The Pumpkin Patch: Hangout takes on the Hippies        
 
           
         
     
     
       
     
     
       

Monday, May 21, 2012

Hangout takes on the Hippies

On the third weekend in May in a sandy little sunlite town, the hippies invade.

May 18-20th brought with it the Gulf Shores "Hangout Music Festival." This festival offers a magical musical experience by placing its stages right In the middle of the beautiful gulf beaches. In 3 years this festival has worked hard to build itself up as a go to festival destination for out-of-towners. It might be my hometown beach loving opinion but I think this year Hangout got it right. Why not celebrate the festival by pointing out their best qualities (because everyone loves to hear good things about themselves.) Here are my 5 points on why Hangout deserves a good high five;

5. Finding a Shady Oasis:
As a born and raised beach bum I should be used to 100 degree heat in the sand, but a full weekend of dancing AND sweating is just to much. Hangout understood this. They seemed to have doubled the shady oasis locations from last year and more then tripled the water fill up stations. They even included a massive water slide in the middle of the event. Their message was clear, "we want you here....and without heat stroke."

4. Shuttles n Such:
A big trouble they had in little Gulf Shores last year was keeping some 35,000 people happy, healthy, and getting them home. Last year buses picked up at our camp site. This was wonderful to get to the event in the morning but proved terrible when the rush of people came at night. Twice I walked back the 3 miles to my campsite before friends in line even made it on the bus. But once again the hangout Houdinis came in and worked their magic. This year they made them stronger, faster, better. They also addressed the "potty problems" of last year, setting up porta potty spots all around the venue.

3. General Admission vs VIP:
I can see this point from both sides. For the first two days of the festival I was lucky enough to have VIP access. This meant free food, drinks, and a closer viewing area for the VIP mainstage. As amazing as the experience was, I must also commend the festival for not forgetting the people who really keep them in business. The VIP viewing areas are amazing, but not all encompassing. I've been to many festivals where VIP fills the first 50-100 ft from the stage, forcing us lowly gen. Ad. Kids further away from our musical heros and behind people who often show up seconds before a show we've been waiting hours for. Hangout dips their VIP in on the stage side. This allows them ample viewing space without forgetting about the peons of the crowd. Kudos Hangout for understanding that being close to the stage is JUST as important to the common folk (us poor teachers included).

2. Spaced Out:
The most notable feature of this years event was space! Hangout chose to expand the event area but not the number of people in it. My dancing hippy hearts says bless you!

1. The Artists:
First and foremost, Hangout brings the sound. They know their audience and they target them with musicians new and old who don't come to sing, they come to perform! Jack White, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Dave Matthews all proved to be wonderful headliners. Flogging Molly left the crowd happy and exhausted from jumping. Steve Winwood, The Flaming Lips, Michael Franti, and Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros also all gave unforgettable performances. Personally, my favorite of the weekend was "Young the Giant." They held their own on the smaller of the Hangout stages, drawing off the crowds energy and even building that excitement up as lead singer Sameer Gadhia surfed on top of the front rows audience.

This was my second year attending the festival. For three nights my husband and I camped out in our Orange Vw bus and scootered our way each day to the festival. We fought off dehydration and tan lines for this festival. We ate delicious vegan food, collected a bagful of sponsor swag, and danced holes into the soft white sand. We are proud to consider ourself "test dummies" for these first developing years of the festival.

And I can't wait to see what next year brings.

As for this weekend.........
The show is dead, long live the show!

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