Hangout Music Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hangout Music Festival |
|
|---|---|
2013 Hangout Music Festival
|
|
| Genre | Rock, alternative, electronic dance music, indie, hip hop, jam bands, reggae |
| Location(s) | 101 East Beach Boulevard Gulf Shores, Alabama, USA |
| Years active | 2010–present (shows cancelled in 2020 and 2021) |
| Website | website |
The Hangout Music Festival (commonly referred to as Hangout Fest or Hangout) is an annual three-day music festival held on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. The main stages are the Hangout Stage and the Surf Stage (located on opposite ends of the beach), as well as the Boom Boom Tent and more. The festival generally takes place on the third weekend in May. It is the first major music festival held on the beach in the city.
Notable acts that have performed at Hangout Fest include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Foo Fighters, OutKast, Mumford & Sons, The Weeknd, The Killers, Jack White, Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, Kings of Leon, Queens of the Stone Age, Florence and the Machine, The Black Keys, Slightly Stoopid, Primus, Motörhead, Widespread Panic, Paramore, Ellie Goulding, The Avett Brothers, Chance the Rapper, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Khalid and Cardi B. Acts such as the Trey Anastasio Band, The Flaming Lips, Moon Taxi, and Bassnectar have performed several times at the festival.
In addition to music, the festival provides a full size roller rink, beach volleyball, a main stage in ground pool, hammocks, food, and DJs.
Background
Hangout Music Festival was founded in November 2009 by A.J. Niland, Shaul Zislin, and Lilly Zislin, who is the creative director of the festival. The Zislins are the proprietors of "The Hangout", the festival's namesake restaurant. The festival received approval from the Gulf Shores city council in December 2009, as well as a permit for acts to perform an hour later than would normally be allowed under city noise laws.
General information that the public should be aware of when purchasing tickets include: all ages are welcome, but ages 17 and under must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult over the age of 21, children ages five and under receive free admission if they are accompanied by a ticket holding parent or guardian, the festival will take place rain or shine, and the lineup of artists and schedule of the festival is subject to change. In regard to the free admission for five and younger, there is a maximum limit of two children per each ticket holding parent or guardian. A legitimate wristband is also required to enter the festival. Once purchased, the ticket buyer should receive their wristband at some point in the month of April.
A list of prohibited items, as well as frequently asked questions can be found on the official Hangout Music Festival website. This includes information concerning transportation, shelter, medical aid, payments and transactions, and accessibility.
Shortly before the festival's opening, the Gulf Coast was hit by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which impacted its attendance and general public perception of the area. The festival was attended by 13,000–15,000 people per day in 2010.
Attendance in 2011 had to be capped at 35,000 per day, an unprecedented number for the second year of a music festival in the region, due to safety concerns. The 2011 event was estimated to have generated approximately $30 million for the Gulf Shores area economy. Advance tickets for the 2012 event, which continues to be capped at 35,000 attendees per day, sold out within one hour. General admission tickets sold out on February 21, 2012, almost three months prior to the event.
The 2013 festival sold out as well, but failed to meet the previous year's "rapid sellout" of general admission tickets. 40,000 tickets were sold in 2014, up from the previous audience cap of 35,000. In 2014, the festival first allowed access to the Gulf of Mexico, which was previously restricted to security and artists.
In 2015, Goldenvoice, the company behind Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, entered into a joint venture to produce Hangout Fest.
In 2020, the Hangout Music Festival had its fastest sellout of all time. Hangout received notice from the City of Gulf Shores in March 2020 that the festival could not take place in May due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full refunds and transfer options were made available to those who may not have the opportunity to attend the rescheduled event.
Economic Impact
The city receives over $700,000 in direct tax revenue each year plus a franchise fee of one percent of gross festival ticket revenue beginning with the 2017 festival, and increasing to three percent in 2019. In 2014, the festival signed a 10-year agreement with the city to continue through at least 2020.
A study conducted in 2013 by M. Keivan Deravi, a professor of economics at Auburn University, shows that the festival infuses over $31 million into the local economy and reaches an estimated 564 million through social media, TV outlets and live-streaming video of the event. The 2014 festival was projected to have a $47.5 million impact. Additionally, the festival supports roughly 600 jobs.
Recognition
The festival has been nominated multiple times for "Festival of the Year" at the concert industry's Pollstar Awards and won the award in 2012. The festival has been nominated multiple times for "Festival of the Year" at the IEBA awards.
