Barbecue and bluegrass at Petersham's Oxford Tavern

The Oxford Tavern has been firing up an American-style barbecue of smoked meats and snags every weekend lunchtime since January. That barbecue, however, was just child’s play.

This weekend, July 19-20, is the debut of ‘Black Betty’ - a double chamber, 4x44 gallon drum smoker with an offset heat chamber. A barbecue of this calibre means the meats can be smoked longer and at a gentler temperature than before, using a blend of redwood, iron bark and apple tree wood chips.

Pulled pork, sausages, beef brisket, ribs, chicken, and burnt-end beans will be available by the 100 gram serving until sold out. From 4pm every Sunday there’s also rockabilly, country and bluegrass bands finger-pickin’ in the courtyard. Bam-ba-lam.

Oxford Tavern, 1 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham, 8019 9351