard. An exceptional mention needs to go to the group Bullhorn, who on Saturday morning wowed attendees with their brass instrument tracks.

Meatstock 2018 was the festival to chill out at. And one of the more relaxing music and food events that I have attended.

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