By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Feb 25, 2016 at 3:53 PM Photography: Bobby Tanzilo

Late this afternoon, Summerfest announced the debut of the Big Gig BBQ, a mix of music, motorcycles and smoked meat coming to Henry Maier Festival Park on Sunday, Sept. 4. 

The Labor Day weekend, Milwaukee Rally-sanctioned event (somehow not named The Big Pig) will serve up barbecue and beer from ten local and national barbecue experts – including Atlas BBQ, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Double B's BBQ and Burgers, Famous Dave's Bar-b-que, Maxie's, Pitch's, Saz's State House, Silver Spur Texas Smokehouse BBQ, Smoke Shack and The Charcoal Grille and Rotisserie – on the south end of the festival grounds. 

Served along side the barbecue will be live music entertainment at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard stage, including a national headlining act to be announced later, two cooking demonstrations by syndicated public access TV show host and food personality Biker Billy, and other country, rock and blues performers. 

"We work hard to find new and innovative ways to bring patrons and businesses together to strengthen the Milwaukee community," said Don Smiley, President and CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

"We are thrilled to introduce a brand new event to festival fans and continue to do what we do best, serve up great food and provide nationally acclaimed entertainment in a world class festival setting on Milwaukee’s lake front with the help of our partners."

Tickets for the Big Gig BBQ are on sale now, with general admission tickets costing $15 and VIPig passes – which include admission to the event, four two-ounce barbecue samples from any vendor, four three-ounce beer samples, free parking and a keepsake laminate and lanyard – costing $30. Children under 10 will be admitted for free. Meanwhile, parking will be available for $10 in Summeriest-owned lots. 

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.