By Valerie Milano
Gulf Shores, AL (The Hollywood Times) 5/28/22 – Hang Out Fest was one of our most highly anticipated musical events of this year. Hot off our first credentialed appearance at Coachella, we really looked forward to hitting the May 20-22 event held in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Hang Out can truly “hang out” with the best of them, as it were.
Their Friday lineup included top music industry names, many of them also fresh off Coachella. Post Malone rocked the stage on opening Friday, as did Fall Out Boy, Oliver Tree, Kane Brown, Zedd, and one of our personal favorites, LP Giobbi, who did our resident DJ Michael Milano a solid by basically launching his own career.
Saturday was equally dazzling, with Halsey, Illennium, Still Woozy, Chelsea Cutler, Leah Kate, Disco Lines, and many more. They wrapped up with headliners Tame Impala, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow, Phoebe Bridgers, and Louis the child. Slander, Sublime With Rome, Wreckno, Hugel, Flipturn, and more rounded out what was a truly jaw dropping lineup for the festival. A visual and auditory feast. “My first time to attend this monstrously large festival was pretty exciting,” shared attendee MJ Prather to THT. “Some of the artists had the best psycho strobe lighting in colors of the rainbow!”
“Lounging outside rooms proved to be just the place to sit while waiting on my next fav show to start,” Prather told THT. Prather concluded about the beautiful surroundings and fun activities. The environment of going to check the Hangout Party out was well worth the trip from my Arizona abode.
But the experience overall wasn’t ideal. We had trouble procuring our previously approved credentials and had to make other arrangements. Still, the Monster Beach Club provided endless opportunities to simply dance. We continually hit the all day Monster-Energy-drink-sponsored beach parties there, and the proximity to the water made it optimal for energetic fun.
Corona Beach provided volleyball matches and cold Coronas, and again, an irresistible beach and swimming experience. Malibu Beach House featured quite the lineup of DJs for those iconic beachside dance parties. This area provided cool Malibu cocktails, as well. Camp Hangout is a veritable “summer camp” complete with GO RVing, as well as beach volleyball, slip-n-slide, kickball, smores, crafts and of course, beach access!
It wouldn’t be a music festival without some carnival features, and Hangout Fest delivered with a ferris wheel, roller disco (we especially loved this one), psychedelic bus (all we can say is that it’s exactly as you imagine), and a tropical spa. Since we love a spa day, the hydration IV treatments, hairstyling options, and massages, were just the thing to relax and re-energize. Trust us when we say that music festivals can be a lot, so this kind of option is always very welcome.
A wedding chapel was on site for real or legal weddings, a hammock beach for kicking back, delicious food options, and of course, art, made it a complete and fulfilling music festival experience.
We’ll consider heading back to Hangout Fest, especially if they continue with the rocking lineup and smooth out their few hitches.
