Hangout Festival 2013 Experiences Triumphant Year

Hangout Music Festival Crowd

The 2013 Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama was a success in every sense of the word.  The beautiful sunny weather on the beach once again provided the perfect environment for patrons to enjoy its best musical lineup yet.  It was neither too hot nor too cold.  With over 60 acts, every genre of music was accounted for.  The Hangout saw everything from the best in indie rock such as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Shins, to jambands such as Umphrey’s McGee and Moe, to electronica’s heavy hitters in Bassnectar and Porter Robinson, and everything in between.  Being able to see Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, and Trey Anastasio all giving us everything they have in the same festival was nothing short of magical.  Other than the headliners, festival highlights included The Roots, Galactic, and Toots and The Maytals.

Stevie Wonder - The Hangout Fest Grand Finale

Stevie Wonder

As the final act to play for the weekend, Stevie Wonder closed out the 2013 Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama with a bang.  His performance was quite an epic grand finale for any festival.  His large live band includes Stanley Rudolph on drums, Nathan Watts on bass guitar, Errol Cooney on guitar, Ryan Kilgore on saxophone, Dwight Adams on trumpet, Fausto Cuevas and Munyungo Jackson on percussion, and of course, Stevie Wonder on piano and keys.  His backup vocals are led by his daughter, Aisha Morris, Keith John, and LaNeesha Baca.  Wonder opened the show with a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is,” which would set the tone for the rest of the rest of the night.  Practically every song was a well known hit that was either a cover or a Stevie Wonder original. 

Bye, Bye Miss American Pie

By Butchie (Butch Worrell)
     Nashville, TN

 Don McClean made a comment about the meaning of “Bye, Bye Miss American Pie” from the stage last night at the Franklin Theatre.

Booker T Jones shows how it is done!!

By Butchie (Butch Worrell)
      Nashville, TN

 Booker T Jones showed the audience at the Franklin Theatre Saturday night just how old school Rhythm and Blues is done.

Paul McCartney at the Barclays Center - Sir Paul Gets Back!

Article & photos by Bill Kelly

Nearly 50 years after The Beatles premier on the Ed Sullivan show, Paul McCartney played the penultimant show of his Out There tour to an escatic crowd at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.  For close to three hours, Sir Paul played songs from his Beatle days, Wings and solo material.  The night was full of nostalgia, with McCartney paying homage to John Lennon, George Harrison, Phil Ramone and his late wife Linda.

Billy Idol is Still Rocking Strong!

Billy Idol came out and played for an excited crowd this weekend. At the age of 57, he showed the crowd that he still has it and isn't slowing down. There were several people in the audience who looked and dressed exactly like Billy Idol and were obviously having fun. I guess Billy Idol has something in common with Elvis, lots of imitators.

The band played all the classics including "White Wedding", "Rebel Yell", "Dancin' With Myself" and "Mony Mony." They even played some covers that were unexpected such as Band of Gypsy's "Machine Gun." He introduced the band and right after introducing the legendary Steve Stevens, he screamed, "Im Billy F'n Idol." Yes sir, you are!!!!! Billy is currently on a world tour and is playing several festivals this summer. Go see some music!

Images by Doug Siegel