Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, Chance the Rapper to Headline Hangout Music Fest

Jordan Bailey

It’s almost 2017 and tickets for next year’s spring festivals are already selling fast. One of them is Hangout Music Fest, May 19-21 in Gulf Shores, Ala., showcases a solid lineup against a beach setting amid plenty of southern charm.

Gulf Shores is a somewhat sleepy beach town on the Gulf of Mexico. Aside from a few golf courses and a zoo, it’s a residential community that doubles as a low-key tourist draw in the summer. But every year, Hangout Music Fest transforms the area into a landscape of music revelry. This year’s lineup includes Mumford & Sons, Twenty One Pilots, Frank Ocean and Chance the Rapper, so you can dance along to them barefoot with sand between your toes. Not many other festivals can provide an atmosphere where Weezer runs through their classic songbook of summer hits including “Island in the Sun” and “Beverly Hills” while the audience enjoys the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. This year, you can also catch Major Lazer, DJ Snake, Marshmello, Dillon Francis, MGMT, Sigur Rós, Band of Horses, The Head and the Heart, Young the Giant and Franz Ferdinand.

Flying into Hangout is easy from many parts of the country as Pensacola International Airport sits just 45 minutes from the festival grounds. After the commute, allow Hammock Beach to sway you into a nice afternoon nap or head straight to Craft Beer Backyard for some local, hoppy libations. It’s an opportune time to take advantage Southern delicacies, such as fresh local shrimp, oysters and, of course, crawfish. Hangout Music Fest offers daily catches all weekend long, so feel free to squeeze on a splash of lemon and throw back a cold one in that ‘Bama sunshine.

And couples can even get hitched at Hangout’s own wedding chapel. As the organizers say, it’s “easier than Vegas, divorce included.” The Malibu Beach House will showcase top-notch DJs throughout the weekend. Thrill seekers can get a sky-high vantage point by way of the Ferris wheel or before a dip down the Mega Drop. Check out the new beach volleyball courts for what promises to be the most alcohol-infused games ever.

No camping is offered at Hangout; instead attendees rent beachside condos and hotel rooms. They’re the perfect place to grab a group of friends and spend the weekend in one hot, beautiful mess. Some accommodations are within walking distance but for those who find themselves far from the grounds, Hangout Music Fest provides shuttles to and from the event. Travel packages are also offered, VIP and otherwise, for those looking to knock out every aspect of planning in one flip of the switch.

Hangout Music Fest will take place in Gulf Shores, Ala., May 19-21. Information on tickets, directions and accommodation is here.