Governors Ball 2021, Day Three

Post Malone at Governors Ball 2021

More than 50,000 vaccinated music fans each day enjoyed clear skies and loud live music this past weekend at the newly resuscitated Governors Ball. Billie Eilish, A$ap Rocky, J Balvin, and Post Malone headlined the festival on September 24-26. Each day, Governors Ball 2021 offered 10 non-stop hours of live pop, rock, hip hop and EDM across five stages. Sixty five music acts performed, many to their largest audiences ever.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul briefly welcomed attendees from one of the stages on Saturday afternoon. A few other community leaders spoke on the various days. Speeches were kept to a minimum, however.

Ellie Goulding

Dominic Fike

This year, Governors Ball celebrated its 10th anniversary in New York City. This summer. the music festival moved to the site of the former Shea Stadium, now a parking lot outside Citi Field. Governors Ball started on Governors Island in 2011 and headlined Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, and Empire of the Sun. The festival was held on Randall's Island from 2012 to 2019. The festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Fans were required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours for entry on each day. Three-day general admission tickets sold for $319 plus fees. One-day passes were $129 plus fees.

BJ - The Chicago Kid

Smino

Diversity Was Key to Governors Ball 2021

Governors Ball over the years has booked diverse acts, but this year took a step further. While Governors Ball always features numerous African-American and women artists, this year also saw an increase in the number of LGBT+, third world-born and disabled performers.

A$ap Rocky was the one African-American headliner at Governors Ball 2021. Megan Thee Stallion and 21 Savage were not billed as headliners, but the audience response to their appearance will guarantee that status in future festivals. With AfroPunk Brooklyn on hiatus for the second straight summer, Governors Ball 2021 became the city's primary showcase for emerging alternative and experimental African-American artists, including Smino, 24kgoldn, Odie, BJ-the Chicago Kid, Pink Sweat$, Cordae, RMR, Breland and Bartees Strange.

Umi

Riz la Vie

J Balvin became the first Latinx artist to co-headline a night at Governors Ball, and spoke to his multi-lingual audience in both English and Spanish. Lebanese-American Riz la Vie, Filipino-American Yeek, and half-Japanese/half African-American Umi also might have opened ethnicities not previously featured on Governors Ball stages. Kehlani, who has performed at several festivals in past years, has described her ethnicity as a mix of "Black, White, Native American, Filipino, and Mexican."

Princess Nokia

Teamarr

Phoebe Bridgers, Kehlani, Orville Peck, Princess Nokia, Muna, King Princess, Teamarr, Umi and Vincint were among the LGBT+ artists to perform at Governors Ball this year. In early August the organizers of Governors Ball 2021 removed DaBaby from the bill following what appeared to be homophobic comments by the rapper during his set at Rolling Loud Miami in July.

“Founders Entertainment does not and will not tolerate hate or discrimination of any kind,” the festival posted upon announcing the cancellation of DaBaby. “We welcome and celebrate the diverse communities that make New York City the greatest city in the world. Thank you to the fans who continue to speak up for what is right. Along with you, we will continue to use our platform for good.”

Carly Rae Jepsen

Caroline Polachek

Women frequently appeared on the stages. Billie Eilish headlined the first night. Ellie Goulding, Megan Thee Stallion, Carly Rae Jepsen, Phoebe Bridgers, Kehlani, Big Thief, King Princess, Caroline Polachek, Tate McRae, Charlotte Lawrence, Faye Webster and others also performed.

This year, the bill also opened new paths of diversity, Artists from third world countries included Columbian-born J Balvin and two African-born singers, Burna Boy and Amaarae. The disabled were represented as well, as Portugal. The Man included a prominent musician in a wheelchair.

Burna Boy

Amaarae

The Governors Ball 2021 Experience

Post Malone closed Governors Ball 2021 with an hour-long set that included duets with Young Thug, Roddy Ricch and 21 Savage. Rumors circulated that A$ap Rocky's reported girlfriend, Rihanna, was at the festival, but that rumor so far is unsubstantiated. A few rappers called for mosh pits, and many performers dropped frequent f-bombs, but overall the vibes were chill all weekend, and all the artists played some of their best performances.

Two or three stages were rocking simultaneously, so attendees had to choose which act to see according to a published schedule. Almost all of the performances started on time, but a few started considerably late. A$ap Rocky, Megan Thee Stallion, and Young Thug kept their audiences waiting 20 to 30 minutes. The biggest offender was 21 Savage, who came on stage an hour late and performed only about a half-hour. Attendees could have caught Carly Rae Jepsen's entire set rather than standing and waiting for 21 Savage to come on.

Faye Webster

The Brass Queens

All weekend, nearly every artist effused about performing to a live audience again. Attendees enjoyed good sound, the stage lighting was usually bright, and sightlines were clear for the most part. Multiple LED screens at the four main stages offered close-ups of the performers and other graphics to those watching from afar.

The audience found many sing-along moments as the artists performed. For reasons perhaps known to few, the audiences occasionally sang Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." while awaiting for their artists to appear.

Duck Sauce

Jamie XX

Participants had many food options, AstroTurf for relaxing, medical assistance, and 12-step meetings. Several corporations sponsored free "experiences," including hair styling, temporary tattoos, gifts, selfie backgrounds, and lounges with phone-charging stations. Attendees who bought VIP tickets did not necessarily get a better view, but did have air-conditioned bathrooms rather than the portable toilets used by the general admission ticket holders.

Governors Ball 2022 may return to its traditional first weekend in June, but whether it will return to Randall's Island or Citi Field is still in question. Meanwhile, the three-day hip hop-dominated Rolling Loud will repeat the magic of Governors Ball 2021 in the Citi Field parking lot in late October.

Fireworks concluded the three day music festival

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are 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 and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's September and October 2021 calendars.