From Megan Thee Stallion to Carly Rae Jepsen: The 5 best acts of Governors Ball 2021
Having legends Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers, and Carly Rae Jepsen all in one place did not disappoint
Music Features Megan Thee Stallion
The renaissance of live music continues! After a yearlong absence, Governors Ball returned to New York City in a brand-new location, with a genre-diverse lineup that had something for everyone. Since we’re still in COVID times, the fest took place in its new home at Queens’ CitiField, feeling far smaller than previous fests, but safer. (Heading to its previous location at Randall’s Island required traveling by a packed ferry—which, yeah, still crowded at the fest this year, but all outdoors.)
Governors Ball seems mostly focused on targeting “the youths,” with plenty of buzz-worthy acts that dominated charts and Twitter discourse in the past year. And in this East Coast festival’s case, many of the performers who didn’t get the headlining slot proved that they’re nonetheless strong contenders to be headlining names on the posters for years to come. These are the five acts that stood out most among a crowded roster of excellent artists.
8 Comments
As a life long New Yorker (close to 50, jesus…) I laugh that it was in the parking lot of Citi field! As a kid we use to sit outside the parking lot of Shea Staduim for fireworks night. Now young hip people are fighting to go to a concert in a parking lot! lol!I’m sure it was fun but I’m still laughing it was in the parking lot.
Thank you for highlighting MUNA who were somehow even more amazing than i expected. Phoebe was also a huge highlight, i havent stopped listening to her since. Once correction – ASAP Rocky was the headliner on MUNA’s day not Billie, she was Friday. Meg should have been headlining – she went on even before Phoebe (and J Balvin)!
Also, you keep talking about how people were “late” – im pretty sure they just go on when the performers before them finish and there was enough time for everyone who stayed to the end of the previous to make it back (for me – Meg and King Princess). If Meg had went on at her exact time slot, I would have missed a good portion because KP was “late” and went “late”. If anything sometimes the net performer was too rushed like in the case of Phoebe imo.
Also, in concert world, 18 minutes really isn’t late.
A bit loose with the word “Legends”. None of these acts are “Legends” yet.
Truly absolutely insane use of the word. Like this post was written by algorithm or something.
Heading to its previous location at Randall’s Island required traveling by a packed ferry—which, yeah, still crowded at the fest this year, but all outdoors.It’s an island, but there’s a big giant highway running right through it. You can drive to it from Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.Though, yes, many festival people are used to taking the ferry up.
It is kinda weird that they say “required” when I’ve been to Randall Island several times and I’ve never been on a ferry.