Lips Out, Roots In At Hangout

The Flaming Lips are off the lineup at the first ever Hangout Beach Music and Arts Festival in Gulf Shores, Ala. No, not because of the monstrous oil slick gumming up the Gulf of Mexico, but because of an old show biz problem known as illness.

Photo: AP Photo

Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pa.

Flaming Lips guitarist/instrumentalist Steve Drozd was hospitalized last week. Although the band hasn’t actually gone into any depth regarding Drozd’s health, the group did post a message on its website saying doctors expect “a full recovery within a few weeks.”

Drozd’s illness forced the Lips to move a few dates around with its May 15 Hangout appearance being one of them. Although the band was able to reschedule its Florida dates originally scheduled for next week, festivals are pretty much locked down in the concert space/time continuum. You can reschedule a theatre appearance but it’s darn near impossible to reschedule a festival gig.

Changes to The Flaming Lips touring calendar include moving the May 12 St. Petersburg show to Oct. 13, the May 13 Lake Buena Vista (Orlando) gig to Oct. 14 and the May 14 St. Augustine show to Oct. 15.

Speaking of Hangout, the festival scheduled for May 14-16, has added a late night show featuring Alex B, Gift Of Gab and Big Gigantic at the “Hangout Restaurant” for May 14. Tickets for this special event are $20 in advance, $25 day of show.

If this is the first time you’ve heard of Hangout, then you have something in common with the event because this year is the debut of the multi-day festival. Included in the lineup are Trey Anastasio and TAB, Zac Brown Band, John Legend, Ben Harper, The Black Crowes, Alison Krauss + Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas, Gov’t Mule, Ray LaMontagne, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs feat. Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, Grace Potter And The Nocturnals, Michael Franti and Spearhead and Robert Randolph & The Family Band.

Photo: AP Photo

MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Neil Young, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

Your ticket options include three-day passes priced at $159, $79 day passes and VIP ticket and travel packages starting at $500.

Of course, something no one expected when Hangout hung out its festival shingle is the ever-growing oil slick in the Gulf. So far, festival organizers do not think the oil spill is going to be a problem, but they are monitoring the situation and will announce any changes through the festival’s website and via its Twitter and Facebook pages. Just click here, here and here for more info.