Back in my day — feel free to stop reading if your idea of a proper music festival is still Woodstock, but props to you, old(er) timer — music festivals were all about the music first, the pharmaceuticals second and hooking up in some slightly secluded patch of foliage third. The food was not on the menu of importance at all. Even weekend-long bluegrass festivals were fueled by whatever you could cook on a camp stove or lots of GORP.
But in the late '90s, I discovered Jazz Fest in New Orleans, and Food Tent 2 became one of the happy places I would go to in my mind on particularly shitty days between the last weekend in May and the following last weekend in April. Today, even though it's been more than a decade since I've been to Jazz Fest, you could still drop me off anywhere in Orleans Parish, and I'm certain I could find my way to the Crawfish Bread or Spicy Natchitoches Meat Pie stands.
These days, the culinary element has clearly become an important part of the whole music festival experience, from local food vendors at Bonnaroo to Zac Brown's food-centric Southern Ground festival. And now, the rapidly growing Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Ala., is shining the spotlight on their food offerings by inviting some big name chefs to join in the fun.
Just since 2010, the Hangout Music Festival has grown from a small event with about 15,000 attendees a day to almost three times that many people enjoying the music at beachfront stages each day of the three-day festival. Recently, the production team behind Coachella has entered into a joint venture to put on the festival.
As the lineup of musical acts has continued to grow more and more prestigious, the organizers have also worked to improve the fan experience, particularly for those willing to pay the fare for the VIP-level tickets. This year, the $1,599 Super VIP ticket package offers access to all sorts of perks including private VIP chilling areas (literally, because it's hot on the beach May 20-22,) a stage-side pool to hang out in, open bars, what they call "ridiculously nice bathrooms," and a private VIP entrance. Actually, all those benefits are available to just regular VIPs for $500 less, but if you make the extra investment, you get to watch the music acts from a hot tub (no, really), use private golf carts to schlep your butt around, and enjoy a private VIP dining room where you'll be fed by some of the South's best chefs including Atlanta's Ford Fry and Wesley True, and Ryan Prewitt from New Orleans.
Personally, I think the up charge is totally worth it, because, well, I'm old. But also because these three are producing some of the best food coming out of their cities right now. Ford runs an entire empire of restaurants now, but JCT Kitchen and The Optimist are two of my all-time favorite Atlanta eateries. You may remember Chef True from the latest season of Top Chef, but I swear he's much better than his showing on that show. If you ever ate at his restaurant in Montgomery, Ala., you'll know he's got real skills. Ryan Prewitt is not only a James Beard winner at Peche, part of Donald Link's restaurant group, but he's also just a great guy to hang out with. That should make him the ideal chef for Hangout Fest, n'est-ce pas?
If this sounds like your cup of tea, or more accurately, your cup of Miller Lite, then you can still find tickets at the festival's website. Even if you're not willing to pay for the full VIP ride, general ticket holders still have a variety of good food to choose from, such as fresh regional catches from Alabama Gulf Seafoods, and dishes like pistachio-crusted ahi tuna and fried boudin balls from food trucks like Rock House Kitchen and Linkz Express (Atlanta). Other great options include healthy meals like fresh fruit smoothies, salads and Greek and Mexican fare like chicken pitas, falafel wraps, tempura avocado tacos and fried fish tacos. Come to think of it, maybe I'm not too old to enjoy a couple of days on the beach.
