Pensacola Magazine

Hangout Music Fest 2024

The Gulf Coast’s Largest Music Festival Returns

Hangout Music Festival (HOF) is back for its thirteenth year of music, festivities and fun along the Gulf Coast. As one of the most anticipated annual events of the season, HOF transforms the white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, into a lively showcase of music, art and entertainment. This year, the festival will return on May 17 to 19, with new stages, beachside activities and an eclectic lineup that promises something for everyone to enjoy.

The 2024 HOF lineup offers a little bit for every music fan, no matter what genre of music you’re into. If you like indie or alternative music, you can enjoy performances by Cage The Elephant, Dominic Fike and All Time Low. If dancing is your main priority, catch an EDM set with artists like Alison Wonderland and The Chainsmokers. Are hip-hop and rap more your vibe? Look forward to performances by the popular Sexyy Red and NLE Choppa.

The variance of musical genres represented at the festival carries over to the headliners, with Lana Del Rey kicking off the festival Friday, May 17. ODESZA continues the excitement, headlining on Saturday. Zach Bryan will wrap up the weekend, with the final headlining performance taking place on Sunday night.

This year, HOF is introducing an all-new stage setup. The Hangout Main Stage will remain at the end of the beach, with two new stages being added to the festival grounds—the Boom on the Beach Stage presented by SHEIN and the Shoreline Stage presented by Malibu Rum. The Boom on the Beach Stage will take the place of last year’s Surf Stage, sitting on the opposite end of the beach from the Hangout Main Stage. Differing from last year, this new and improved stage will feature more LED lighting and lasers than ever before. EDM artists like The Chainsmokers, Subtronics and Dom Dolla will utilize new visuals to deliver electrifying performances.

The new Shoreline Stage will be situated in the middle of the beach in between the Boom on the Beach Stage and the main stage. This new stage provides a unique experience that you can’t get at any other music festival—the beautiful Gulf of Mexico as a backdrop. What’s better than watching your favorite artist perform with the waves crashing behind them?

The HOF activities extend beyond the amazing musical performances. HOF also provides attendees with the unique opportunity to cool off in the gulf waters while listening to their favorite artists, with beach access provided throughout the festival. The beachside festival provides the ultimate vacation and music festival experience wrapped into one. After spending some time in the water, attendees can relax and dry off under the sun at Hammock Beach. If you prefer to stay in the shade, no problem! This year HOF has introduced even more shade spots on the beach and near dining areas.

Speaking of dining, HOF offers a variety of delicious food and beverage options. Dozens of restaurants and food vendors will be serving up food throughout the weekend. This year, HOF has introduced the “Nosh Pit,” a new shaded dining pavilion that will be serving snacks all weekend long. The Nosh Pit will be located adjacent to Boom on the Beach Stage so that you can refuel and nosh before you mosh. If you need more than a quick bite or desperately want some time out of the sun, stop by the namesake Hangout Restaurant for a shaded and air-conditioned lunch or dinner.

While enjoying all the fun festivities that HOF has to offer, ensure that you don’t miss out on any of the fun by planning your weekend out. Whether you’re coming to the beach with your besties or riding solo, plan smartly by using the HOF app. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, this free app lets you create your own daily schedule by allowing you to select the artists you want to see perform and creating a daily timeline.

The HOF app also allows attendees to view information about festival activities, frequently asked questions, links to all of the HOF social media pages and more. HOF organizers also utilize the app to communicate with attendees during the festival. Be sure to turn your app notifications on so that you will be notified of any weather warnings or set changes while on festival grounds.

The 13th annual Hangout Music Festival will take place from May 17 to 19 at 101 E. Beach Blvd. in Gulf Shores. For updates and special announcements, check out @hangoutfest on Instagram or @hangoutmusicfestival on Facebook. For tickets and complete festival details, visit hangoutmusicfest.com.