Rock, Ribs, and Ridges Festival

If there’s a cloud of smoke coming from the hills of western New Jersey’s Sussex County Fairgrounds at the end of June, chances are it will smell mouthwatering because it will come from some of country’s top BBQ pitmasters.  They’ll be assembled for the 16^th annual Rock, Ribs, and Ridges Festival, presented by Franklin Sussex AutoMall, for a weekend of the best in southern/classic rock bands and finger-licking barbecue and fixin’s, June 26-28.

This year’s line-up of pitmasters includes New Jersey’s own Rhythm and Ribz Smokehouse, defending its win last year of the prestigious Optimum People’s Choice Award.  The East Orange-based BBQ is run by Nick Chevalier, also known as pitmaster Chevy, who brings the influence of his Caribbean roots to his offerings.  Chicago BBQ, from Burr Ridge, IL, returns to defend its titles from last year for Best Sauce and Best Ribs.  After a one-year hiatus, Enrique Vega returns from Ft. Worth, TX with his Cowboys BBQ and Buck ‘Em BBQ.  Rounding out the selection from the deep Southwest is Austin’s Texas Lightning.

Eleven bands will fill the air with great music all weekend, with headliners Blackberry Smoke, 38 Special, Kingfish, the Artimus Pyle Band, and Almost Queen.

The music starts Friday evening with The Super 70s Rock Show, with the favorite arena anthems and chart-topping radio hits of the 1970’s. Almost Queen, a band that stuns crowds with iconic four-part harmonies made famous by Freddy Mercury and Queen, follows.

Saturday’s line-up of continuous music begins at 1 p.m. as the Matt Coffy Band returns with their blues-soaked rock, followed by the Matt O’Ree Band, who toured with Bon Jovi.  The band combines Matt’s ripping guitar and gritty vocals with Eryn’s powerful wail and impressive range.  Rock & blues guitar legend Gary Hoey, who played with Ozzy Osborne, takes the stage next, followed by blues master Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, hailed by Rolling Stone as “the undisputed future of the blues,” channeling the spirit of the Delta with vocals marked by a depth of expression well beyond his 26 years.  38 Special puts the finishing touches on the day’s music, with hits including “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You,” “If I’d Been The One,” “Back Where You Belong,” and “Second Chance.”

Sunday’s music opens at 1 with Triple Rail Turn, a modern country band led by two female fiddlers playing a high-energy set including a smoking rendition of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”  Next up will be Robert Jon & The Wreck, putting a Southern California flair into classic Southern rock.  Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer Artimus Pyle, honoring Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, takes the stage with his powerful and distinctive double bass drumming that helped define the legendary Skynyrd sound.  Blackberry Smoke returns to Rock, Ribs, and Ridges to close the festivities with their take on Georgia’s rich musical legacy, honoring the people, places and sounds of their home state, with blues-leaning Southern and classic rock and rootsy vintage country full of vivid and relatable characters that resemble rich short stories in song.

Tickets are now on sale at www.rockribsandridges.com.   Ticket questions may be directed to [email protected].

Visit #rockribsandridges, @rockribsandridges or www.rockribsandridges.com for all festival info and to purchase tickets – day, weekend, and VIP passes.  There are many camper perks, including campers-only concerts on Friday night with Dead Aire and Saturday night with Sharp Dressed Band.  Campers also get 24-hour access to restrooms and showers and a Sunday Morning Breakfast Get Together.  RV Passes sell quickly and will sell out, so get your 2026 camping and RV passes now. Prices subject to change without notice. 

Rock, Ribs, and Ridges, is produced by Promo1 of Fairfield, NJ, with more than 40 years of event marketing production.

For more information contact [email protected] or [email protected].