Must Sees at Hangout Fest
Reneè Rapp
Reneè Rapp is no stranger to the stage. She is an American singer-songwriter, who got her big break as Regina George in the Broadway musical Mean Girls (2019-2020). From Broadway to films and TV shows, Rapp shifted her focus on her music career in 2022 and released her debut EP Everything to Everyone with subsequent stateside and international shows to promote the release.
Rapp’s 2023 debut album Snow Angel and following International Tour gained traction thanks to viral TikToks of Rapp at her shows, not only for her Broadway-caliber vocal chops but also for her ability to be her most authentic self on stage. Her confidence electrifies crowds.
Her sound is angsty pop-girlie meets chill R&B, somewhere where only a Broadway-trained singer like Rapp can navigate, between something hard and soft, restraint and freedom.
After a successful run at Coachella this past April, Rapp is headed to Hangout. Her performances are effortless and heartfelt, her sound is contemporary and upbeat, and she sets the bar high for everyone else. She is the ultimate triple threat.
Make sure you catch this rising star’s set at the Main Stage on Sunday.
by Normandie Hatfield
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan is an American singer-songwriter, also known as Kayleigh Rose Amstutz originally from Missouri. Her campy smash hit “Good Luck, Babe!” received 7 million streams within the first week of its release, thanks to its catchy bridge going viral across the Internet.
Roan kicked off her career with a viral YouTube video—an original song titled “Die Young.” Shortly after she was signed and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career, and later met songwriter and producer Dan Nigro. They went on to collaborate on songs like “Pink Pony Club” and “Naked in Manhattan” and eventually her second studio album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in the fall of 2023.
Once again a viral Internet star, this time Roan is bringing her bratty-princess attitude to the mainstream. She describes her aesthetic as a campy drag queen where she can be the most open version of herself.
She is the embodiment of Gen Z tastes: queer-affirming lyrics and visuals, while still tapping into universally-shared emotional experiences. A blend of heart wrenching truths and messy dance parties, she highlights the spectrum of emotions that we all share. She credits artists like Stevie Nicks, Lorde, and Hangout headliner Lana Del Rey for inspiring her sound, all Gen Z music icons.
In early 2024, Roan supported Olivia Rodrigo on the Guts World Tour in the United States and Canada, which solidified her reign as the “Gen Z Pop Princess.”
After a viral NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert performance and a successful stint at Coachella this past Spring, Roan has blown up, with her songs and dances taking over US charts and social media platforms. She kicks off her Summer 2024 tour at Hangout.
Make sure you see Chappell Roan on Saturday at the Main Stage to experience the new generation of pop royalty.
by Normandie Hatfield
Del Water Gap
Del Water Gap is the solo act of Samuel Holden Jaffe. Jaffe began recording music while attending boarding school in Millbrook, New York. Jaffe’s musical journey took a turn when he began his studies at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University to study music and sound production. There, he connected with fellow musician Maggie Rogers, who played in the early days of Del Water Gap. Sometime after, Del Water Gap became a solo project for Jaffe, as Rogers pursued a solo career of her own.
Since then Del Water Gap has become a leader in the indie-rock space with a rapidly growing fan base with each release. His breakout hit “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” is an anthemic alternative-pop song sure to get the crowd going. His songs strike a chord with twenty-somethings finding their way and romanticizing the struggle of navigating early adulthood. Del Water Gap’s live shows are a sight to behold. Jaffe pours his heart and energy into every performance. You’ll often find him climbing the scaffolding of festival stages, fully immersed in the music. Catch Del Water Gap’s set on the Shoreline on Friday for a great time.
by Georgia Lingerfelt
Dominic Fike
Dominic Fike is a singer-songwriter, rapper, and recently-turned actor, thanks to Sam Levinsson, the creator of the HBO series, Euphoria. He has become a household name not only for his onscreen work but also for his music. His 2018 debut hit “3 Nights'' has over 960 million streams on Spotify, and more recently he released an EP titled, 14 Minutes, with Fike describing these works as songs he “can’t live without.”
Fike had to face a lot of adversity before becoming the multi-hyphenated talent that we know today. He began playing guitar at ten years old and started uploading his songs to YouTube in high school. Eventually, after the success of his EP Don’t Forget About Me, Demos in 2018, he soon teamed up with artists including Brockhampton, Halsey, and Justin Bieber.
His sound is sun-soaked and chill vibes, citing Jack Johnson and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as his biggest influences. And his sets are a good hybrid of the two, with Johnson-esque lyrics and the Chilli Pepper’s energy.
Fike is taking his new 14 Minutes act on a stateside festival run, with a stop at Hangout. Make sure to see Dominic Fike on the Main Stage Friday night for good vibes and music.
by Normandie Hatfield
MATT MAESON
Matt Maeson is a rock-inspired singer-songwriter. He began writing songs after friends praised a cover he posted of “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie. Growing up, Maeson’s father was a pastor who routinely did sermons at prisons. After Maeson got into trouble with the law as a teenager, his father decided it was time to take his music act on the road and brought him on for a prison tour. Matt saw his songs' effect on these inmates, which further cemented the power of music, lighting the fire that has grown to be a successful music career. What is most notable about Maeson’s music, is the level of authenticity he has maintained throughout the years of touring and writing. Success has not jaded his music; his lyrics remain vulnerable and raw and he is not afraid to admit when he is the orchestrator of his own problems.
Matt Maeson now shares the Hangout bill with former and future collaborators. Lana Del Rey featured on a re-release of Maeson’s hit “Hallucinogenics” after the star mentioned she was a fan of his song “Cringe.” Starting in July, Maeson will be opening for Zach Bryan on his North American tour. Make sure to make it to this set on Friday for energetic alternative music with humorous commentary from this humble and personable rising star.
by Georgia Lingerfelt