We had another great year attending Hangout Fest in the Gulf Shores of Alabama from May 19–21.
Fortunately, this year had no weather delays compared to last year. With clear, sunny skies and immensely talented artists of all genres, it was overall a great weekend to experience. From the moment the gates opened on Friday afternoon and the 40,000+ attendees rushed inside, the atmosphere felt electric. The multi-talented artists that headlined included Red Hot Chili Peppers, SZA, and Calvin Harris. We captured all the memorable moments.
On Friday, day one of the festival, Stephen Sanchez gave an incredible performance singing his inspiring music to the crowd at the Shein Surf Stage. Next, Caye performed at the Mermaid Stage, which offered a more intimate setting for fans to get closer with the artist. His enthusiastic fanbase vibed to his performance during the entire set. Closing the first night of the festival was the iconic punk-rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. They gave an incredible performance, proving once again why they are one of the best-selling bands of all time.
Saturday, day two, the energy continued to rise as the day went on. Flipturn did a great job setting the tone for the day. It was a moment of redemption watching them perform at Hangout this year, since their set last year got rained on. Later on in the day, COIN performed on Hangout Stage and, even though their set was in the middle of the day, their lively performance lit up the entire beach. The crowd was wild for them and rightfully so — they’re talented, upbeat, and put on a fun set.
Throughout the day, other acts such as Sabrina Carpenter and Flume performed, showing why people flock to these festivals. The amount of talent that was on stage throughout the festival was astonishing. As the night started to set in, Paramore took over to headline the Shein Surf Stage. The band is passionate and charismatic live. Lead singer Hayley Williams was mesmerizing to watch as she moved around on stage and sang her heart out.
Then, to close out the night, SZA shut the Main Stage down. Her fashion choices and visual imagery complemented her music and created a cohesive and immersive experience for her fans. The crowd was screaming so loud throughout her performance that it was an unforgettable moment.
Sunday, the final day, acts such as Beach Weather, Noah Kahan, The Backseat Lovers, and The Kid LAROI performed. Noah Kahan had a mellow vibe to his set that felt perfect for a beach festival. Singing his hit songs such as “Northern Attitude” and “Stick Season,” everyone in the audience was singing along with just as much passion. The Backseat Lovers put on a phenomenal performance which was one of my favorite sets of the weekend.
Calvin Harris wrapped up the festival as the last headliner, getting the crowd amped up with his hit songs and the pyrotechnics. It was a great set to end the weekend.
Hangout Fest may be over, but people left the festival with cherished memories, new friends, and maybe even a sun tan as well. Until next year!
All photos ©Sarah Sturgis, used with permission by United By Pop.
