Hangout 2023: Summer’s Hottest Music Festival Returns

The summer 2023 music festival season has officially begun, and Alabama certainly made a splash in the music scene last weekend (May 19th – May 21st) after it hosted the 12th annual Hangout Music Festival down on the white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, AL. Hangout’s diverse and exciting lineup of both A-list headliners and rising stars brings in a wide variety of music enthusiasts from around the world to the stunning shores at the Gulf of Mexico. Hangout also brings a bevy of first-rate sponsors in to provide both an interactive marketing experience for attendees and an array of product samples and demonstrations. With over 30,000 swimsuit-wearing attendees at this year’s event, Hangout Music Festival absolutely delivered on its promise of an unforgettable musical paradise with its blend of top-notch performances and beachside fun.

Hangout’s stacked star-studded lineup included prominent stars from a wide variety of genres, catering to any musical experience an attendee is looking for, from high-energy to more lowkey vibes. Friday started the weekend off on the hottest note with energetic and provocative performances by Tove Lo and RUSS at the Hangout stage and Lil Nas X at the SHEIN Surf stage, along with head-bopping sets by Gryffin at the SHEIN Surf stage, Two Feet, and REZZ. Unfortunately, Rainbow Kitten Surprise had to drop out of the festival but was fortunately replaced by the widely-acclaimed Louis The Child at the Hangout stage, who just happened to be attending the festival! Finally, Red Hot Chili Peppers turned back the clock to simpler times with a nostalgic rock set at the Hangout stage to close out the night.

Saturday was a great day to taste test many different genres of music with performances all around the musical spectrum. The main acts of Big Wild at the Shein Surf stage and COIN at the Hangout stage started out the day with energetic beats to beautiful vocals that both revived the crowd and got them ready for the rest of the exciting day. AJR took the Hangout stage later on with a highly-interactive set that included both past hits and new ones, followed by a mesmerizing performance by Flume that was perfectly timed with the colorful sunset. Paramore brought the nostalgic punk-rock vibes that kept everyone jumping in the sand to every relatable lyric. Finally, SZA closed out the day at the Hangout stage with a vibrant performance that captured both her vocal capabilities and her exquisite choreography and artistic touches.

Although the last and usually most exhausting day of the festival, Sunday still brought in notable headliners that kept even the most fatigued attendee energized from sunrise to sunset. The day started off on an exciting note with Yung Gravy bringing the heat early in the day at the Hangout stage; his performance hilariously ended with him falling over while handing out roses to a lucky few in the crowd. The people suffering from the sunday scaries chilled out to beautiful and more low-key performances by Said the Sky at the smaller BOOM stage and Noah Kahan at the SHEIN Surf stage, while turning the energy back up during Elohim at the Monster Energy Tent and Ashnikko at the SHEIN Surf stage. Finally, Skrillex‘s long-awaited return to the SHEIN Surf stage whipped everyone’s heads a full 180 degrees with his head-bang-worthy bass. Calvin Harris closed out the 3-day festival on the highest note with an electrifying Hangout stage set that included all of his popular hits, giving the crowd a festival glow for days to come.

Hangout didn’t just include exhilarating beachside musical performances — it also had many attractions that kept attendees busy with activities in between concerts. These included a Ferris Wheel running constantly throughout the weekend to give attendees a full view of both the festival grounds and the 6 stages, beach volleyball for groups of friends or strangers to play together, roller skating for both the seasoned skaters and the uncoordinated (they had rolling walkers), and hammocks throughout the beach and water for a way to relax and unwind after a tiring set of jumping to the beats. There was also a wide array of art installations throughout the festival, allowing for both endless photo opportunities for the festival squads and a marketing opportunity for sponsors.

Sponsors and vendors of the festival marketed their brands and products by providing a unique experience with interactive onsite activations for the festivalgoers. Sponsors of this event were well known and influential brands, including SHEIN, Corona, Autograph, Malibu, M&Ms, Monster, Coca Cola, Teva, Cuerco Tradicional, Tanqueray, Bronco, Jim Beam, Dove, Aperol 1919, Beatbox, Elite Wear, Twisted Sweet Tea Whiskey, Marriott Bonvoy, Sharetea, Inweekly, Propeller, and Brett/Robinson Vacations. These amazing sponsors provided their own inimitable pop-ups and opportunities to get involved and promote the product to the Hangout Festival consumers.

SHEIN

As the top sponsor of the Hangout Music Festival, SHEIN had a huge opportunity to showcase its prominence in the beachwear industry. SHEIN Surf stage was one of two main stages at the festival, showcasing the brand to virtually everyone at the festival. SHEIN’s Surf Club at the festival was the most brightly colored station at the festival grounds. It featured a walk-in cabana with a viewing desk for the perfect view of the SHEIN Surf Stage. SHEIN also offered complimentary accessories for the perfect addition to any beach outfit, along with refreshing tropical drinks and popsicles for guests to cool down during the sunny performances. SHEIN debuted SHEIN x Hangout Music Fest, a collaboration with the festival that was dedicated to comfortable beachwear one can easily take to a beachside music festival and dance all day in the sand. SHEIN also featured different photo opportunities throughout the cabana, notably a model jet ski for guests to sit on and take their glamorous “ocean life” instagram photo.

Corona

Known for its light and refreshing taste, Corona was the perfect beer to sponsor an event dedicated to fun under the sun. Often associated with beachside vacations, Corona brought the laid-back vibe to a dedicated spot right between the two main stages where guests could take a pit stop to grab a drink, go down to the waters of the Gulf through a dedicated 21+ beach entrance, play bags, or even participate in the exciting games of beach volleyball located within the Corona area.

Monster Energy

Monster has been a prominent sponsor of Hangout Music Festival for a while — so much so that the smaller EDM stage is dedicated to it! Notable performers at this stage included Night Tales, Dr. Fresch, and ELOHIM. Monster always brings the energy back into the Hangout crowd with endless samples of their featured energy drinks. A common favorite this year was their new extra fruity Ultra Strawberry Dreams energy drink. There was also an exclusive entrance to the beach through the Monster Energy stage for guests to enjoy the music from the water. The Monster Energy stage even included hammocks for guests to properly rest while recharging. Thousands would flock to this area each day of the festival in search of their afternoon energy drink pick-me-up along with the bumping beats the EDM artists bring.

M&Ms

M&Ms was a highly anticipated sponsor this year. With their colorful station right near the east entrance of the festival, thousands of guests were able to interact with their exciting activation. They handed out M&M-inspired bucket hats that were then seen all throughout the festival. This reversible hat was the perfect accessory to wear at their photobooth that featured a colorful logo background. Everyone flocked to the booth each day to grab their own reversible bucket hat along with samples of peanut butter M&Ms and their newest flavor — caramel cold brew. It was the perfect touch of sweetness to the salty summer day at the beach!

Coca Cola

Coca Cola also had a huge activation at the festival, with thousands flocking to the prominent bright red tent located at the center of the festival. Along with samples and information about various Coca Cola drinks, festival attendees also enjoyed the merch given out by the activation — red fans that were on display all throughout the crowds at the festival. Fans given out as merch is a unique way that Coca Cola was able to provide a branded product that was both extremely useful under the beating sunshine and a clever way to get the brand name out to thousands of potential consumers. Everyone who saw the fans everywhere wanted to race to the Coca Cola tent to get their own branded fan!

Malibu Rum

Another well-known sponsor Malibu Rum returned with their exciting Malibu setup. Their tent reimagines Malibu as more than just a rum, but as a place where you step into a hyperreal world where everyone is unplugged and can unabashedly embrace the things they love – because life’s too short not to Do Whatever Tastes Good! Walking through the portal, you are transported to a 3-D island oasis paradise. This experience featured an interactive sunny-themed wall with vibrantly colored coconut telephone booths for photos, a vibrantly mint green bike for more photo ideas, an exclusive bar for cocktails on draft and frozen, and refreshing Malibu cocktails in a can. Their drinks were also featured throughout the festival at the different unsponsored bars. Perfect way to cool down from the strong Alabama sun!

Other alcohol brands featured at the festival included Cuerco Tradicional, Tanqueray, Jim Beam, Aperol 1919, Beatbox, and Twisted Sweet Tea Whiskey. Each had their one unique branded booth that allowed guests a fun photoshoot opportunity, drinks for purchase, and branded swag.

Hangout offers a great way to connect sponsors and on-site vendors with a diverse market of potential consumers. Sponsors and vendors of the festival can market their brands and products using their unique booths, samples, games, and other onsite activations to allow the festivalgoers to try out their product. They have the opportunity to create a memorable experience for the consumer that will positively reflect the brand and generate repeat customers.

The Hangout Music Festival truly delivered the ultimate trifecta of music festivals with a diverse and exciting lineup, a beautiful beachside location, and a uniquely euphoric and vibrant atmosphere that made for the best way to start off the 2023 summer festival season. It was a fun-filled weekend full of excitement, smile lines, endless photo opportunities all weekend, sunshine (and some sunburns) and unforgettable memories. Each day’s lineup of performers was spectacular and major national brands had the chance to promote their products and services to a mass of excited consumers and potential new customers. In all, the entire Hangout Music Festival was a sensational experience that will only get better and better every year. We certainly brought the sand back home with us and we look forward to coming back in the future to experience more.