The Highs and Lows of Governors Ball 2025

Olivia Rodrigo with David Byrne (photograph by Dusana Risovic)

Olivia Rodrigo rocks out with David Byrne, Hozier Sings Through a Virus, and Tyler, the Creator Performs in a Bizarre Mask and Hair Hat

Governors Ball annually brings one of the biggest three-day music festivals to the New York City area. This year, the festival continued to be a beacon for all other contenders, showing its competitors how to do it right. Held this summer for the third time at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, a cast of thousands provided not only a weekend of good live music, but also a vast variety of food choices, dozens of corporate activations with freebies and photo opportunities, and most importantly, hospitality and safety for all attendees.

This year, rapper Tyler, the Creator headlined Governors Ball on Friday, June 6. Pop singer Olivia Rodrigo headlined on Saturday, June 7. Rocker Hozier headlined on Sunday, June 8. The rest of the daily bills were even more diversified.

Glass Animals (photograph by Dusana Risovic) 

Wallows (photograph by Roger Ho)

The Highs

1. Olivia Rodrigo Rocked Out and Invited David Byrne Onstage

Olivia Rodrigo drew the largest audience at Governors Ball 2025. Curiously, her contingency consisted of more children than usually attend any rock concert. For the pre-teens, Rodrigo’s set included many of her best-known singalong songs. For the accompanying parents and grandparents, new school met old school when Rodrigo introduced David Byrne of Talking Heads to dance and duet with her on a cover of his “Burning Down the House.” While still very much a collection of pop songs, Rodrigo’s catalog was propelled dynamically by a very rocking all-female band. Maybe considering the age range of her fans, however, Rodrigo should not have dropped her f-bombs.

2. Numerous Viral Moments

Then there were the uniquely buzzy moments.

Tyler, the Creator (photograph by Roger Ho)

Tyler, the Creator performed on top of a massive green shipping container with no musicians and no props other than a mask and an odd-shaped hair hat. He opened with songs from his latest album, then took off his mask and performed older tracks. For “Balloon,” he was accompanied by a prerecorded Doechii on the big screen.

Hozier (photograph by Roger Ho)

Perhaps no one else but him heard a change in his vocals, but Hozier apologized for his singing several times, at one point explaining that a nasty virus had coursed through much of his band. “For anybody who has never seen me before, I promise I sound at least five percent better on average,” he announced during Governors Ball 2025’s closing set. Then came the stellar moment: midway through his crowd-rousing performance, Hozier suddenly disappeared and then reappeared on a small B-stage deep in the middle of the crowd, performing “Cherry Wine” and “Unknown/Nth,” accompanied only by his guitar. Shortly after his performance, he canceled several subsequent concerts due to the virus.

Benson Boone (photograph by Taylor Regulski)

Benson Boone did at least eight backflips. Several of these backflips he launched from atop a piano onto the stage. His final backflip was from the stage into the audience.

Conan Gray (photograph by Deanie Chen)

Conan Gray wore a sailor suit and cap, and his stage set centered on a ship riding the waves of a sea. As he sang “Astronomy,” he climbed the ship’s mast and peered out at the audience utilizing his microphone as if it were a spyglass.

Clairo (photograph by Paigge Warton)

In an unusual entrance, Clairo opened her performance sitting with her back to the audience conversing and laughing with her friends on a set designed to look like a lounge at cocktail hour. The audience cheered as she approached her microphone stand and began singing her bedroom pop songs.

Mannequin Pussy (photograph by Ismael Quintanilla III)

Mannequin Pussy was perhaps the first artist at the festival this year in which the singer, Marisa "Missy" Dabice, emphatically encouraged the audience towards self determination and against shame. Acknowledging the commonly repressed angst of the human condition, she also rallied her fans to participate in a communal primal scream. Olivia Rodrigo led a similar gesture the next day.

T-Pain (photograph by Roger Ho)

A few songs into his set, T-Pain called out to his collaborator, DJ Montay, “Montay! Why ain’t nobody dressed up?” He paused. “I thought this was supposed to be a ball for the Governor!” The singer/rapper wore a black ringmaster tuxedo and top hat, both with red trim that coordinated with his red sneakers. His set included audience participation set to the tune of Mozart’s “Rondo Alla Tuca” and a rousing audience-stirring cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Mt. Joy with guest Gigi Perez (photograph by Deanie Chen)

Mt. Joy covered Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag” and featured a guest appearance by Gigi Perez on a song she sang on the band’s recording of “In the Middle.”

Role Model with Conan Gray (photograph by Deanie Chen)

The biggest viral moment from the first day of Governors Ball 2025 was during Role Model’s performance. As he sang “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out,” Conan Gray came on stage as Sally and kissed Role Model.

Car Seat Headrest (photograph by Roger Ho)

The Backseat Lovers (photograph courtesy of Governors Ball 2025)

JPEGMAFIA (photograph by Dusana Risovic)

3. Music Fans Get Their Money’s Worth

With single-day general admission tickets starting at around $150 and three-day tickets at around $350, Governors Ball enthusiasts get their money’s worth. For the approximate price of one ticket for a show at Madison Square Garden, live music fans get to see at least one arena headliner plus many other acts. Each day, 20 artists were scheduled to perform across three main stages in near proximity to each other. Due to bands playing on different stages simultaneously, an attendee would not be able to enjoy the full set of every performance but could taste a healthy portion of each offering.

Marina (photograph by Paigge Warton)

Mark Ambor (photograph by Roger Ho)

Wave to Earth (photograph by Anna Downs)

4. Outstanding Live Music Continuously from Opening to Closing

Not every musician is invited to perform at New York’s premier music festival, so many of those who did perform acknowledged this privileged opportunity during their sets. Many of these artists performed at their first festival ever, and several of the artists made theirs a special concert by playing songs that previously had never been performed live or were not on the pre-determined setlist. Once the live music began, it continued without pause across the three main stages with no breaks. Every performance by every artist was outstanding.

Feid (photograph by Ismael Quintanilla III)

Young Miko (photograph by Ismael Quintanilla III)

Amaarae (photograph by Paigge Warton)

Tyla (photograph by Deanie Chen)

5. Diversified Music Programming

For those music fans interested in experimenting beyond the mainstream, Governors Ball offered a cornucopia of assorted music. Caribbean-based Feid and Young Miko performed their Latin trap and reggaeton hits. Ghana native Amaarae fused pop, rhythm and blues, afrobeats, and alté music, and South Africa’s Tyla blended pop and amapiano. Raye, Wasia Project and Orion Sun brought a touch of smooth jazz to their pop catalogs. Mannequin Pussy, Royel Otis, the Garden and Militarie Gun inventively twisted aggressive punk into emo-flavored rock. On the other hand, the number of rap and EDM artists diminished from previous years, and the Arabic music that was introduced at Governors Ball 2024 was completely absent.

Raye (photograph by Dusana Risovic)

Orion Sun (photograph by Deanie Chen)

Wasia Project (photograph by Anna Downs)

Royel Otis (photograph by Deanie Chen)

6. Safety First

In addition to the standard protocol of screening attendees for weapons and contraband at entry points, Governors Ball announced on its large screens that mental health support was available and that anyone feeling threatened or unsafe should ask for assistance from security staff. EMS staff responded to attendees needing medical attention. Narcan was made available for free at a vendor booth. Hydration stations scattered throughout the festival grounds offered free water-bottle refills, and security near the stages offered boxed water to the fans by the barricades.

Montell Fish (photograph by Anna Downs)

Joey Valence & Brae (photograph by Anna Downs)

BIGXTHAPLUG (photograph courtesy of Governors Ball 2025)

Frost Children (photograph by Taylor Regulski)

The Lows

1. Key Glock’s Entourage Carries Loaded Guns

Key Glock (photograph by Taylor Regulski)

Key Glock was given a key slot at Governors Ball, headlining the Grove Stage on the final night of the festival. One could not help but notice that the rapper had ominous-looking security on stage while he performed, hinting at potential danger and gangster culture. Law enforcement sources and prosecutors later revealed that in two separate incidents, members of Glock’s entourage were arrested before the performance for attempting to carry fully loaded Glocks onto the festival grounds. Thank you for your diligence, festival security, as weapons deserve no place at festivals.

2. Threat of Thunderstorm Cuts More Than Four Hours of Music on Saturday

Several musical acts were axed, and others had their sets truncated and delayed when the promoters of Governors Ball decided for safety reasons to delay the opening of the festival on Saturday due to a forecast of a possible lightning storm. The originally scheduled 11:30 a.m. opening was pushed to 4:30 p.m., leaving hundreds of music fans sitting outside the venue in a fine drizzle, with many others seeking shelter in the subway station a half mile away. By the time the festival doors opened, fans were lined for close to a mile. The promoters canceled the performances by Yaya Bey, Lexa Gates, Die Spitz, Glasshouse and School of Rock New York. Monobloc and the Backfires also were cut from the main stages but performed at the smaller Kona Stage. Concession sales were also impacted heavily by the five-hour delay. While the predicted thunderstorm never manifested, fans of Wallows and the Garden experienced a brief soaking.

3. Mariah the Scientist Suddenly Cancels with No Explanation

Mariah the Scientist was supposed to perform on the Kiehl’s Stage on Saturday at 4 p.m., then with the rain delay at 5:45 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, the stage crew dismantled her set and began bringing out the gear for the next band. Fifteen minutes after that, an announcement came on screen saying that “due to unforeseen circumstances, Mariah the Scientist will no longer be able to perform.” No other explanation was given. The rapper later posted on social media, “So upset I’m not getting to perform at Gov Ball today. I’m so sorry to everybody who showed up through the traffic and rain. I apologize.”

4. Food Services Lines Were Too Long and Slow

While Governors Ball featured the widest variety of food choices available, dozens of the lines during the evening hours had 40 or more people waiting in line for service. Most of the vendors are outside of the immediate concert area, so music fans missed at least half of a performance just waiting to order food.

The Beaches (photograph by Paigge Warton)

Snow Wife (photograph by Taylor Regulski)

Kyle Dion (photograph by Deanie Chen)

The inaugural Governors Ball was held on June 18, 2011, on Governors Island in New York City, a one-day festival was headlined by Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, and Empire of the Sun. With the success of the first Governors Ball, the second year of the festival expanded to two days with bigger acts, now on Randall’s Island on June 23–24, 2012, with Beck, Passion Pit, Kid Cudi, and Modest Mouse as headliners. The festival continued to grow, quickly becoming one of the world’s best-known music festivals. This recognition is well deserved. We look forward to what great music and surprises Governors Ball 2026 can bring next summer.

Governors Ball 2025 (photograph by Taylor Regulski)

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The Manhattan Beat reports on New York City's live music circuit. 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 The Manhattan Beat home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music."

For a more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's June calendar.