New York City’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park welcomed Governors Ball for its fourth year at the venue. With everything from beloved up-and-coming acts to stacked headliners, the three-day festival offered no shortage of talent and entertainment.
Day one featured artists such as the Dare, Pierce The Veil and Katseye, giving fans plenty of genres to choose from. Closing out the evening was Lorde, who delivered a captivating 90-minute set. Her performance featured massive, moving LED screens, intricate choreography and a live band.
Day two proved more challenging, as severe weather forced the festival to end abruptly at 7 p.m. Despite the shortened schedule, attendees were still able to catch standout performances from the likes of Jane Remover and Wet Leg. However, Blood Orange, Amyl And The Sniffers and Kali Uchis were unable to perform due to the weather-related cancellation, though Blood Orange was rescheduled for the next afternoon.
By day three, festival goers were ready for what was probably the most diverse lineup of the weekend. One of the standout performances came from Japanese Breakfast, whose Michelle Zauner revealed her pregnancy to fans by sporting a crop top that showcased her baby bump. Other notable acts throughout the day included Holly Humberstone, Fcukers, Geese, Clipse and Hot Mulligan.
To close out the festival, A$AP Rocky stormed the stage accompanied by more than 100 performers dressed in riot gear. A prop helicopter emblazoned with the title of his latest album, Don’t Be Dumb, hovered above the stage while lasers, fog machines and colorful pyrotechnics energized the crowd. The stage’s extended L-shaped catwalk allowed fans in the center of the audience to get remarkably close to the action throughout Rocky’s set.
Despite the weather delays and cancellations, Governors Ball continues to hold its place as the premiere music festival on the East Coast. I look forward to returning next year for my sixth consecutive year covering the festival for MAGNET.
—words and photos by Evan Albuck
