Officials announce 2011 Hangout Festival lineup

GULF SHORES, Alabama (WALA) - HANGOUT LINEUP ANNOUNCED

The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores has announced its 2011 lineup. Paul Simon, Foo Fighters, and Widepread Panic are just three acts lined up for the three-day music festival.

Thirty-five other bands have also signed up with more to come. The one-of-a-kind music festival takes place May 20-22 on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, just minutes from the Florida border.

AN ECONOMIC BAROMETER

The Hangout Music Festival will be the first big draw of the summer season and it will be an economic barometer of what we can expect the rest of the summer.

The Hangout Festival had its inaugural run last May, just one month after the oil spill began. Even so, it was a big success bringing big acts like Ben Harper and the Black Crowes to the Gulf Coast.

This year, the economic impact of the festival is even more critical and organizers are promising to bring even bigger acts in.

“It’s really a good reflection of people coming to town. And really kicks off our season,” Grant Brown with the city of Gulf Shores said.

Brown said a good summer is vital to repair the economic damage of the oil spill.

“We need this economically,” Brown stated. "Businesses are waiting for this season, if they don’t make it this year they may not be here next year.”

The Hangout Music Festival will bring people from all over spending money on tickets, food, and lodging. Brown said free concerts, like the ones held last year, are in the preliminary stages, but they will take money to put on.

"At this time there is nothing scheduled. Only good plans in place ready to go if we can find the money,” Brown said.

So far, the Hangout Music Festival is the first and only concert planned for this summer and it will need to be successful for the sake of this economically-battered community.

“In spite of everything that’s happened over the last nine months this is definitely something that will be good for the area,” organizer Jimmy Aicone said.

TICKETS AND INFO

Confirmed artists include :

Paul Simon
Foo Fighters
Widespread Panic
The Black Keys
My Morning Jacket
Flaming Lips
Cee Lo Green
Primus
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Pretty Lights
Bassnectar
Girl Talk
Ween
Matisyahu
Warren Haynes Band
Umphrey’s McGee
Slightly Stoopid
Drive-By Truckers
Amos Lee
Old Crow Medicine Show
G. Love & Special Sauce
Medeski, Martin & Wood
Keller Williams
Galactic
Xavier Rudd
Minus the Bear
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Portugal. the Man
Beats Antique
Dead Confederate
Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights
Easy Star All-Stars
Mariachi El Bronx
Truth & Salvage Co
Kristy Lee
Civil Twilight
Rich Aucoin
A Thousand Horses
Jon Black
Cas Haley
Roman Street

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 2 at 9 a.m. CST. at www.hangoutmusicfest.com through Front Gate Tickets. They will also be available at The Hangout Restaurant in Gulf Shores.

Once tickets at the $159 price level are sold out, tickets will then go on sale for $174. VIP ticket packages and travel packages start at $525 and are also available online or by phone at 1-888-512-SHOW.

This year, the festival is adding a fifth music stage under an air-conditioned tent and creating Hammock Beach, a replenishing salt-water lagoon where music fans will find shade, hammocks, and art installations. Another feature of Hammock Beach will be the Sky-bar tower, a structure built specifically for Hangout offering 360-degree views of the festival.

For fans interested in taking their festival experience to the next level, VIP ticket holders are invited to take a dip in Hangout’s new resort style in-ground pool with views of the main stage (deck side bar service is included). Other new attractions include an extended kids’ area, family events, late night deejays, and shuttle service between stages.

More bands, amenities and activities will be announced in the coming weeks.