With all of the remnants of beer cans and shrimp shells removed from the sand of the Gulf Shores Public Beach, the songs of the world’s most popular bands have faded and been replaced by the sounds of crashing surf.

The cheers and applause of the weekend have been packed up and returned home with those who were a part of the record-setting crowd, placing the second year of the Hangout Music Festival officially “in the books.”

Yet along with the festival’s high level of success, there are mixed emotions remaining in Gulf Shores concerning the future of the festival on the town’s normally quiet beaches. Rather than arguing my viewpoint, let me just give you my recap of the weekend, since I was fortunate enough to play with my band Katawompus on Saturday and received an artist pass to get me behind the scenes. Since I got up close and personal, here’s my report:

When first arriving at the festival Friday afternoon, the initial impact of seeing my hometown’s public beach transformed into a music-lover’s paradise was just as awe-filled as it was for the first festival. Entering the gates of the second annual Hangout Festival, I began to hear the easy sounds of reggae. I looked around at the colorfully dressed crowd making their way down to the beach around me and my excited grin began to beam wider across my face. As I drifted with the crowd closer toward the Gulf, I was quickly met with the familiar aroma of fried seafood and when the crowd moved before me, opening up my view, I could then look out and gaze across the beach.

My eyes were met with the sight of countless palm trees, light-blue hammocks, two stages each found at opposite sides of the beach, and a two-story sky bar proudly keeping the rightful name of Margaritaville strong.

Consequently, my new found grin would happily remain positioned on my face for the remainder of the weekend.

If the combination of the beach and good food was not enough, try adding the sounds of the world’s most popular bands to this tropical paradise. Bands such as The Black Keys, Paul Simon, The Foo Fighters, My Morning Jacket, and many other greats encompassing all genres of music were performing just a few feet from our familiar Gulf shoreline.

But my favorite memory of the weekend is from the last day of the festival.

With the pleasant surprise of an artist’s pass backstage, I was able to stand off to the side of the Surf Style Stage. I could almost touch The Black Keys as they enthusiastically greeted their eager crowd of sun- burnt fans and began their set. As the sound of electric blues began to ring out across the Gulf water, now a burnt orange from the slowly setting sun, I looked up and saw a flock of pelicans soaring above the crowd. It was then that the mixture of music and tropical scenery fully captured its true essence, and as the sun sank lower I turned my head back toward the stage and watched Dan Auerbach strum another blues chord, totally immersed, his face a display of every emotion.

After the second year of Gulf Shores’ music festival, I couldn’t imagine taking away something that brings so much joy to so many people, without even mentioning the positive economic contribution to our tourism, as well as potential repeat customers.

So many happy participants commented that they will definitely return to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and how surprised they were by its beauty.

On my shuttle ride back to the Gulf Shores Publix Sunday night, I began chatting with a 22- year-old guy who had traveled from Austin, Texas to attend the festival. After sharing with me that he had been to many of the greatest festivals in the country, such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, he said that Hangout Fest was now his new favorite. Somehow, with the memories of The Black Keys concert still fresh in my mind and sand still snug between my toes, this confession did not surprise me.

On a personal note, nothing can describe my experience of hooking up my guitar for our Katawompus “debut” while gazing out at the beach and waters of my hometown. It was the best of all worlds — the Gulf I’ve known since birth, in plain view before me, while we laid down some music of our own.

What more could I ask for?