Annual ribfest offers food, music and plenty more

Thursday, June 3, 2010

STAFF PHOTO BY GRANT MORRIS^^Steve Schattl, of Merrimack, chows down on ribs from T-Roy's at last year's Ribfest. CQ'd name.

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Staff Photo by COREY PERRINE^^Geovanni Lambert of Boston tuns chicken at the M&M Ribs tent Friday, June 19 at the Anheuser-Busch plant in Merrimack. Hundreds came out to enjoy the 7th annual Nashua West Rotary Rock'n Ribfest. The 30 year old business usually serves their suculant creations out of a van in Dorcester, Mass. CQ NAME. CYR COPY.

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Staff Photo by COREY PERRINE^^Doug Curtis of Concord chews on some pork ribs from Gator Ribs Friday, June 19 at the Anheuser-Busch plant in Merrimack. Hundreds came out to enjoy the 7th annual Nashua West Rotary Rock'n Ribfest. This was Curtis' fourth year in attendance. CQ NAME. CYR COPY.

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STAFF PHOTO BY GRANT MORRIS^^Geo Lambert flips racks of pork ribs on a giant barbecue pit while chicken grill in the background at the start of the Rockin' Ribfest being held on the grounds of the Anheuser Busch facility in Merrimack this weekend. CQ'd names.

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Courtesy photo James Montgomery of the James Montgomery Band will play at this year's Ribfest.

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Staff Photo by COREY PERRINE^^Joe Goetz, left, is passed an order of barbecue from Tom Christine, while Catherine Keegan, center, all of Smoke'n Dudes Barbecue based in Bensalem, Pa., looks on Friday, June 19 at the Anheuser-Busch plant in Merrimack. Hundreds came out to enjoy the 7th annual Nashua West Rotary Rock'n Ribfest. CQ NAME. CYR COPY.

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STAFF PHOTO BY GRANT MORRIS^^Steve Schattl, of Merrimack, chows down on ribs from T-Roy's at last year's Ribfest. CQ'd name.

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IF YOU GO

The eighth annual Rock ’N Ribfest

WHEN: June 11-13.

WHERE: Anheuser-Busch, 221 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack.

COST: Admission is $5. Children younger than 8 are free.

MORE INFORMATION: Call 595-1202 or visit www.rotaryribfest.org.

As just about anyone will attest, barbecue and rock ’n’ roll make a natural match.

It’s a premise that will be proved yet again on the weekend of June 11-13 as Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack hosts the eighth annual Rock ’N Ribfest, sponsored by Nashua Rotary West.

Nationally renowned ribbers will put their best spatula forward in hopes of taking home the grand prize at the New Hampshire State Barbecue Championships. Accompanying this frenzied smokefest will be music from a good half-dozen local bands, along with hot-air balloon rides, wildlife encounters, race cars and antique fire trucks.

If that weren’t enough, the Manchester Monarchs and New Hampshire Fisher Cats mascots will put in appearances on all three days.

As the ribfest is the official site for the New Hampshire State Barbecue Championships, judges will be sampling offerings from more than 30 of the Northeast’s best grillers and selecting the state champion, who qualifies for the national championships in the fall.

Saturday will see the grilling contest to see who can turn out the best ribeye steak, sausage, shrimp or chicken wings. Things will start early when the meat inspectors show up to examine the product. At noon, those participating in the shrimp cook-off turn in their entries; a half-hour later, the beef ribeyes will come before the judges; and 1 and 1:30 p.m. will see the arrival of the sausage and chicken wings respectively.

At about 4 p.m., the verdicts will be handed out and the winners announced.

Sunday will sees the slow-cooking traditional barbecue part of the event, involving chicken, pork ribs, pork butt and beef brisket. At noon, the chicken will be turned in, followed by the ribs a half-hour later, then the pork butt and the beef brisket at 1:30 p.m.

The contestants comprise a virtual “who’s who” of the barbecue circuit. T-Roy’s Barbecue, of Amherst, is hoping to capitalize on its 2007 and 2008 People’s Choice awards, while Big Moe’s M&M Ribs, the 2006 People’s Choice winner, is vying for the same honor.

Gator BBQ will be heading in all the way from Ontario, Canada, to compete, while Firefly’s Bodacious Bar-B-Que, of Marlborough, Mass., and Jack’s Down Home BBQ, out of Philadelphia, are hoping to strut their stuff.

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, of Manchester, is looking to protect its home turf, while Florida Skin & Bones will be coming up all the way from Tarpon Springs, Fla., to show what the Orange State has to offer.

Finally, Uno’s, of Nashua, is determined to show everyone just how this is done.

Of course, the music is essential to the event, as well. The Teen Band Concert will return Friday from 4-7 p.m., kicking off with Static Solution, which got its start at the event five years ago. Immediately following will be four new bands, each playing a 20-minute set.

The winner of this year’s contest will be awarded a trophy and a half-hour time slot on the main stage at 11 a.m. Sunday.

The rock ’n’ roll part of the proceedings kicks off in earnest at 8 p.m. Friday, when Boston-based Jimmy’s Down hits the stage. Covering hits from the ’80s to the present, this band counts Alice in Chains and Sublime among its influences.

Noon Saturday will see Project Mess kicking it out with its ’60s and ’70s-influenced rock. Based in southern New Hampshire, this is a band of real veterans, with each member having a solid 25 years of experience under his belt.

From 3-5:30 p.m., the Reminisants will regale the crowd with its vast repertoire of oldies. Since 1973, this band has been touring throughout New England, performing with the likes of The Beach Boys, B.J. Thomas, The Rascals, The Platters, The Drifters, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. The set is sure to set off a time machine in the minds of older listeners.

At 6 p.m., The James Montgomery Band will hit the stage. Montgomery needs no introduction, having worked with the likes of Kid Rock and Gregg Allman. He has been fronting his own band for three decades, having first cut his teeth with legendary bluesmen James Cotton, John Lee Hooker and Junior Wells. This is a chance to see a set by a real blues master.

Longtime favorite Truffle will bring its sounds along at 9 p.m. Together since 1986, this band has toured constantly over the last few decades, hitting all but 10 states and performing as many as 275 shows a year. The band has also shared the stage with such luminaries as Little Feat, Phish, The Band, The Dave Matthews Band, David Lindley and Blues Traveler.

Noon Sunday will sees Mama Kicks hitting out with its impressive set of covers. This band dates to 1994, formed by Lisa Guyer and Gardner Berry. Their work over the years has certainly paid off, as they won the Best Cover Band this year in a contest sponsored by the Hippo Press.

So, you’re still hard to please? Maybe you just don’t like barbecue. That’s all right – there are plenty of other options still on the table.

The Sausage King, of Nashua, will serve some fine links and deep-fried Oreos, while the Weathervane has fried clams on tap. Brother’s Butcher will have steak tips, chicken and hamburgers, while Axels will concentrate on lobster rolls.

The Culinary Institute will serve stuffed baked potatoes and the Prince of Rings will, naturally, have onion rings and blooming onions. MacBrien Sweet Corn will have corn on the cob, and Merrimack police officer Paul Poirier will offer some pretty arresting hot dogs.

Meanwhile in the kids area, Kevin Lemos will serve hamburgers, grilled-cheese sandwiches, french fries and pizza. Brusters Ice Cream will be keeping things cool, as will Jay and Cherri’s Ice Cream, Belgian Acres Farms and Boston Italian Ice. Saffie’s Neighborhood Bakery will have whoopee pies, cookies and breads, while The Farm at Baptist Common will dole out popcorn and fudge.

On Sunday, the event will host a Military Appreciation Day, with free admission for active military personnel with a military ID and up to four family members.

So, food, music, balloon rides and more fun than you can shake a stick at. The only question that remains: What are you waiting for?

Eric Stanway can be reached at www.Eric Stanway.com or Eric.Stanway@yahoo.com.