Backwoods Bar-B-Que
The reigning champs are back! Hailing from Greenwood, South Carolina, Backwoods Bar-B-Que returns to BBQ, Blues, & Boos after taking home top honors at last year’s competition! Led by veteran pitmaster Gene Culbertson alongside much of his family, Backwoods has been a fixture on the South Carolina Barbeque Association circuit for more than 20 years, consistently ranking among the state’s top competitors.
Gene is something of an unofficial ringleader among the SCBA cooking teams, and his quick wit, larger-than-life personality, and gregarious spirit are nearly as legendary as his award-winning BBQ. But don’t let all the joking around fool you—this crew knows how to cook! With last year’s championship under their belts, Backwoods is rolling into Barnwell with a title to defend and plenty of hungry challengers looking to knock them off the top. Be sure to stop by, sample some championship-winning Q, and spend a few minutes with Gene and the family. You’ll be glad you did!
Blazin’ Bullets Barbeque
Look out, Barnwell! Blazin’ Bullets Barbeque is back and they’ve got BBQ domination in their sights! Hailing from Hanahan, South Carolina, this sharpshooting crew is led by pitmaster Ken Hillard, with Dawn Verbarg serving as the team’s official “Assistant of Quality Control.” Rumor has it Ken traded in a glamorous career as a secret agent for the smoky world of competitive BBQ. We can’t confirm his espionage credentials, but we CAN confirm that this guy knows his way around a smoker!
Blazin’ Bullets has established itself as one of the top contenders on the South Carolina Barbeque Association circuit, with impressive finishes in both pulled pork and ribs. They’re no strangers to the winner’s circle at BBQ, Blues, & Boos either, having previously taken home 2nd place in Ribs and 3rd place in Butts. With their sights set on the top of the podium, Ken and Dawn are returning to Barnwell armed with secret recipes, competition-tested skills, and maybe a few classified ingredients. Stop by their camp, meet the crew, and sample some BBQ that’s right on target!
Bolo’s Southern Smoke
There’s some fresh smoke rolling into Barnwell this year, and it’s coming from Bolo’s Southern Smoke! Making their BBQ, Blues, & Boos debut, this crew is ready to jump into the fire and go head-to-head with some of South Carolina’s most seasoned pitmasters. And with a name like Bolo’s Southern Smoke, you know they’re coming prepared to give folks a taste of that good old-fashioned Southern barbecue!
They may be the new kids on the block at this year’s competition, but everybody’s gotta start somewhere, and there’s no better place to make a first impression than with a smoker full of pork and a crowd of hungry BBQ lovers! Will Bolo’s be the rookie sensation that shakes up the leaderboard? There’s only one way to find out! Stop by their camp, welcome them to the BBQ, Blues, & Boos family, and see what this new crew is bringing to the table. After all, every BBQ legend was a newcomer once!
Butt Wrestling BBQ
What started as a family pastime of tossing Boston butts on the smoker has turned into a full-blown BBQ smackdown! Led by Matt Franklin, this crew brings a little professional wrestling swagger to the competition circuit, where the smokers are hot, the sauce is flying, and every cook is a shot at the championship belt.
These folks aren’t afraid to step into the ring with some of South Carolina’s toughest pitmasters, and they’re returning to BBQ, Blues, & Boos ready to throw down! With ribs that pack a punch and pulled pork that could put you in a sleeper hold, Matt and his crew are looking to pin the competition and take home the title. Stop by their camp, meet the contenders, and get ready to rumble—because when these folks fire up the smoker, it’s gonna be a slobberknocker!
Chaps
Talk about a home-field advantage! Chaps BBQ is bringing the smoke to BBQ, Blues, & Boos, and they won’t have far to travel! Led by Barnwell’s own Foy Dyches, owner of Dyches Funeral Home, this hometown crew is competing practically in their own front yard, with the funeral home sitting just across the street from the festival grounds. And while Foy’s day job is a pretty serious business, we’re betting he knows how to have a little fun when the smokers are fired up!
Foy and the Chaps are ready to trade their Sunday best for BBQ aprons and put their pitmaster skills to the test against some of South Carolina’s finest competition cooks. They’ve certainly got the shortest commute to the cook-off, but that doesn’t mean they’re taking any shortcuts when it comes to the Q! Stop by their camp, show some love for the hometown team, and see what they’ve got cooking. After all, with the competition this close to home, Foy and his crew are hoping to bury the competition!
G-Pa’s Grillin’ Gang
Hailing from Elko, South Carolina, G-Pa’s Grillin’ Gang is a true family affair! Led by pitmaster Jim Witherspoon, with plenty of support from his wife Kathy and the whole family, this crew brings a little hometown pride and a whole lot of heart to the smoker. With experience on the South Carolina Barbeque Association competition circuit, including a previous appearance at BBQ, Blues, & Boos, G-Pa and his gang know that great barbecue is about more than just good food—it’s about bringing folks together. They’re back in Barnwell, ready to fire up the grill, enjoy some friendly competition, and show everyone what this Elko family can cook up!
Harry J’s BBQ
Harry J’s BBQ is rolling into Barnwell, and these folks have some serious competition credentials to back up their smoke! Led by pitmaster Harold Vinson Jr., Harry J’s is a seasoned veteran of the South Carolina Barbeque Association circuit, with an impressive history of going head-to-head with some of the Palmetto State’s finest pitmasters. And they’re not just showing up to make smoke—this crew has been putting up some mighty respectable numbers!
With more than 50 recorded competition appearances under their belts, Harry J’s has proven they’ve got the patience, persistence, and pitmaster know-how to keep coming back for more. In 2026, they snagged an impressive 3rd-place finish in ribs at Cookin’ on the Creek in Edisto Beach, proving they know a thing or two about getting that perfect bite! Now they’re bringing their competition-tested skills to BBQ, Blues, & Boos, ready to fire up the smokers and chase a little more hardware. Stop by their camp, meet Harold and the crew, and see what all those years of chasing BBQ perfection taste like. These folks have earned their stripes—and their smoke rings!
Men at Work BBQ
These guys are punching the clock AND punching up the flavor! Hailing from Easley, South Carolina, Men at Work BBQ is proof that a full-time job doesn’t have to get in the way of a serious BBQ obsession. Led by pitmaster Brian Roach, alongside Willie Duncan and Tiffany Roach, this hardworking crew spends their weekdays earning a living and their weekends perfecting the art of low-and-slow barbecue. While most folks are kicking back after a long workweek, these guys are firing up the smokers and putting in overtime at the pit!
Men at Work BBQ has turned a shared passion for great food and friendly competition into a true labor of love, taking their talents to the South Carolina Barbeque Association circuit to go head-to-head with some of the state’s best pitmasters. They’re returning to BBQ, Blues, & Boos ready to clock in, turn up the heat, and get down to business! So swing by their camp, meet the crew, and sample the fruits of their labor. Just don’t expect them to take a lunch break—there’s BBQ to be made and bragging rights to be earned!
Monkey Bottom Boys
Quit monkeying around and make some room for the Monkey Bottom Boys! Hailing from Kingstree, South Carolina, this crew is led by veteran pitmaster George Ray, a familiar face on the South Carolina Barbeque Association circuit and a serious contender whenever the smokers start rolling. George and his gang have built a reputation for turning out some mighty fine Q, regularly mixing it up with the state’s best competition teams and making their presence known near the top of the rankings.
But these boys don’t just cook for trophies! If you ever find yourself cruising through Turbeville, SC, you’ll want to swing by their restaurant, Chat N Chew, where you can get a taste of their barbecue without waiting for the next competition. The Monkey Bottom Boys are returning to BBQ, Blues, & Boos ready to go bananas, fire up the smokers, and remind everybody why they’re a team to watch year after year. Stop by their camp, meet George and the crew, and grab yourself a sample. Trust us, this is one monkey business you’ll want to get into!
Not Yet Famous
They may not be famous YET, but Not Yet Famous BBQ is coming to BBQ, Blues, & Boos with every intention of changing that! With a name that practically dares you to underestimate them, this crew is ready to fire up the smokers, turn some heads, and make a name for themselves among South Carolina’s BBQ faithful. After all, every legendary pitmaster had to start somewhere, and what better place to chase a little fame and fortune than right here in Barnwell?
Not Yet Famous BBQ is bringing their love of smoke, meat, and friendly competition to the festival, hoping to turn a few hungry fans into lifelong followers. Will this be the weekend they go from relative obscurity to BBQ superstardom? Will the judges discover the next big thing in pulled pork? Or will they have to change their name to “Now We’re Famous BBQ” after taking home a trophy? Stop by their camp, meet the crew, and get a taste before they hit the big time. You might just be able to say you knew them when!
Rub Me Right BBQ
The people have spoken, and they say Rub Me Right BBQ is doing something RIGHT! Barnwell’s own Rub Me Right BBQ is returning to BBQ, Blues, & Boos as the reigning People’s Choice Champion, having won over the hearts (and taste buds) of festivalgoers at last year’s competition! Led by pitmaster Terry Macomber, this hometown favorite has proven that you don’t have to travel far to find some seriously good Q.
Terry first cut his teeth in the world of barbecue down in Florida, perfecting his smoking techniques, signature rubs, and sauces before bringing his talents to Barnwell. Since then, he’s been serving up a little taste of smoky heaven right here in our backyard. And while the judges may have their scorecards, last year’s crowd made it clear that Terry knows exactly what the people want! Now he’s back to defend his People’s Choice crown, and you can bet the competition will be looking to knock him off his throne. Stop by, meet Terry, and find out for yourself why the people picked Rub Me Right. After all, who are we to argue with the will of the people?
S & M BBQ
With a name that’ll make you blush and a motto that’ll make you laugh, S&M BBQ is back to prove that “No One Beats Our Meat!” This family-owned crew has been firing up the smokers since 2020, making a name for themselves on the competition circuit while serving up some seriously good eats through their catering business. They may be relatively new to the BBQ game, but don’t let that fool you—these folks bring plenty of heat, a whole lot of flavor, and just enough attitude to keep things interesting!
Whether they’re smoking pork, perfecting ribs, or feeding a hungry crowd, S&M BBQ takes their meat seriously, even if they don’t always take themselves quite so seriously. They’re returning to BBQ, Blues, & Boos ready to rub it in, smoke out the competition, and show Barnwell exactly why they’ve earned that cheeky motto. Stop by their camp, meet the crew, and get yourself a taste. We promise it’ll be a smokin’ good time, and you can decide for yourself whether anybody beats their meat!
Smoke Til You’re Broke
With a name like Smoke Til You’re Broke, you know these folks aren’t afraid to put everything they’ve got into making great BBQ! And judging by their performance on the competition circuit, that investment is paying off! This crew has been tearing it up on the South Carolina Barbeque Association circuit in 2026, currently sitting at 4th place in the statewide rankings after competing in a dozen sanctioned events. They’ve been knocking on the winner’s circle all season, including a 1st-place finish at the Grillers Cup in Myrtle Beach and runner-up finishes in Ruby and Pomaria.
But Smoke Til You’re Broke isn’t just making noise in South Carolina. They also took their talents to the big stage at Greenwood’s Festival of Discovery, where they competed against dozens of top teams from around the country and cracked the top ten in both ribs and brisket! Now they’re rolling into BBQ, Blues, & Boos looking to add another trophy to the collection. Stop by their camp and grab a taste of what happens when you take smoking meat seriously—even if it means going broke doing it!
Spur of the Moment BBQ
Don’t let the name fool you—Spur of the Moment BBQ knows its way around a smoker! A familiar face on the South Carolina Barbeque Association competition circuit, this team has been putting its pitmaster skills to the test against some of the state’s toughest competition. With appearances in the SCBA’s 2024 and 2025 statewide standings and a growing history of competition experience, they’re no strangers to the heat of a BBQ showdown. Spur of the Moment BBQ is bringing its passion for great barbecue to BBQ, Blues, & Boos, ready to fire up the smokers, chase some bragging rights, and serve up a taste of what makes South Carolina barbecue special!
Tail-Gater Hater
Move over, folks, because Tail-Gater Hater is coming through, and this is one team you definitely don’t want riding your bumper! Hailing from Lake City, South Carolina, this powerhouse BBQ duo is led by pitmasters Phillip Miles and Dennis Caraway, two familiar faces on the South Carolina Barbeque Association circuit who have built a reputation for turning out some of the best competition Q in the Palmetto State.
These guys aren’t just weekend warriors—they’re three-time consecutive SCBA State Grand Champions in BOTH Butts and Ribs! That’s right, they’ve managed to dominate not one, but TWO categories, year after year. And while the top prizes at BBQ, Blues, & Boos have eluded them in the past, you can bet Phillip and Dennis are rolling back into Barnwell with something to prove. With a trophy case full of hardware, plenty of tricks up their sleeves, and smokers ready to roll, Tail-Gater Hater is looking to add a BBQ, Blues, & Boos championship to their impressive résumé. Stop by their camp, meet the dynamic duo, and sample some championship-caliber Q. Just remember, these guys like their pork slow and their competition in the rearview mirror!
