Hangout Music Fest Recap: Favorite Sets & Weekend Highlights
By: Chris Buxton IG/Twitter: @chrisbuxtonllg
When it comes to music, festival culture is king. Year after year, we see people of different backgrounds come together in unison for life changing musical experiences that are bolstered by creative lineups and high energy shows. Although there are many festivals to choose from, if you are a first timer, you need to make sure your first experience sets the tone. So, if you are looking for the best festival, look no further. Since 2010, Hangout Music Festival has been the Mecca for concert goers who are yearning to make Gulf Shores, Alabama their perfect getaway. After hearing so much about the festival, we decided that we would do whatever it takes to cover the festival this year. With that being said, I’m going to give you a detailed look at what I consider the can’t miss party of the year.
“Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival // Alive Coverage"
DAY 1 RECAP:
After weeks of planning and scheduling, we left in the early hours of Friday morning to ensure we would be there in time for MIKE.’s set. Although this wasn’t my first festival, there was a rush of excitement because this was the biggest festival that I have ever attended. Now, the things that impressed me on arrival was how organized it was. It was easy to find parking and the entire staff was very accommodating which made my initial nerves go away. In addition, the beaches were very clean, and I loved that they had stations for water which is a huge plus due to how hot it can get out there. Once we stepped out on the beach it was go time. We had one mission and that was to head to the SHEIN Stage to see MIKE. kick-off Hangout 2023 for us. From start to finish, MIKE. provided an exceptional set that was very cohesive. To me, it was the perfect way to start the weekend. After that, we were blessed with a soulful performance from Russ before going absolutely crazy to the vibes and energy of Louis The Child. Although we were still fiending more from Louis The Child, we capped our night off with a fiery performance from Lil Nas X. (other performances on Day 1 included Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Vegabonds, Caye, TOVE LO, Two Feet, Thundercat, Aluna, Rezz, & A Hundred Drums)
“Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival // Alive Coverage"
DAY 2
Entering day 2, we were fully ready to seize the day. We had a better understanding of where each stage was, and we had a set system in place for us to maximize the artists we would cover. Just like day 1, the weather was perfect, and we couldn’t help but appreciate the light breeze that provided a much-needed cool. To start the day off we made sure to catch Nashville-based band COIN on the Hangout Stage, and we were not disappointed. COIN provided us with one of our top 5 performances of the festival. The crowd was very engaged and their finale had everyone wanting to run through a wall. In addition, we were treated to performances from Big Wild, Sabrina Carpenter, Mariah the Scientist, A$AP Ferg, Flume, and topped the night off with an enchanting set from SZA.
DAY 3
On our 3rd and final day, we definitely felt some festival fatigue. Like I mentioned earlier, this was the biggest festival I have ever been to so it is only fair that it would take some toll on my body. Although we did have some tired eyes, this was the day we would finally get to see Kid LAROI. Unlike the other days, we arrived at the festival grounds early to catch emerging singer-songwriter Jessie Murph. Jessie Murph is a budding artist that we have been covering for a while so it was great to see her talents in person. She stole the show with her sensational vocal delivery, and she also played some unreleased music. After Jessie, we made sure to catch Yung Gravy put on one of the most memorable sets of the weekend. From floaties, lunchables, roses, and a crowd surfing cosplay of Jesus, Gravy put on a show to remember. We continued the afternoon with amazing sets from Noah Kahan and The Backseat Lovers before solidifying our spots for The Kid LAROI. LAROI was definitely our favorite set of the weekend. With a tribute to Juice Wrld, LAROI paid homage to the one’s he lost and put on a legacy defining performance. I was completely starstruck by the set and ultimately lost my voice from screaming his lyrics. To close out the festival, we saw Calvin Harris end the weekend with a nostalgic set that brought together his latest and greatest hits. With that being said, if you are contemplating on what festival you want to go to in 2024, make sure to go ahead and book a spot for Hangout Fest 2024!
“Courtesy of Hangout Music Festival // Alive Coverage"
Overall Rating: A+
Favorite Sets: The Kid LAROI, SZA, The Backseat Lovers, Sabrina Carpenter, Mike.
Honorable Mention: COIN
Festival Pros: Organized, Free product samples, Multiple Food/Drink options, Clean, Walkable, and it’s a picture-perfect atmosphere.
Festival Cons: I wish it was 4-days. (lol)
