Two weeks after going on sale in early February, general admission tickets to the 2012 Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, Ala., sold out. This three-day music festival on the beach, founded in 2010, got off to a rough start. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was making its way to the Gulf Coast and tourists were wary of heading to the shore. The headlining act The Flaming Lips had to cancel due to a band member's illness and storms caused organizers to offer free admission on the last day of the event.
In 2011, things went much better with a bill that included legendary artists like Paul Simon, good weather and a triple-sized paying crowd.
The Hangout has gone from a shaky upstart to a nationally renowned music festival. Headliners for 2012 are Dave Matthews Band, Jack White and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Organizers capped general admission ticket sales this year and expanded the footprint of the festival grounds, to keep the event manageable and enjoyable. “Another year that we can bring 35,000 music and fun-loving people to our beautiful beach is a great thing,” says festival founder Shaul Zislin. “
Zislin is the owner of the beachfront bar, restaurant and entertainment complex that gives the festival its name. The festival takes place on the wide beach area in front of the easygoing, open-air establishment, a legendary haunt along the Alabama coast. The symbol of both the restaurant and the festival is the shaka, a traditional Hawaiian hand gesture that means "hang loose." If you've seen those commercials touting tourism's rebound along the Gulf Coast since the 2010 oil spill, that's Zislin in the Gulf Shores segment, flashing the shaka sign in front of his restaurant.
For those who didn't get a ticket to this year's festival, a limited number of pricier VIP passes -- with perks such as separate entrances and special viewing areas -- and lodging packages that include passes, are still available. For those with a ticket in hand, the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area has plenty to offer besides music. If the crowds get to be too much and you need some down time alone with nature, head to the 7,000-acre Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge or take a hike on the extensive backcountry trails of Gulf State Park. Go kayaking in the scenic tidal creeks and marshes or take a dolphin watching eco cruise on the bay. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, located a couple of miles from the festival grounds, is a don't-miss attraction for animal lovers, known as "the little zoo that could" from its feature series on Animal Planet.
Lodging
The Hangout Music Fest has travel packages that include lodging at local resorts. One of the more luxurious properties in the area offering a festival travel package is Turquoise Place in Orange Beach. The package includes transportation to and from the festival. More info on this and other packages can be found at the festival's website. For a handy guide on vacancies during the weekend of Hangout check out the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach tourism bureau's webpage www.gulfshores.com/lodging/vacancies.aspx for the latest updates. The festival also offers a shuttle service convenient to area accommodations along the beach road and Ala. 59, the main highway heading into town.
Dining
The Pink Pony Pub, a Gulf Shores landmark, is located next to the festival grounds and impossible to miss with its bright veneer of pink paint. Tiny and unassuming King Neptune's is one of the best seafood joints in the area, located on Ala. 59 across from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. For good seafood with a scenic view of Big Lagoon, check out the Original Oyster House, also on Ala. 59, near where the highway dead ends into the Hangout.
Visitor info
Hangout Music Fest: www.hangoutmusicfest.com
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism: www.gulfshores.com
Tin Pan South
March 27-31, Nashville, Tenn.
You may not recognize the names of the performers at this festival, but you will recognize their songs. This intimate festival is spread across Music City's legendary nightclub venues as a one-of-a-kind event showcasing the writers of the songs instead of the singers who made them famous. The moniker is a reference to Tin Pan Alley from New York City's heyday of music publishing, a trend that has shifted south to Nashville in recent decades. Many shows are in-the-round performances with different songwriters, and the crowds tend to show up early to claim the best seats at each venue. www.tinpansouth.com
Jazz Fest
April 27-May 6, New Orleans
The granddaddy of southern music festivals is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, as it is more commonly known. Though jazz and other genres are well represented, headliners are often rock and pop acts. The festival -- which takes place over two weekends at the New Orleans Fair Grounds -- also celebrates Louisiana arts, culture and cuisine. Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles and Tom Petty are among this year's main acts. www.nojazzfest.com
Secret Stages
May 11-12, Birmingham, Ala.
Birmingham's longtime City Stages music festival went belly up a couple of years ago due to financial woes, but some enterprising folks in the Magic City have kept the music going with Secret Stages. Billing itself as a "music discovery festival," Secret Stages features up-and-coming acts on an outdoor stage and in the bars around the city's revitalized (and now trendy) loft district in the downtown area. Atlanta acts Lucy Dreams and Social Studies are a part of this year's lineup. www.secretstages.net
Bonnaroo
June 7-10, Manchester, Tenn.
What started as a jam band fest in the fields of rural Tennessee in 2002 has now become a cultural phenomenon that includes many different genres of music, comedy and even carnival sideshows. Come prepared to deal with huge crowds and long traffic lines leading to the venue. Among the major acts performing this year are Radiohead and a reunited lineup of The Beach Boys that includes Brian Wilson performing with the group for the first time in decades. www.bonnaroo.com
Bama Jam
June 14-16, Enterprise, Ala.
If you prefer a more country-fried music fest, Bama Jam is the place to go nearest to Atlanta this season. The festival takes place in southern Alabama (or "L.A.," as locals are fond of saying, for lower Alabama) outside the small town of Enterprise. Georgia's Zac Brown Band will be headlining this year's event, along with Tim McGraw and Kid Rock. On-site camping for tents and RVs will be available for a fee. www.bamajam2012.com
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