Regional festival returns

As Beer & BBQ Festival celebrates its 10th birthday in 2025, the independent South Australian festival is excited to reveal the line-up for its second event in Mount Gambier.

The inaugural event in March 2024 attracted around 5000 attendees and has since been crowned ‘Best Regional Music Festival’ at the South Australian Music Awards.

Single Day and Whole Hog Weekend Passes are on sale now via Moshtix and both days are now all-ages.

There are youth ticket prices (for 13-17 year olds) and kids 12 and under are free.

The long weekend in March is the perfect time to be in South Australia’s Limestone Coast and Beer & BBQ Fest will once again bring a uniquely ‘South East’ experience to SA’s second largest city.

On stage, as expected, Beer & BBQ Fest turns up the volume with The Butterfly Effect and Hands Like Houses traversing the country together in celebration of the 21st anniversary of The Butterfly Effect’s seminal album ‘Begins Here’, stopping in Mount Gambier on Saturday, March 8.

Saturday’s entertainment also includes the legendary Skyhooks show by original Skyhook Bongo Starkie. Victorian punk troubadour Slim Krusty, Adelaide’s indie-darlings Molly Rocket and punk rock by The Munch, emerging SW Vic-based rapper Prosper and Mount Gambier’s own Gernz.

Closing proceedings on the main stage on Sunday, March 9, is Queensland dance-punk trio DZ Deathrays, as part of their enormous Weekend Warriors tour.

They will join Slowly Slowly who will have brand new album ‘Forgiving Spree’ in tow and in the midst of playing the biggest shows of their career including Margaret Court Area in Melbourne.

Joining the party is ferocious two-piece Melbourne punks Mannequin Death Squad and indie band Destrends as part of a national jaunt plus Warrnambool’s rising folk-pop star Flynn Gurry.

Country music enthusiasts will be boot-scootin’ to Adelaide’s SA Music Award winning Brad Chicken & The Bootstraps and two-steppin’ to Melbourne’s The Smith & Western Jury.

Local indie legends Stokes will be playing a late afternoon set, as will Mount Gambier rapper Esketamine and electronic artist Greasy Rhysy.

There will be a host more local talent announced in the new year and Beer & BBQ Fest will again bring the party with a Silent Disco.

There will be plenty more to see and do around the site including the return of the BMX Jump Show, Hot Dog Eating and the return of the infamous Beer Bod Wet T-Shirt Competition.

The Beer & BBQ market bazaar will be back featuring The Offbeat Sock Co, Crackle Pop Records, Underground Records and a host of delicious sauces, rubs and jerky.

Beer & BBQ Fest at its core exists to support the Australian brewers and March in Mount Gambier will see a huge and eclectic lineup of some of the finest, from near and far.

The challenges in the Independent Brewing industry have been well documented the past couple of years so Beer & BBQ Fest is proud to continue to support the industry and the Independent Brewers Association at their 2025 events.

Highlights of the 25 strong beer and not-beer program include interstaters Alice Springs Brewing (NT), Sure Brewing (Vic), Noodledoof (Vic), One Drop Brewing (NSW) and The Zythologist (Vic).

Local Limestone Coast legends Woolstore and Loophole lead the SA charge and you can expect familiar names such as Pirate Life and Big Shed alongside first time callers such as No Eye Deer and Shapeshifter.

If beer’s not your thing then get around the Sneaky Pickle Saloon, slinging margaritas and whisky sours all weekend plus distillers Soul Bird, Mad Monkey and Heaps Good Spirits.

Pulling the BBQ together in 2025 is BBQ Ambassador Kirby Shearing, of Mount Gambier’s Soul Projects. Peddling their wares in the first of two line-up announcements are Smokepit BBQ (Vic), Lumberjack’s BBQ (Mt Gambier), Smokey Uppercuts (Whyalla) and Sneaky Pickle (Adelaide).

Co-director of Beer & BBQ Festival Aaron Sandow said the Limestone Coast was a second home for them.

“We can’t wait to be back in the Mount in March to present the second of what we hope is many more Beer & BBQ Fest’s in the city,” he said. “We’re really proud to be brining such a diverse line-up of brewers, the biggest ever assembled outside of Adelaide I believe, and some of our favourite bands from all across the country. I can’t wait to see the Skyhooks show go off on Saturday arvo.”

The Limestone Coast Beer & BBQ Fest is happening across the weekend of March 8 and 9 at the Mount Gambier Rail Lands.

With tickets available now, secure your spot and get ready to indulge in the best of Australian hospitality and culture, all while supporting the industries and small businesses that need us more than ever.

The Limestone Coast Beer & BBQ Fest is supported by The City of Mount Gambier’s Major Events Grant.

Tickets are on sale now through Moshtix.