Governors Ball Music Festival 2022, Day 1

Kid Cudi Headlines, A$AP Ferg Substitutes for a Missing Lil Wayne, and Coi Leray Does a Lap Dance

(photograph by Mickey Pierre-Louis)

Summer weekend music festivals are making a comeback, with Governors Ball launching with three days and nights on June 10-12, 2022. More than 60 pop, hip hop, EDM anf other artists would perform non-stop across four stages from noon to 10 p.m. Numerous sponsors promoted products in their huts with hands-on "experiences" and giveaways. Dozens of vendors sold food, drinks, and souvenirs.

Governors Ball is currently the longest-running weekend festival in New York City. The first Governors Ball was held on Governors Island in 2011, then moved to Randall's Island from 2012 to 2019. The annual festival took a COVID pause in 2020, and moved to the parking lot of Citi Field in 2021 and 2022.

This year, single-day wristbands started at $159, and three-day wristbands started at $369. Attendance appeared to be down from previous years, although the smaller crowds still packed tightly for their favorite acts. The merchandise lines were very noticeably smaller.

Quinn XCII

Jack Harlow

Louis the Child

The Knocks

A.$.A.P. Ferg

Migos was listed high on the bill when the promoter, Founders Entertainment, announced the lineup for the Friday show. The rap trio canceled this past Tuesday, however, amid rumors that the group is fracturing. The promoters booked Lil Wayne to replace Migos, but the rapper withdrew just hours before his set time due to reported "flight disruptions." A$AP Ferg became the last-minute replacement, his first appearance at Governors Ball since 2017.

"I was just chillin', and then I got a call from the festival like, 'Yo, Ferg! We need your ass to come right now!'" the New York City native explained to the audience early in his set. Later in the set, seeing that fans in front were packed too tightly, Ferg paused the music flow briefly and asked everyone to take a step back for everyone's safety.

Blu DeTiger

Skepta

JPEGMAFIA

Beabadoobee

Kid Cudi

The headliner came on stage at sunset. Kid Cudi, who last headlined Governors Ball in 2012, told the audience, "I'm the master of ceremonies, and I've come to show you a good time." He sported a 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers letterman jacket and blue hair. Unfortunately, he performed under very dark red, blue and purple spotlights, so the audience mostly caught just an obscure glimpse of him.

Cudi introduced King Chip (formerly Chip Tha Ripper) and they performed the duo's 2012 hit "Just What I Am." Later, Cudi premiered "Do What I Want," which he released earlier that day as the first single from his forthcoming album, Entergalactic. The new album is the soundtrack to Cudi's upcoming adult animated Netflix series of the same name. Cudi also treated fans to the live debut of his Travis Scott collaboration, "The Scotts.”

Samia

Channel Tres

Aly & AJ

Paris Texas

Black Pumas (photograph by Roger Ho)

While most of the performers appealed to a younger Tik Tok audience, Black Pumas performed a rock and soul set for the old-school adults in attendance. Early in the set, singer Eric Burton made a rather dangerous seven-foot leap from the stage into the photo pit. He continued singing as he walked up and down the corridor separating the general admission and the VIP section, connecting with fans. Later performers  also came off the stage to the audience below, but descended in gradual steps, not a seven-foot leap.

Like many in the audience on a hot summer day, several performers wore skimpy wardrobe or open shirts. For Coi Leray, however, the stage show was all about sensuality, even inviting a woman onstage from the audience for an impromptu lap dance. Sisters Aly & AJ performed songs from their days on the Disney channel along with new songs. Former bandmates Samia and Blu DeTiger played as separate acts. Both Julia Wolf and Blu DeTiger performed on two different stages. Not playing on any formal stage, the unplugged Brass Queens returned to Governors Ball, walking through the crowds and attracting small crowds when stopping to play instrumental  brass and percussion interpretations of popular songs. Jon Garbus, Governors Ball’s stage manager, retiring after more than 10 years with the festival, replaced the canceled Ultra Q by singing Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” very early in the program. Jack Harlow, Louis the Child, Quinn XCII, the Knocks, Skepta, JPEGMAFIA, Channel Tres, Beabadoobee, Samia, Kaleena Zanders, Paris Texas, Between Friends, Plastic Picnic, Kaleena Zanders, JT Turrett and Erika the DJ also received positive receptions on Day One of the Governors Ball Music Festival 2022.

Coi Leray

Brass Queens

Julia Wolf

Between Friends

Kaleena Zanders

Erika the DJ

***

The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's June calendar.