Live From the Beach--Hangout Music Festival 2014

Hangout Festival 2014 included the likes of Outkast, The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr., Wolfmother, Avett Brothers, Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, Queens of the Stone Age, Wiz Khalifa, Capital Cities, Fitz and the Tantrums, Iron & Wine, Dawes, Amos Lee, Ozomatli, Bastille, Pretty Lights, Tegan & Sara, STS9, Jack Johnson, Trombone Shorty and about 100 more bands. This year had perfect weather and a great crowd. Hangout 2014 sold out about a month before the festival began making it one of the largest festivals in the country. Did some quick edits here (60 images of about 6,000 taken) with more to come including a crowd gallery. Check Jambase and Palladia for more coverage from myself and several others I had the pleasure working with all weekend.

Images by Doug Siegel
www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

Hangout Festival 2013 Experiences Triumphant Year

Hangout Music Festival Crowd

The 2013 Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama was a success in every sense of the word.  The beautiful sunny weather on the beach once again provided the perfect environment for patrons to enjoy its best musical lineup yet.  It was neither too hot nor too cold.  With over 60 acts, every genre of music was accounted for.  The Hangout saw everything from the best in indie rock such as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Shins, to jambands such as Umphrey’s McGee and Moe, to electronica’s heavy hitters in Bassnectar and Porter Robinson, and everything in between.  Being able to see Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, and Trey Anastasio all giving us everything they have in the same festival was nothing short of magical.  Other than the headliners, festival highlights included The Roots, Galactic, and Toots and The Maytals.

Jim James at 2013 Hangout Music Festival

Jim James

Jim James, best known for being the front man of My Morning Jacket, played to a bright eyed crowd Friday afternoon at The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  The mid-afternoon sun beamed down on the festival goers as they bobbed and swayed to the charismatic man in the eggplant purple colored suit.  Jim James switched back and forth from his Flying V electric guitar and a saxophone throughout the show.  James’ set was mainly comprised of his solo material, but he did also dabble into a My Morning Jacket tune or two.  You didn’t have to be a My Morning Jacket fan to enjoy Jim James’ performance.

Bassnectar Blasts the Beach

Bassnectar

Lorin Ashton AKA Bassnectar played into the sunset on the other side of the beach from 7:30-8:45 right before Tom Petty closed out Saturday night at The Hangout Festival 2013.  It seemed slightly odd watching Bassnectar at a festival during the daylight, but this was unavoidable at a festival where the music has to end at 11:00 PM.  While the show was very high-energy and enjoyable, the first hour lacked the usual element of his profound visual spectacle because the sun subdued the normally epic light show.  

Dillon Francis at Hangout Music Festival

Dillon Francis

Playing to a moderately packed Boom Boom Tent at the Thursday Night Pre-Party on Thursday, May 16^th was up and coming DJ Dillon Francis.  He played a steady mix of house music, dubstep, and reggaeton dance hall style electronica that kept the crowd moving the whole time.  His hour long set was a good interlude to the headlining acts for the night which included Umphrey’s McGee and Benny Benassi.  Dillon Francis, at only 25 years old, is rising to the top of the dance music scene.  He is a master of remixing other artists tracks and he produces his own music with a unique blend of high-energy styles.  

Ellie Goulding Rocks Hangout Music Festival

Ellie Goulding

Gracing the main stage at Hangout festival 2013 on Sunday, May 13 was British sensation Ellie Goulding.  Despite winning numerous awards and having a number 1 album in her home country of the United Kingdom, her fame in the United States is just starting to blossom.  She played to a jam-packed beach and said on stage how wonderful it was since she had been getting used to playing in front of crowds of 20 people at her other US shows.   Ellie’s soprano voice can only be described as angelic.  Her melodies rang throughout the ears of the audience with a resonating splendor.  

Galactic Takes Over Gulf Shores

Words by: Jeremy Carson

Photos by: David Oppenheimer

Galactic at Hangout Music Festival

Kicking off the summer festival season with a blast was The Hangout Festival taking place in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  With the main stages right on the beach, The Hangout stands out as one of the most epic spring musical vacations.  On a beautiful Sunday afternoon on May 19, from 2:15-3:15, New Orleans funky jazz powerhouse Galactic dominated the Chevrolet Stage.  Nothing is better than dancing to the sextet with the Gulf of Mexico on your right and the white Alabama sand underneath your bare feet.  Galactic’s live shows really demonstrate their wide variety of musical styles and influences.  Vocalist Corey Glover’s unique hip hop twang, drummer Stanton Moore’s layered rhythms, and guitarist Jeff Raines’ melodies all blend into a robust harmony.  Throw in Robert Mercurio’s funky bass and Richard Vogel’s booming keys and you have a substantially flawless performance that is not to be missed.  This show also featured Corey Henry on Trombone.  It is no question why Galactic has become festival favorites after more than 15 years of playing shows.