This weekend, New York’s star studded music festival Governors Ball is rolling into town with its engine revving, windows down, and music blaring. In the seven years that the three-day event has been around, artists such as Beck, Guns ‘N Roses, Lana Del Rey, Kanye West, Skrillex, Chance the Rapper, Lorde, and hundreds of other local, national, and global acts have taken the stage.
This year, Randall’s Island is hosting another stellar group of musicians from near and far to entertain the masses that flock to one of the most notable festivals on the East Coast. It’s the first weekend in June and — weather permitting — might just start off the summer in the best way possible, because with all of the music bouncing off the trees, all of the love in the air, all of the various food and drinks to try, and all of the events and activities to immerse yourself in; you can’t quite go wrong.
Headlining the show on Friday is the iconic, ex-White Stripes leader and guitarist Jack White (who is surely ready to play his new album live for one of the first times), but also features performances from young, talented rapper Post Malone, global phenomenon and heartthrob Shawn Mendes, and the up-and-coming singer/songwriter Maggie Rogers. Rogers’ performance is just as much of a can’t-miss as Malone’s and Mendes’. Her songs and style are stunning, modern, and effortless. Not to mention that she is a Northeast native herself, growing up in Maryland and studying at New York University. Her music impressed Pharrell at an NYU showcase in 2016 with her now Gold certified single, “Alaska” — which you must hear live if you stumble into the festival on Friday.
Saturday’s lineup is the most eclectic out of all of the three days, showcasing genres from rap (i.e. 2 Chainz) to punk rock (The Regrettes) to Top 40 alternative (Halsey) to EDM (Silk City). The mixing of musicians and genres is bound to make for the wildest of the three days. The headliner for Saturday is the father to Kylie Jenner’s daughter (Stormi Jenner, if you haven’t heard), rapper Travis Scott. Scott’s been on the music scene since 2012 when he signed with Epic Records. Also on the bill for the second day of Governors Ball are the Georgia-based indie rockers, Manchester Orchestra, of whom have been selling out their rock shows for almost 15 years. Not to mention that they have performed on more than just stages all over the world and on the stages of all of your favorite 2000s television shows: One Tree Hill, 90210, Gossip Girl, and Skins.
Day three seems to be the most exciting out of the three days, for the headliner is the one and only Eminem. Eminem is a legend, whether you like to admit it or not; for he is a true artist who is dedicated to his music and honest about who he is and what he does. Also performing is the young, but not-so ‘dumb’ or ‘broke’ breakout star of last year, Khalid. The barely 20-year-old modern R&B artist has created a name for himself, established his niche, and grown his fanbase in just over two years. Lil Uzi Vert is stopping by Randall’s Island too, to bring his beloved hip-hop and rap stylings to the show. Furthermore, the British, alternative-esque, glam rockers, The Struts, are making their way across the pond as we speak to take on their time on Sunday with full force. Their growing a mile a minute and it’s crazy to think that America has yet to jump on their bandwagon, for they are adorable, talented, and write creative, radiant songs; that isn’t always easy to find in this day and age. Maybe Governors Ball will bring all of that to the forefront this weekend — and not just for them — but every musician who graces the stage in Randall’s Island this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
