GULF SHORES, AL – The country music-infused Hangout Music Festival, which drew 40,000 from 50 countries to see and hear performances by 90 acts across three stages here May 16-18, got a big lighting boost from Bandit Lites, which worked with Hadden Hippsley and the staff at Lambda Productions on the event.
More details from Bandit Lites (www.banditlites.com):
GULF SHORES, AL – It was a weekend of sunshine, white sandy beaches, and tunes from some of the country’s hottest acts as 40,000 people from more than 50 countries gathered for the Hangout Music Festival May 16 -18. Bandit Lites was pleased to work with Hadden Hippsley and the phenomenal staff at Lambda Productions to provide the lighting for the three major stages at the event, which celebrated its highest attended weekend yet. Following the success of the last few years, Hangout Music Festival director Sean O’Connell was ready to take the even to the next level, by adding 10,000 tickets from 2013’s 30k, an entire new stage and a gateway to the Gulf of Mexico.
For the music filled paradise, two massive stages flanked each other on opposite ends of the beach, and with a lineup that included The Black Keys, The Killers, Outkast, Jack Johnson, Queens of the Stone Age, Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, Wiz Khalifa, Modest Mouse, and The Flaming Lips, Hangout Fest made sure that every single day was a party. From the opening night with Girl Talk to Jack Johnson’s performance on the beach with the sunset, the sellout event exceeded expectations on every level.
In addition to 90 musical acts, patrons of Hangout had access to features such as poolside seats, Ferris wheel, volleyball courts, gulf seafood, waterslides, and a legit wedding chapel for a beach wedding with a legally ordained minister (and the chance to say your wedding was attended by 40,000 people and Outkast.).
The mainstage “Hangout” stage lighting system was designed to work for The Black Keys, Outkast and The Killers. Heavy input from the Keys’ Eric Cathcart and the Killers’ Steven Douglas with some major individual elements for each act to keep the system looking fresh each night resulted in a massive looking system with lots of flexibility.
Fixtures included Mac Vipers, VL 3500 washes, VL 3000 spots, VL 3000 washes, Martin Atomic 3000 strobes, Mac 2000 washes, Clay Paky Sharpys, Mac Auras, and multiple Grand MA Full consoles.
The 2nd “Chevy” stage on the beach faced the Sun, and as such had to register with animation and color even in bright sunlight. Bandit’s answer to this was a rear wall of large format GRN LED moving washes and 2 lites, leaving enough room for headliners to bring their own elements in as well. The 4th “Palladia” stage was up near the entrance and was a 90% LED system for maximum flexibility and minimum power draw.
Bandit’s crew worked over night on stage transitions, in addition to running shows at the supplemental stages. The Bandit onsite Crew comprised of Chas Albea, Julie Cox, Aaron Swetland, Ty Veneziano, Andy French, Jimmy Murray, Chelsea Opdyke and Terese Porterfield.
