Introducing MP3 TAKES, our event review series where we dive deep into the exhilarating world of music festivals and live performances. In an era teeming with music events worldwide, our aim is to help you navigate through the noise and uncover the most captivating experiences. Join us on this adventure to highlight the backstage stories, memorable moments, and unique elements that made Hangout Music Festival 2024 one for the books.

Hangout Music Festival returned to Gulf Shores for its 13th installment last weekend, marking another successful year on the beaches of Alabama. The festival is renowned for curating a weekend full of diverse talent across multiple genres, with this year’s headliners consisting of Lana Del Rey, ODESZA, and Zach Bryan.

On top of the phenomenal talent bookings, Hangout offered attendees a weekend full of endless activities. We’re giving you a run down of everything that contributed to the success of this year’s event below.

Give it up for America’s Sweetheart — Lana Del Ray

Despite her late start, Lana Del Rey put on a breathtaking performance to close out night one of Hangout.

The stage set up was quite similar to her recent Coachella headline, resembling an ethereal garden accompanied by stripper poles which her backup dancers put to work as the set progressed. The stage design alone had the packed out crowd ready to take a ride on the wild side and embark on an unforgettable musical journey. 

The acclaimed singer’s entrance was that of true American fashion — riding laps around the crowd on the back of a golf cart as her dancers followed suit, all while Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd played over the speakers. Thousands of fans sang every word to her hits such as ‘Ride’ and ‘Born To Die’, and she tastefully sprinkled in some of her ballads including ‘Without You’ and ‘Cherry’. 

Throughout the night Lana brought out several special guests, including Tommy Genesis, where they performed their highly anticipated live debut of ‘Peppers’. Later in the night Jelly Roll accompanied the singer on-stage for a closing duet of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’. 

ODESZA Stole the Show on Night 2

Following a stellar performance by Cage The Elephant, ODESZA put on an unforgettable end to the second night of the festival. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as the DJ duo graced the stage with their stunning production, and eventually brought out their highly anticipated drumline. 

The duo closed out main stage with a showcase of their latest album ‘The Last Goodbye’ while taking the crowd on a journey through their discography showcasing old favorites, new hits, killer mashups, and a segment of heavy beats. They were definitely one of the most talked about performances throughout the festival, and for good reason at that. It was the perfect buffer in the midst of the weekend between Lana and Zach Bryan.

Shuttles Were the MVP Throughout the Weekend

A shuttle pass was the key to having a smooth and stress free weekend.

We all know the tale as old as time, thousands of festival goers exit the venue in cohesion and like clockwork they’re unable to find rideshares due to high demand. Shuttles were conveniently waiting right outside of our hotel in Orange Beach (about thirty minutes from Hangout), and buses waited near the grounds throughout the festival to bring attendees to and from their destination. 

It’s recommended to book a third party shuttle back to the closest airport ahead of time to avoid being stuck in the area later than necessary and avoid missing your flight. 

A Beach Lover’s Dream

Hangout Music Festival reigns as one of the more unique events for a list of reasons. The beaches of Gulf Shores are in proximity to the Flora-Bama state line and boasts miles of bright white sand, similar to what you would find in the Florida Keys, allowing for a vacation-like feel.

Despite the large crowds everyone had a southern hospitality flare to them and “excuse me” was a common phrase in General Admission, allowing for an overall smooth navigation through main stage. 

The Hangout Restaurant was a popular spot to cool off and grab a bite to eat if you didn’t mind waiting in line, and there were plenty of vendors and bars scattered throughout the venue. If getting away from the crowd was your preference, the beach had secluded areas to sit down and relax. Looking to play some volleyball? That was in the cards too!

Overall, Hangout Music Festival 2024 felt like a relatively laid back beach vacation with a treat of seeing some of the biggest artists in the industry — what more could you ask for?

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