BIG APPLE BARBECUE BLOCK PARTY 2017

Madison Square Park Conservancy is pleased to share final details on the 15th Annual Big Apple Barbecue, one of the nation's biggest barbecue festivals, taking place June 10 – 11, 2017 from 11 AM – 6 PM. Next weekend the Park will host fifteen legendary pitmasters, each serving up a signature plate of 'cue, along with a series of free live concerts taking place throughout the weekend.

'CUE THE MENU

Barbecue available for purchase at each rig, $12/plate

Sides, $6

On the sweet side, expect treats from the Original Fried Pie Shop (the sister eatery to Baker's Ribs out of Texas), triple layer cakes from Mississippi's Sugaree's Bakery and milkshakes from F'real.

Wash it all down with Brooklyn Brewery beer and wine in one of two Beer Gardens popping up inside the Park, one at the north end and the other in the south – right next to the music stage.

MUSIC LINEUP

Located at the southwest corner of Madison Square Park, the music stage boasts a stellar roster of bands and artists performing throughout the weekend. Brooklyn honky tonk Skinny Dennis will also present DJ sets by Amira Nader (Saturday) and Vinyl Ranch (Sunday).

SATURDAY 

THE NATIONAL RESERVE                                                        12:00 – 1:00 PM

This Brooklyn-based band has found an authentically new way to honor the bedrock of much of today's music by synthesizing the blues-folk-rock of the past.

DEAD HORSES                                                                               1:30 –2:30 PM
Since their formation in 2010, Milwaukee-based folk band Dead Horses have crafted a timeless sound, informed as much by early-American prose as by modern Americana.

ADAM EZRA GROUP                                                                    3:00 – 4:00 PM

Boston roots rockers the Adam Ezra Group (AEG) are dedicated to creating music with a purpose, devoting their time and proceeds to local charities.

ANTIBALAS                                                                                    4:30 – 5:30 PM

Inspired by the musical architecture and language of afrobeat, Antibalas is a collective of musicians whose sound incorporates elements of jazz, funk, dub, improvised music, and traditional drumming from Cuba and West Africa.

SUNDAY 

WALKER LUKENS                                                                        12:00 –1:00 PM
Austin-based indie rock singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Walker Lukens combines his soulful, emotive tenor with alt-pop songwriting.

EMILY WOLFE                                                                               1:30 – 2:30 PM
Lush rock n' roll with compelling lyrics and a voice to match, Austin's Emily Wolfe was recently named a "Top 5 Artists to Watch" by NPR.

CRIS JACOBS                                                                                3:00 – 4:00 PM
Former front-man of beloved Baltimore band The Bridge, Cris Jacobs mixes elements of blues, country, rock, bluegrass, soul and R&B.

SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE ASBURY JUKES                     4:30 – 5:30 PM
With a well-earned reputation for raucous, roots-tinged rock and bluesy reverie, New Jersey natives Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes have developed a famously dedicated fan base for their more than 30 albums.

FASTPASSES

The Big Apple Barbecue is open to the public and free to attend, with food and beverages available for purchase and proceeds benefitting Madison Square Park. For those eager to beat the lines, a FastPass ($150) guarantees exclusive access for two to the express lanes throughout the weekend and includes a $125 value redeemable onsite for food, beverages, and merchandise. For those who really want to go whole hog in support of the Park, the Big Rig VIP Pass ($275) offers a FastPass plus VIP credentials for two to the "Pit" Stop Hospitality Tent and Open Bar for either day of the weekend. A limited number of both passes are available at bigapplebbq.org/tickets.

OUR SPONSORS

The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, who will be on-site providing activities and programming throughout the weekend. The 2017 Big Apple Barbecue is presented by Kingsford Charcoal, with Rich Products Corporation serving as the official sponsor. Supporting sponsors include 7Up, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Brooklyn Brewery, Don Julio Tequila, Farm Rich, F'real, GEICO, Guinness, Guitar Center, Knob Creek, McCormick & Company, Natalie's Orchard Island Juice Company, Saratoga Spring Water Co., Smithfield, SONY, Southern Foodways Alliance, Tabasco, The Roger Hotel, Time Out New York, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Vito Wood, WFUV, Yelp, and ZICO Coconut Water.

Official Festival App: Big Apple BBQ

bigapplebbq.org                                  @bigapplebbq

THE BIG APPLE BARBECUE BLOCK PARTY

Originally founded in 2002 by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, the Big Apple Barbecue has evolved from a single-street affair on 27^th Street to a large-scale annual festival that stretches across a handful of city blocks in and around Madison Square Park. In addition to all the wonderful sights, smells, tastes, and sounds, guests can feel good about the event's charitable mission, with proceeds benefitting the Madison Square Park Conservancy. To date, the festival has donated $1.4M to the Madison Square Park Conservancy to support its beautiful gardens, amenities, world-class art and civic programming.

MADISON SQUARE PARK CONSERVANCY

Madison Square Park Conservancy is the not-for-profit organization whose mission is to protect, nurture, and enhance this dynamic seven-acre public green space, creating an environment that fosters moments of inspiration. The Conservancy is committed to engaging the community through Madison Square Park's beautiful gardens, inviting amenities, and world-class programming. Madison Square Park Conservancy is responsible for raising 100% of the funds necessary to operate the Park, including the brilliant horticulture, Park maintenance, sanitation, security, and free cultural programs for Park visitors of all ages. madisonsquarepark.org