Hangout Fest 2023: 5 acts you need to see
The countdown is on to Hangout Fest 2023 along with all the sand, sun, inevitable downpours and more that comes with it.
Now that the festival has released its daily schedule (with quite a few new additions, in case you didn’t know), it’s finally time discuss the five acts you should definitely make sure to go see…or at least watch from your friend’s social media pages.
This list is in no particular order, by the way, so keep that in mind before heading to our social media channels to voice your displeasure, excitement or something in between.
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill, has come a long way from “Old Town Road.” At only 23, the Georgia native already has two Grammy Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and numerous other accolades.
“Industry Baby”, with a feature by one of last year’s attendees, Jack Harlow, received a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
With rumors of his second album in the air, here’s hoping the openly LGBTQ+ star gives Hangout Fest attendees fuel to add to the rumor fire. If not, we’ll be just as happy to hear the classics … which are classics for a reason after all.
Lil Nas X is scheduled to perform on the Shein Surf Stage on Friday, May 19, at 8:30 p.m.
The Vegabonds
Alabama-born and Nashville-based rock band The Vegabonds will kick things off at 12:30 p.m. Friday, May 19, on the Shein Surf Stage (where Lil Nas X will perform later in the day) and you’d better make sure you’re there to see them.
Lead singer Daniel Allen of Dothan graduated from Auburn University in 2008 and formed the band with some fellow Auburn student musicians including bass player Paul Bruens of Huntsville.
The group began playing at local Auburn and Tuscaloosa bar staples and before they knew it, they were touring nationally. If you need something to tide you over until May, you might want to check out a recent cover of MGMT’s “Kids” that they did with Daniel Womack (“Womz”) of Futurebirds.
Paramore
Whether you grew up on Tumblr or not, you’ll be hard-pressed to find somebody that hasn’t heard at least one Paramore song, or not know what lead singer Hayley Williams looks like. After all, she has bright orange hair.
Paramore will headline the Shein Surf Stage on Saturday, May 20, at 8:45 p.m., in the very first stop of their mostly sold-out summer North American tour.
The group is no stranger to Gulf Shores or the Gulf Coast, as they headlined the festival back in 2015 and will be making a July 6 stop in New Orleans.
More Hangout news:
Their newest release, “This is Why,” received critical acclaim and peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 — and it went number one on Billboard US’ Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums. The group will also open for Taylor Swift during select dates of her The Eras Tour.
Ashnikko
Continuing with the colored-hair-musician theme, our next pick is Ashnikko. A recent addition to the Hangout Fest lineup, the blue-haired singer from North Carolina will take the stage on the last day, appearing at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21, on the Shein Surf Stage.
Typically reserved for a lot of people on the rise (or just bubbling underneath the surface), the last day is perfect for her.
Ashnikko’s debut album will be released this year, something that you might be surprising to learn, since the star has already quite a few viral sensations, including “Stupid” and “Daisy,” which is certified platinum. She’s been on stages all over already and will make an appearance at the infamous Coachella festival later on this month.
Thundercat
When your father played drums for The Temptations, The Supremes, and Gladys Knight, and your mother was a flautist and percussionist, it’s kind of hard not to get into music. Lucky for us, Thundercat, also known as Stephen Lee Bruner, got into music and will entertain the crowd at the Mermaid stage on Friday, May 19, at 7:15 p.m.
Thundercat has collaborated either in the studio or on stage with dozens of well-known acts, including Steve Lacy, Kendrick Lamar, and Gorillaz. He even recently took home a Grammy in 2021 for Best Progressive R&B Album.
“Them Changes” is sure to be a crowd favorite as the sun goes down.
Honorable mentions
As much as we’d like to list everybody performing, we just can’t. Good thing we have this handy honorable mentions list though. No matter if you go to one set or as many as you can, you won’t be disappointed in this year’s lineup.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- GloRilla
- Aluna
- SZA
- Sabrina Carpenter
- Highly Suspect
- Sam Fischer
- Hippie Sabotage
- Yung Gravy