The 4th annual Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama is gearing up to be one of the largest US festivals of the year. Schedule for May 18th – 20th, the beach-based festival is sure to pull in its largest attendance numbers yet with a lineup fronted by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Stevie Wonder, and what we hope will be a triumphant return of the Kings of Leon!

Co-headlining performances are scheduled from Trey Anastasio, The Shins, Bassnectar, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Black Crowes, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kendrick Lamar and quite honestly, just about every band you would ever want to see on the beach.

Since its 2010, Hangout quickly established itself as the beach-festival in America, with previous lineups featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews, Jack White, Paul Simon, The Black Keys, and so many other chart topping artists.

However, the crew behind the event pays as much attention to the minor details as they do they major ticket selling acts; The 2013 lineup includes (to our joy) The Weeks, The Sheepdogs, twenty one pilots, Wild Cub, Kingston Springs, The Wild Feathers, Moon Taxi, and a handful of other acts that we’ve loved watching develop over the past year. Hangout has been on their game about picking and choosing artists on the verge of national fame and we’re excited to see the response to their choices this year.

Limited general-admission tickets are still available, though the Festival is currently offering a number of one-of-a-kind VIP experiences that set them apart from nearly any festival you’ll attend this year. If you have some of that tax refund check still sitting around burning a hole in your pocket, opt for the Big Kahuna experience, one so amazing that you actually have to call their Festival HQ to get information on the package.

Oh, and just to sweeten the deal, Hangout is holding a kick-off party on the 17th that might as well be a complete festival in itself!

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