GULF SHORES, Ala. (WPMI) Tickets to the annual Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores go on sale Friday and music fans can't wait for another great year on the beach.
Wednesday, big names like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Kings of Leon were announced as headliners with a third headliner to be announced in 10 days.
"I think southern living got it out even before The Hangout did putting it on their website and Facebook and the phones started buzzing," said Missy Zak with Meyer Realty.
That buzz already has music fans racing to book a deal for what has become a $30 million economic boom for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Small businesses like Pappa Rocco's Pizza now know to stock up. The weekend before Memorial Day used to be a non event.
"You know when you bring people into town, certainly everybody is going to get that spill over because they're not just going to stay up there they will get around," said Rocco's owner Bill McGinnis.
A crowd of 35,000 fans is expected that weekend. It's taken time, effort and money to get everyone on board.
This will be the fourth annual Hangout Festival.
"We have a long term outlook on it and I think we are delivering on most of the things we promised so I feel very good about it," said festival organizer Shaul Zislin.
On its way to becoming a tradition, the festival is really about the music. Most of the acts are up and coming.
"These events are about the band you don't know. It's about the band that you hear the name and you don't know who they are then you see them and you go wow I got a new favorite band so," said Zislin.
Zislin said he hopes the festival will help define the Gulf Shores area as a great destination.
CLICK HERE to full lineup and ticket information.
