The band Katawompus, made up of a trio of Gulf Shores High School students, has won a spot at the Hangout Music Festival on May 21.

The band participated in a contest for bands from Baldwin, Mobile or Escambia counties in Alabama. And the band members had to come from grades nine through 12.

Fronting Katawompus is guitar player, harmonica player and singer Basch Jernigan, who is also a columnist and has had articles in The Islander, The Foley Onlooker and Beachin' publications of Gulf Coast Newspapers. Jernigan is a junior at Gulf Shores.

He is joined in the band by freshman Harrison Butler on bass and sophomore Aydan Closson on drums. The trio plays at 11:15 a.m. Saturday on the Grooveshark Stage.

Katawompus submitted a video of one of their songs to a contest sponsored by the Hangout Fest, WZEW-FM radio station and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The winner was selected by a panel of judges consisting of music industry executives and Hangout Fest producers.

In addition to playing at the Hangout, the band received instruments and other musical gear. The school also will be receiving gear and instruments.