The Three Brisketeers hope they can reap some rewards at this year's Meatstock festival. They are John Drake (North Shore), Nick Langdon (Silverdale), Matt Hinton (Papakura) and Jamie Turton (Silverdale), pictured at one of the national barbecue championship events in Auckland in January. They won first place in cooking ribs. To the right is competition organiser Luke Seeney.

A sizzling passion for cooking barbecues is driving four Auckland men to take their grills and tongs to this year's Meatstock festival.

After visiting the inaugural event last year, Nick Langdon, John Drake, Jamie Turton and Matt Hinton have formed the Three Brisketeers, eager to pit their skills against the rest of the meat lovers.

They'll have to showcase how they prepare chicken, ribs, pork, beef and lamb, and try to out-cook the 49 other teams.

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The smoky extravaganza is dedicated to all-things barbecue, from barbecue and butcher competitions, to demonstrations and workshops, and lots of merchandise.

Various music bands, including VanderAa, Bullhorn, Dusty Boots, The Butlers and House of Shem will be entertaining, while food trucks and craft beers are also in the mix.

Aside from Hinton, who lives in Papakura, the other members all reside on Auckland's North Shore, but they get together as much as possible to practise their barbecuing, and discuss flavours and cooking techniques.

SUPPLIED All elements are important for a good barbecue - from researching and buying the meat, to preparing the rub, to using live fire and the choice of wood to flavour and cook the meat, according to Nick Langdon.

"Barbecue is awesome," team leader Langdon says.

"It's so diverse and makes the whole process of preparing and cooking meat enjoyable, from researching and buying the meat, to preparing the rub you're going to use, to using live fire and your choice of wood to flavour and cook it."

The "brisketeers" have been competing in the national champs since last year, and familiarised themselves with barbecue competition rules through the experience.

Langdon says they hope to turn in their best box of food on time at the event, and they'll "enjoy and compete hard out whatever happens".

"Best of all about barbecue, it gives you the opportunity to be with the people you choose to be with, listen to some funny stories and if all goes well, pick up a trophy for one or more of your cooking entries."

The festival's director Jay Beaumont says the event drew 10,000 people last year.

SUPPLIED House of Shem are one of the music bands that are going to perform at this year's Meatstock festival.

"Meatstock aims to bring the best barbecuers, butchers and musicians together.

"It gives amateurs and professionals alike the chance to showcase and compete in front of a meat-loving audience."

* Meatstock is at ASB Showgrounds, in Greenlane, on February 24-25.