Hangout’s fourth year a breeze

By Matt Miller, Lauren Fyfe, Brittney Bryant, Catherine Marler Rapp, Emily Leahey, Rebecca Swain, Steven Hines, Brendon Rapp, Andrew Leahey & Rusty Odom

Photo by Rusty Odom

When I look back on all the music festivals I’ve attended, I try to think about the way each made me feel.

At this point, I’ve been to a few dozen different weekend-long musical gatherings so I’ve seen many of the bands that play the festival circuit. That’s why I always lean on the emotion attached to each festival atmosphere when I pull a memory from the bank. Those feelings don’t ever change. And Hangout just feels so good.

By now you’re probably familiar with BLANK’s obsession with the festival.

Something related to the Hangout has graced the cover of BLANK and the slidebar at blanknews.com more than anything else, and Knoxville is a good 8 hours away from Gulf Shores, Alabama.

But we’ve gotten by with it. But we’ve more than gotten by with it.

Here’s why.

No one treats their guests better than the organizers of Hangout Festival.

Luxury is abundant for guests at all ticket levels.  While there is not much retreat from the sun on the two beach stages if you want to dance in the sand (and of course, you do), the ocean provides a pleasant breeze for the better part of the day. And between all the water filling stations, on site air-conditioned restaurants, mist tents and general covered areas, keeping it cool is not a problem. The free swag that you find at Hangout is especially tailored to the beach experience and is noticeably nicer and in greater abundance than your average multi-show. Customized beach towels and fanny packs from the Chevy experience are met with beach mats from a Palladia tent and sunglasses from Grooveshark. If you’re a VIP, grab some free sunscreen from Panama Jack, SPF’s from 15-50. This stuff is more than convenient; it’s stuff you use before you leave the festival.

It’s a first class experience in terms of accommodations, but it would all be nothing without the music.

Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Toots & the Maytals and Public Enemy; these are the reasons that people from all corners of the globe converge on Gulf Shores, Alabama each May.

The locals have taken to the event with open arms, for the most part, and there are fewer problems for them to deal with than those hosting the average fest. Over four days of festivities, only 66 people were arrested out of an estimated 35,000 in attendence, and 12 of those came all at once in a Hollywood style money-counterfeiting ring (Really?). That number included zero crimes of a violent nature and is down from years past. The need for hospital visits was also down in 2013 with only ten.

Perhaps the beach brings out the best in people. And it can certainly bring out the best in the performers.

Here are our highlights from each day, along with some of our discoveries, those wonderful sunset shows and of course, the headliners.

Friday, May 17

Saturday, May 18

Sunday, May 19

BLANK's Backstage Pass to Hangout

The Muddy Banks of the Mississippi

No time in recent memory has a weekend in Memphis been so eagerly anticipated. With the Beale Street Music Festival approaching, and the Memphis Grizzlies soon to play for a round one playoff victory just blocks away, Friday morning just had a different feel to it. The city was anxious, energetic, and smiling from ear to ear. Despite two straight days of rain, festivalgoers and Grizzlies fans packed into downtown for a similar purpose.

Tonight, and the entire weekend, was about celebrating the fun areas of life. Having a great time, with friends and family, and forgetting the troubles that always seem to exist. It’s not always easy to let go and have fun. With temperatures reaching the 30s, ankle deep mud throughout the festival grounds, and a flooded Mississippi River, it’s understandable it was difficult for some. But those who experienced Memphis this weekend found the energy contagious and the quality of music incredible.

It is a unique city to say the least, but that’s what makes it so appealing. Beale Street is the perfect destination when the festival ends, allowing people to gather and share the day’s experiences. Often this idea of camaraderie and cohesiveness lacks in city festivals, but not at this one. It was the perfect weekend to experience downtown Memphis, despite the amount of clothes that mud may have ruined. Here is BLANK’s review of the Beale Street Music Festival.

Friday, May 3

Local Favorite

Jimbo Mathus & the Tri-State Coalition

We found it only fitting to begin the Memphis-based, blues influenced festival with local Mississippi favorite, Jimbo Mathus & the Tri-State Coalition. This blues legend has been recording and touring most of his life and now graces stages in Memphis on a monthly basis. The Tri-State Coalition is extremely talented, bringing energy and soul along with Jimbo’s gritty, Mississippi guitar sound. The Beale Street Music Festival’s Blues Shack honors those who keep blues alive all day, and is a staple of the festival.

Highlight

Charles Bradley

Since his 2011 debut album, the 64-year-old former James Brown impersonator has blindsided diverse fans with his success. In just two years, Charles Bradley has played at almost every major festival and is a common name on college radio stations. His success cements into history with one of the most dynamic performances one will ever witness. Every word and sound he delivers contains an intimate passion. It’s a passion for many things. Mankind, love, and music just to name a few. His demeanor is bold and his dancing contagious. With a magnificent band of young, skillful musicians, Bradley is able to focus on the entertaining show he seeks to provide without missing a beat. Charles Bradley is the redeemer of soul for this generation, appealing to young and old, sharing his love and concern for everyone. Check out the documentary Soul of America to see this yourself.

The Legend

Daryl Hall & John Oates

There is often nothing more exciting than the anticipation of seeing musicians you grew up listening to. Daryl Hall is a true artist. From his work with John Oates, to his solo career, and television program, Live at Daryl’s House, he’s proven to be an open-minded, forward-thinking musician. He strives to be unique and push boundaries, which is why seeing him go back to his beginning felt so special. The diverse crowd stood intrigued in the cold, Mississippi River wind as Daryl & John steadily delivered hits and rarities until after midnight. Starting with one of my favorites, “Kiss on My List,” they got the crowd going and never let up. They still have magnificent chemistry and respect for each other. Along with collaborations with Sheryl Crow and saxophone genius Charlie Dechant, this legendary performance was one not to miss.

Notable Mentions: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Deftones

How Forecastle Creator JK McKnight created his dream festival

It’s hard to imagine that JK McKnight envisioned his current lifestyle when he created the Forecastle festival in his early twenties.

But what started as a simple party with a handful of bands has turned into the biggest non-sports gathering in the Bluegrass State. Over 75,000 people are expected to flood Louisville, Kentucky’s riverfront for the 11^th installment of Forecastle.

It’s a fact not lost on McKnight.

And after a conversation with the captain of the ship, it’s easy to tell he is living his dream.

BLANK caught up with McKnight to discuss the Forecastle Foundation, the expansion of the Bourbon Lodge, the relationship with AC Entertainment and much more.

BLANK: Talk about how the lineup came together. It’s loaded with indie rock but has plenty to offer in other genres as well.

JK McKnight: In the fall we all get together and start coming up with initial ideas. But it starts before that really. We’re always thinking about the next year. We try to think of artists we haven’t had before. Our musical palates have gotten extremely diverse throughout the years.

BLANK: So String Cheese Incident is playing three nights, correct?

JKM: Yes, three nights in different capacities. They’re doing an after party, which will be a new thing for the Palace Theatre, and they’ll be doing a headlining festival spot and they’ll be doing a jam with special guests.

Our chat with Bonnaroo Co-creator Ashley Capps

Bonnaroo is a land all its own.

For one weekend a year, Manchester, Tennessee goes from a normal population of right around 10,000, to the Volunteer State’s seventh largest city.

It’s hard to believe that the Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival is about to celebrate its 12^th year of existence.

As one of the largest musical gatherings in the United States, the focus is music, sure, but there’s a reason why it’s called a music AND arts festival.

With over 100 bands playing over a four-day period, the music is certainly the reason for the season, but the greatness of Bonnaroo is within the sum of its parts.

There are art installations and symposiums located throughout the Bonnaroo campus, which includes a post office, hundreds of acres of campground and nearly a dozen stages. It becomes a wondrous, functioning city, where flip-flops and tennis shoes are the only transportation device you’ll need.

There is very little connection with the outside world. There’s no TV at your disposal and there are few places outside of a smartphone where you can surf the web once inside the festival boundaries.

If you’re looking to get away from the trivial tedium of every day life, Bonnaroo is your place to disappear for one long weekend.

Multitudes of people have committed to make the annual pilgrimage to Coffee County, Tennessee, not because of the music alone, but because of the synchronous environment that the festival creates.

We caught up with one of Bonnaroo's co-creators about the festival’s growth, what additions fans can expect in 2013, how Bonnaroo landed the biggest name in music and much more. Here is our interview with Ashley Capps.

BLANK: Can you talk about this lineup for Bonnaroo this year?

Ashley Capps: We’re really proud of the lineup this year, but in all honesty it came together this year the same way that the lineups come together every year. It’s become an ongoing process. In the case of Paul McCartney, that initial discussion happened five years ago. One of my partners and I met in London with Paul’s representatives and discussed the possibility of him playing Bonnaroo and at the time, we hoped that he was going to do it just a few months later. It takes a while sometimes for these things to come together and that finally happened this year.