(VICTORVILLE, CA) - Stubb's Legendary Bar-B-Q joins the 3rd Annual High Desert Music Festival & BBQ Showdown (HDMF) as an official sponsor of the nationally-recognized BBQ Cook-Off. "This marks the first California music and BBQ festival sponsored by the Texas-based company," announced HDMF Event Organizer Debbie Yopp. "We are thrilled to have Stubb's come join us and our other celebrated sponsors. They understand how important music is to the community."

The festival's connection to music persuaded Stubb's to become a  sponsor.  "We reached out to the High Desert Music Festival and BBQ Showdown because it captures the essence of what our company is about," notes Kyle Hubbard, Stubb's Area Marketing manager.  "Music plays a integral part of the foundation of our company so we want to be a part of HDMF. It is a natural."

Stubb's Legendary Bar-B-Q was founded by former Army cook, C.B. Stubblefield, who opened his very first restaurant in Lubbock, Texas in 1968. Before long, Stubb’s “Blue Plate” specials gained quite a following. Famous and soon-to-be-famous musicians like Joe Ely, Tom T. Hall, Stevie Ray Vaughn and B.B. King came by to “sing for their supper.” Stubb’s small restaurant gained national attention as a not-to-be-missed blues and barbecue house. At the urging of his friends and patrons, Stubb began hand-bottling his sauce at Joe and Sharon Ely’s home using jam-jars and whiskey bottles corked with jalapenos.  Joe shared Stubb’s with David Letterman, on his late night show. This fueled a  buzz that caught on like a West Texas brush fire, and Stubb was invited to be on the show. When Letterman asked him what made his sauce so good, Stubb answered, “Love & happiness.”

Today, Austin-based Stubb's continues to take inspiration from his original recipes and strict quality standards to create all-natural, certified gluten-free sauces, rubs and marinades, and every bottle is still made with Stubb's secret ingredient, "Love & Happiness." Stubb's sauces have won top taste test honors from Cooking Light, Woman's Day, Redbook and more.

While the joint venture with the HDMF is a first for Stubb's in California, Stubb's is no stranger to music festivals.   As part of Austin's live music scene, they  recently hosted the  week-long South By Southwest (SXSW ) Cares Big Benefit.

The 3rd Annual High Desert Music Festival & BBQ Showdown returns to Victorville Fairgrounds, 14800 Seventh Ave., Victorville, Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29. 12 Noon-9 p.m. each day. Tickets now on sale and priced as follows: Pre-Sale tickets, $20.00 per day  (includes two "Taste Tickets"); Weekend Pass, $35.00 (includes four Taste Tickets). Tickets at the Gate are $25.00 (Day Pass) and $45.00 (Weekend Pass). Limited V.I.P. Weekend Passes available (includes premiere shaded seating, complimentary wine, beverages, and food).Children 11 and under, free. Active and retired military free admission (with I.D.). Purchase tickets athttp://www.highdesertmusicfestival.com/newsite/tickets/. Portion of proceeds benefit Que'n For The Cause, supporting programs that provide foods and service to those less fortunate. Festival attendees who donate a food item receive $1.00 off ticket price. Proceeds will be donated to the Victor Valley Rescue Mission.  Call for details: (760) 705-4FUN or www.highdesertmusicfestival.com.