Welcome to the second exciting year for The Hangout Beach Music & Arts Festival in beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama!

Plan now for the 2011 Hangout Beach Music & Arts Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, May 20–22.

A tremendous buzz was created with the initial announcement of the 2011 lineup on February 1. Paul Simon gets top billing, and numerous other outstanding acts will be gracing the five stages during the May 20–22 weekend. Foo Fighters, Widespread Panic, The Black Keys, Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket and many more are gearing up for an amazing experience at the beach.

And you are in luck! Although the regular price for a 3-day pass is $174 plus fees, Meyer Real Estate Vacation Rentals has a wonderful package available to you. When you book your condo or house for the festival,  you get a FREE night PLUS your pass price is a flat $174 (no service fees!)—the best deal around! The number of available passes is limited, so don’t miss your chance to save your dollars for souvenirs, food and drinks, etc.

To assist you, we’ve put together some resources so you don’t miss a beat:

–  Check out the 40 artists who have committed so far, including information and links to each. New artists will be added as the information becomes available.

–  Follow this special Twitter account to stay current with the bands and events surrounding The Hangout Music Fest and other Hangout-related activities.

–  Stay connected to Meyer via Twitter and Facebook to learn of this and other events and lodging discounts year-round along the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast.

Stay informed of local activities, vacation rental specials and more by subscribing to this Discover Alabama Beaches blog and Meyer Muse, and by following Meyer Real Estate on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

Three days of non-stop concerts on four stages at The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, May 14-16, 2010.

The first major music fest to be held at the beach on Alabama’s Gulf Shores island is scheduled for May 14-16, 2010.

The four stages for The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival will highlight some pretty terrific talent over the three-day event, with music playing non-stop from noon to 11 p.m. each of those days.

Some of the acts are still being finalized—the plan is to have more than 60 bands—but you are sure to find some favorites among this initial slate:

Public three-day passes cost $159. One-day passes may become available at a later date. For details on ticket purchases, as well as more bands and other to-be-announced activities, check out The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival website.

Planning for the festival is easier when you make your lodging reservations through Meyer Real Estate. Choose from the island’s largest number of houses and condos on or near the beach. Stay in Gulf Shores for easy festival access. Or get the fourth night FREE in Orange Beach, Fort Morgan or Perdido Key when using the promo code XMUS.

The crowd is alive with energy, and you can’t help but be caught up in it. Every time you attend a live concert, you know you can’t wait to do it again.

Well, you won’t have to wait long to feel that adrenaline pumping once again. Look at what’s coming to the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast in the next couple of weeks:

Friday, July 31, 6:00 p.m.

Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson are teamed up for a triple musical treat. Since his first album release in 1962, Bob Dylan personified the 1960s counterculture and has incorporated just about all genres of music in his own compositions. John Mellencamp’s heartland rock style is the background to his outspoken political and cultural views, and he credits Bob Dylan as one of the biggest influences on his musical life. Willie Nelson was the center of the 1970s outlaw country movement and is today a pop culture icon. Tickets are on sale now (through Ticketmaster) for this trio of legends at The Amphitheatre at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Thursday, August 6, 7:30 p.m.

Country star Kenny Chesney comes to the Gulf Coast with guests Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum. Kenny Chesney did not follow the usual path to musical success – he received his first guitar after high school, completed a degree in advertising before turning to full-time music, and now has more than 30 top ten hits. Miranda Lambert got her big break on Nashville Star in 2003 and has been climbing up the charts ever since. Lady Antebellum, a trio formed in 2006, is on the fast track to success. Their first album holds the honor of the Top Country Albums chart’s first album of a group to debut in the top spot. This event at The Amphitheatre at The Wharf is sold out, but watch your sources for last-minute cancellations.

Friday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.

Counting Crows, with Michael Franti & Spearhead, are headed to the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores island for a rousing evening of rock sounds. An Academy Award nomination went to Counting Crows for their song “Accidentally in Love” that was heard in the movie Shrek 2. The group Michael Franti & Spearhead relays their messages related to peace and social justice through hip hop blended with jazz, reggae, rock and more. Ticketmaster is the ticket outlet of choice for this energetic entertainment held at The Amphitheater at The Wharf.

Now that you’ve decided which concerts to attend (maybe all of them!), you’ve also realized that you don’t want the fun to end with a drive back home immediately afterward. After all, you’re at the beach – why not make it into a weekend getaway? Meyer Real Estate has the largest inventory in the area, with 1900 properties to choose from! Check out the many specials and Hot Deals offered on our website, and let us play a part in ensuring you an exhilarating weekend.