Words by Kenny Bieber
Gov Ball for some time now has long been considered one of NYC’s staple music festivals featuring some of the most prominent up and coming talent throughout the years.
The 2025 lineup was no different as the weekend featured top tier acts across the board with nearly all genres represented. From indie rock to modern pop, folk, and hip-hop, no matter what your musical preferences were, there was certainly something for everyone at this year’s Gov Ball lineup.
Spanning three days at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, Gov Ball once again showcased itself as one of the most dynamic and relevant festivals in today’s current festival space. With a strong mix of seasoned headliners and rising stars, this year’s lineup felt especially well-rounded, here we break down some of the most memorable acts of the festival along with some of the genuine surprises and highlights from the weekend!
Day 2 of Gov Ball was heavy on the star power and despite a delayed start due to the threat of rain, once it got going it was full force momentum wise particularly over at the main stage. Marina delivered an exhilarating and high-energy performance that helped kickstart the festival off in high gear.
Fresh off her new album which had been released previously that weekend, Marina was in fine form with a set that showcased her signature hits while also incorporating her newer songs in seamless fashion. From there, Conan Gray was up next with a set that was one of the most memorable of the festival. With large scale production and a full band, Gray’s set was theatrical and ambitious but truly shined thanks to his effortless stage presence and genuine charisma. Gray’s set included many fan favorite songs but thankfully was accessible enough for those uninitiated and his sincere and energetic stage show solidified itself as one of the most memorable acts of the entire festival.
Headlining Day 2, mega star Olivia Rodrigo was far and away the most anticipated act of the day and thankfully her set was very much worth the wait. With an electric band behind her, Rodrigo channeled her inner rock star energy for a relentlessly entertaining set that not only delivered her massive hits but had some genuine surprises as well. Mid-way through her set, she brought out none other than Talking Heads frontman David Byrne for a rousing cover of “Burning Down The House” that resonated strongly with the crowd. Most impressively, Rodrigo managed to handle both the large scale and more intimate songs with ease and her stage presence was full of infectious and non-stop energy all while maintaining a seamless bond with her rabid fanbase. With no shortage of spectacle and showmanship, Rodrigo’s Gov Ball set was another indicator of her tremendous star power and certainly delivered on its promise.
fav weekend of the year <3 pic.twitter.com/1IJpmyNCH4
— Gov Ball (@GovBallNYC) June 11, 2025
Day 3 of Gov Ball may have been its most diverse with a wide range of genres from R&B to hip-hop along to indie rock to pop. While there were many notable larger acts that day, some of the smaller acts truly shined through on Sunday. Kyle Dion brought his vibrant brand of funk and soul to the Grove Stage and his natural charisma made his set truly shine despite its short duration, fresh off his recent release SOULAR, Dion’s showmanship and enthusiasm were utterly exhilarating to watch. Joey Valance and Brae hyped up the early crowd over at the stage with their rowdy and energetic brand of old school influenced hip-hop and despite having their set cut short, still very much made the most of their set and won over the crowd. The Kiehls stage brought the laid-back indie vibes with back-to-back sets from The Japanese House and Clairo both of whom delivered strong sets and managed to translate their live show effectively in the process.
Clairo had a particularly memorable set design and managed to make the most of her full band setup all while showcasing her soulful sound, over at the main stage Raye delivered a powerhouse performance backed by her tight knit band and showcased her dazzling vocal range and showmanship, creating a highly memorable set overall. Also at the main stage were rising indie rock act Royel Otis whose vibrant and atmospheric set won over the crowd including a very effective cover of “linger’ by The Cranberries.
Also at the main stage were folk acts Mt. Joy who have been quite active on the festival circuit as of late. Their set was a strong showcase of their folk rock sound while also displaying some genuinely impressive musicianship in the process. Their set also had some welcome surprises such as bringing out rising indie artist Gigi Perez for a song which very much resonated well with the crowd. Mt. Joy’s set was full of pure emotion and strong musicianship making it one of the most effective and memorable of the weekend and managed to appeal to fans both new and old.
Finally it came time for Hozier’s set to cap off Sunday, While he admitted to feeling under the weather early on, he still managed to deliver a captivating and impactful set that showcased his powerful range and tremendously talented backing band. Full of his signature songs such as “Jackie and Wilson,” “Cherry Wine,” and recent hits such as “Too Sweet,” Hozier managed to make the most of it despite his condition. His topical message of unity and acceptance still resonated greatly. Hozier has been touring quite actively this past year and although he wasn’t completely in top form, his dedication to his fans and his natural stage presence still loomed large enough to illustrate why he’s become such a sought after act in these past few years. Also no matter what, his voice is still as commanding as ever and even through his struggles, Hozier still brought a throughly engaging live experience to Gov Ball and his message of inclusion and hope very much struck a chord with the audience.
When it comes to launching a successful festival, maintaining its relevance can be a challenge in itself. For Gov Ball, having been a festival for over a decade now, it’s managed to consistently adapt to trends while showcasing a roster of established and fresh talent. 2025’s Gov Ball lineup is another example of the festival’s ability to highlight dynamic talent and bridge the gap between firmly established acts and exciting up and coming artists. It’ll no doubt be exciting to witness where Gov Ball goes from there but in the meantime we’ll have plenty of memories from this one to hold us over. For more info regarding Gov Ball be sure to follow them for future announcements!
