“Barbecue and music, they go hand in hand.”
After a successful year in 2023, the Troubadour Festival returned to Aggie Park on Saturday, May 18 for a day full of Texas music and barbecue. The event showcases some of the best barbecue restaurants and vendors from across the state and is followed by an evening full of top-notch performances.
Pitmasters travel from far and wide to participate in the festival. From West Texas to Austin or from right here in College Station, these vendors are passionate about serving up their best. Listen to this audio story that showcases just a few of these pitmasters’ individual stories, and then continue reading to learn all about this year’s Troubadour Festival.
Before the festival opened, excited and hungry attendees lined up outside the front gates. This crowd spanned all the way across Houston Street to the steps of Kyle Field. Starting at noon, attendees entered Aggie Park to start their day of barbecue sampling.
Each stand showcased a barbecue favorite for attendees to try, ranging from a plate of ribs to a fun spin on classic brisket. Brick Vault Barbecue and Brewery from Marathon, Texas was featured in this year’s lineup with their take on loaded brisket waffle fries. Further down the trail, Hutchins BBQ from North Texas served their “Texas Twinkie,” a cream cheese-filled jalapeno popper wrapped in brisket and bacon. Mouth-watering sights and smells could truly be found wherever you went.
~ Chris Palomo from Brick Vault Brewery and Barbecue ~
~ Hurtado Barbecue pitmaster slicing bricket ~
Throughout the day, attendees were able to not only try this delicious food but also meet the dedicated people who work so hard to make it. Among these vendors was Brandon Anderson, general manager of Black’s Barbecue. His passion for barbecue runs deep, as well as his love for serving others.
“When you see a brisket or rack of ribs that comes off of the pit and it’s just right, you know you did everything that you possibly could to make that product as best as you possibly could,” Anderson said. “And it’s a really nice feeling knowing that you’ve got customers coming in eating your food, and they’re just telling you how great it is. That’s what I think drives our passion behind our barbecue.”
~ Brandon Anderson from Black’s Barbecue preparing samples for guests ~
Troubadour is just one of many barbecue festivals these pitmasters participate in, but Anderson believes this one is special for many reasons.
“The community makes this festival a lot different than any of the other ones that we do throughout the year,” Anderson said. “We’ve got a lot of great people in the industry that are here with us. And then, of course, seeing all the guests that recognize us and don’t even live in the cities that we cook in. We have people from all over the world, all over the state, who have traveled [here], and it amazes me every time.”
~ Two attendees filling their trays with barbecue samples ~
Chris Finch, owner of Finch Barbecue, says the smiles on guests’ faces when they try his barbecue fuels his passion.
“My favorite part about all of it is just people’s reactions when they eat the sauce or rubs or any food that we cook,” Finch said. “But other than that… maybe it’s just old school, but I just like playing with fire, too!”
Finch believes the scale of Troubadour Festival is what separates it from all other barbecue events.
“I think the biggest thing is just the size of it, it’s just a massive festival,” Finch said. “This is the biggest one-day festival that we do all year. We have a booth at the state fair, which is crazy long: 24 days, 12 hours a day. But the Troubadours are just fun because you get all the top people in Texas together at one place and you get to try a lot of different food. This is our first year here, so we’re very thankful to be accepted.”
~ Finch BBQ preparing their samples ~
Some other participating vendors consider themselves Troubadour veterans. Of those is 1701 Barbecue, a member of “Texas Monthly’s” 2021 Top 50 Barbecue Joints list. Pitmaster Blue Broussard discussed his past experiences at Troubadour and why he and his team love to come back year after year.
“This has really kind of turned into a networking event for a lot of the barbecue restaurants out here,” Broussard said. “We get to see each other, get to talk industry talk, and we’re also serving people as well. And then later in the evening, there’s music going on as well. Barbecue and music, they go hand in hand. And I think it’s just a neat event.”
~ Meat Church BBQ team interacting with guests ~
~ Meat Church BBQ team preparing their samples ~
~ Mikayla Lane performing at the Troubadour Festival ~
The tasty food was just an added bonus to the country tunes guests could hear throughout the day. During the BBQ exposition, attendees could enjoy performances from bands on a small stage adjacent to the vendors. But when the pitmasters started to pack up, everyone broke out their dancing boots and headed to the Wood Stage!
Starting at 4 p.m., attendees spent the rest of their day in Aggie Park enjoying country music. This year’s lineup included some star-studded bands, starting with the Cameron Sacky Band. Following was The Red Clay Strays, an on-the-rise country-rock band scheduled to make their Austin City Limits Music Festival debut later this year. Next was a back-to-back slate of Texas country royalty with William Clark Green followed by Pat Green. The night was rounded out by the much-anticipated performance of Travis Tritt, a ’90s country music star who rocked the Wood Stage as the headlining act.
~ The Red Clay Strays performing on the Wood Stage in Aggie Park ~
~ Concert attendees singing along to The Red Clay Strays ~
Whether you ate barbecue until your stomach ached, danced until your feet hurt or spent the hot day lounging in the shade of Aggie Park, KAMU enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the community at the Troubadour Festival. We are so grateful to be able to cover a special event like this that takes place right in our backyard, and we look forward to spending more time with our dedicated community members in the future. Be sure to check our Community Calendar or follow our social media to see any upcoming local events our team will be attending.
