Governors Ball Music Festival

The Governors Ball Music Festival (commonly known as Governors Ball or Gov Ball) is a multi-day music festival held on Randalls Island in New York City. Launched in 2011, the festival features an array of genres and styles of music, including rock, electronic, hip-hop, indie, Americana, pop, folk, and more. It is produced by Founders Entertainment, a festival promotion company based in New York City, which also produces The Meadows Music & Arts Festival. Aside from the wide variety of music, the festival features a multitude of popular New York restaurants and food trucks, as well as activities and games.

Governors Ball Music Festival
StatusActive
GenreMusic festival
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Randalls Island, New York City, United States
Years active9
InauguratedJune 18, 2011 (2011-06-18)
Previous eventMay 31 – June 2, 2019
Next event2021
Attendance150,000[1]
Websitegovernorsballmusicfestival.com

History

2011

The inaugural Governors Ball was held on June 18, 2011, on Governors Island in New York City. The one-day festival was headlined by Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, and Empire of the Sun. Governors Ball 2011 amassed the highest attendance of any event in the history of Governors Island, outselling Dave Matthews Band Caravan and Bassnectar's Bass Island in 2011. Reviews for the 2011 festival were positive, with Flavorwire reporting, "As many area festival attempts often fall flat due to poor execution, the Governors Ball was a pleasant exception to the rule, leaving us looking forward to its return next year,"[2] and Gothamist reporting, "A gorgeous day at Governors Island...everyone seemed to leave sunburned and happy."[3]

The 2011 lineup, ordered as on the poster, was as follows:

Original Founders of Festival: Jordan Wolowitz, Tom Russell, Yoni Resiman and Robert Spratlen

2012

Governors Ball 2012, the second year of the festival, was held June 23–24, 2012, on Randall's Island in New York City. Expanding to a two-day event, the festival featured many more acts in order to fill both days. The 2012 version of the festival was headlined by Beck, Passion Pit, Kid Cudi, and Modest Mouse. Randall's Island was chosen as the new venue of the festival due to the event's growth. Food offerings at the 2012 event included Coolhaus ice cream, Luke's Lobster, Waffles & Dinges, Mexicue, Food Freaks, Philz Steaks, Ports Coffee, and Pie for the People. Activities at the event included lawn games such as cornhole, ladder golf, and croquet (sponsored by Zog Sports), ping pong (sponsored by SPiN New York), and silent disco. Reviews of the 2012 festival were positive, with Time Out NY saying: "[Governors Ball] has all the necessities of a first-class music fest,"[4] and Vogue noting, "The summer music festival New Yorkers can finally call their own."[5]

Line-up

2013

Kanye West headlined the festival in 2013

Shortly after the 2012 festival, Founders Entertainment announced that the 2013 festival would take place on June 7–9 on Randall's Island.[6]

It rained heavily on the Friday, June 7, the opening day of the festival, which caused massive transportation delays to and from the island. The festival was also forced to shut down early on Friday evening due to weather-related safety concerns, and several performers were cancelled, including headliner Kings of Leon.[7] Much of the surface of the green lawns in the festival grounds had become mud by Saturday morning, thus there were extremely muddy conditions for most of the festival.

Line-up

2014

Outkast performing at the festival in 2014.

On January 8, 2014, the dates for the 2014 edition of the Governors Ball Music Festival were announced. It again took place over three days on Randall's Island, from June 6 to June 8. On January 9, 2014 Rolling Stone announced that Outkast would be one of the headliners; headlining alongside Jack White, Vampire Weekend and The Strokes.[8]

Line-up

2015

Governor's Ball 2015 took place June 5–7, 2015. It rained during the second day, but, unlike previous years, the festival was not cancelled. Ponchos and umbrellas were sold, at the festival carried on, albeit a bit delayed.[9]

Line-up

2016

Festival entrance as it appeared in 2016

The sixth iteration of Governors Ball took place over June 3–5, 2016. All three days of the festival sold out.[10] Saturday evening, the festival grounds were subject to heavy rains, but the event was not cancelled.[11] However, Sunday was cancelled due to heavy rain and safety concerns, and fans received refunds; festival management wrote: "The safety of fans, artists and crew always comes first."[11]

The cancellation of Sunday's shows led to some bands' announcing pop-up shows. That night, Two Door Cinema Club played the Music Hall of Williamsburg,[12] Courtney Barnett played a free show at Rough Trade,[13] Prophets of Rage played at Warsaw Brooklyn,[14] and Vic Mensa (tag-teaming with Galantis, who had a scheduled "After Dark" performance) played a sold-out Webster Hall.[15] Late Sunday night, Kanye West announced he would hold a 2am show somewhere in Manhattan; anticipating this, crowds began to gather at venues across the city. Musician 2 Chainz posted that they would be at Webster Hall; over 4,000 fans rushed to the venue, blocking streets and triggering an NYPD response. Kanye arrived at the venue, but didn't perform.[16]

Line-up

2017

The seventh edition of Governors Ball took place at Randall's Island Park in New York City from June 2–4, 2017.[17] Tickets for the festival went on sale January 6, 2017 and the lineup for the 2017 edition of Governors Ball was announced January 4, 2017.[18][19]

Line-up

2018

The eighth edition took place at Randall's Island Park in New York City from June 1–3, 2018. Eminem, Jack White, Travis Scott and Yeah Yeah Yeahs headlined the festival.[20]

Line-up

2019

The ninth edition was held at Randall's Island Park in New York City from May 31-June 2, 2019. The Strokes, Florence + the Machine, Tyler, the Creator and Nas headlined the festival.[22]

On Sunday, there was a delayed opening at 6:30pm, and an evacuation around 9:30pm because of severe thunderstorms. This resulted in the majority of the day's acts being cancelled or shortened.

Line-up

2020 (cancelled)

The tenth edition was to be held at Randall's Island Park in New York City from June 5-June 7, 2020,[23] but was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[24] Tame Impala, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, Flume, Vampire Weekend, Ellie Goulding, Missy Elliott, Solange, Rüfüs Du Sol, and H.E.R. would have headlined the festival.[25]

Line-up

Notes

  1. Pusha T replaced hip hop group Brockhampton, who dropped out of the festival along with numerous 2018 tour dates after member Ameer Vann was removed from the group in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations.[21]

References

  1. "Governors Ball Has 'Best Year Yet,' Says Producer, Looking Ahead to New Country Fest". Retrieved 2016-08-21.
  2. Levy, Doug (2011-06-20). "Photo Highlights from NYC's Governors Ball Music Festival – Flavorwire". Flavorwire.com. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  3. Robbins, Christopher (2011-06-20). "Governors Ball 2011: Just Fine If You Made The Ferry". Gothamist.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  4. "Governors Ball 2012 at Randalls Island (SLIDE SHOW)". Timeout.com. 2012-06-24. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  5. Archived 2012-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Governors Ball beats odds, 2013 dates announced". Brooklynvegan.com. 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  7. "Governors Ball 2013: Kings of Leon Rained Out on Opening Day". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  8. "Lineup". GovernorsBallMusicFestival.com.
  9. "Governors Ball 2015 Lineup". Stereogum. 2015-01-07. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  10. "The Governors Ball Music Festival 2016 Tickets, New York". Eventbrite.com. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  11. Heins, Scott (June 5, 2016). "Day 3 of Governor's Ball cancelled". Gothamist.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  12. "Two Door Cinema Club on Twitter: "NYC!!! Here we fucking go!! Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight!"". Twitter. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  13. "courtney barnett on Twitter: "Cos of cancelled show at @GovBallNYC we r doin a free show at @RoughTradeNYC Doors at 8:30pm - show 9pm "". Twitter. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  14. "Prophets of Rage on Twitter: "POR will play @WarsawConcerts in Brooklyn tonight in place of cancelled @GovBallNYC show. No line ups before 4pm. "". Twitter. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  15. "vino on Twitter: "Governors Ball Got Cancelled. Im Throwing a #Raincheck Show and Buying the 1st 150 Tix for U. NYC Webster Hall"". Twitter. 2016-06-05. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  16. "And Like a Tweet in the Night, Kanye Was Gone". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  17. Sharp, Elliott. "Governors Ball 2017 Lineup Breakdown". Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  18. "How To Buy Governors Ball Tickets 2017: Chance the Rapper, Flume, Tool And More To Headline New York City Music Festival". International Business Times. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  19. "Governors Ball Lineup Revealed". Pollstar. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  20. Russell, Scott (January 3, 2018). "Governors Ball 2018 Lineup Revealed: Eminem, Jack White, Travis Scott, Yeah Yeah Yeahs to Headline". Paste. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  21. Lamarre, Carl (May 29, 2018). "Pusha T Will Replace Brockhampton at Governors Ball Music Festival". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  22. Gray, Julia (7 January 2019). "Governors Ball 2019 Lineup". Stereogum. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  23. "Info". The Governors Ball Music Festival. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  24. Yoo, Noah. "Governors Ball 2020 Canceled". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
  25. Hatfield, Amanda (January 27, 2020). "Governors Ball reveals 2020 lineup by day". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
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