This years Gov Ball was full great entertainment and some very unexpected surprises. The music was blasting, the sun was out (at least for the most part) and the crowd was full electricity. It seemed like each artist from every realm the music spectrum showed up and gave it their all. From the likes Lil Wayne to and Florence + The Machine, every act provided some memorable performances and helped make the festival that much better.
Not only was the music on high but the festival also created an environment that magnified the good vibes and spirits. Food and drink were aplenty, the stages were set up in a way that made it possible to enjoy every artist and the transportation the festival was also on point especially in times trouble, which I will get to later in this article. Taking place on the famous location Randall's Island Park, the grounds were set and ready to go for all attendees to lose themselves in music.
The festival was a total 3 days, a weekend complete with everything you would encounter at a big music event and it was a time full incredible and moving musical experiences..
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Friday:
The festivities began on Friday May 31st and the weather was essentially perfect for the most part. The event started right on time and everyone arrived in their best festival gear ready to conquer the weekend. It was also fitting that it was Friday considering that everything seemed to be well in place. Not only was it gorgeous out but the lineup itself was also something to behold.
There were so many amazing artists that performed and such great acts that put on some stellar shows. From the rock and roll, indie antics Hippo Campus to the rap and bad boy personas the group known as Brockhampton. Musically, there was really no question that Gov Ball did a great job curating the lineup for the first day.
What I think people also enjoyed most that Friday was the fact that there were so many different artists playing from genres that you really wouldn't ever put in the same category. This diversity brought a unique and welcoming effect to the beautiful first day the festival. There was a vibrant and energetic air on the grounds that everyone could definitely feel.
Courtesy Getty s
Saturday:
The second day the festival was also a good one. The weather again was basically perfect, producing another great day event shenanigans. It included acts that were world famous and renown for so many different reasons and it's no wonder that the festival put each one them on the lineup.
Some the artists that performed were Elohim, Denzel Curry, Kacey Musgraves, Zhu and The 1975. As you can see, much like the first day the festival, it was a lineup that was inherently diverse in nature. The day came and went with some incredible performances, most notably I think were Zhu, Gesaffelstein and Denzel Curry.
Saturday also for the most part included more festival goers than that Friday. There were so many different and interesting people who came to see the show. Although this was the case, moving about the festival was relatively easy for the most part. The stages rocked and they were set up in a way that made everyone feel like they weren't missing anything from the artist that they wanted to see. Food and drink were again on point and it is no surprise that the second day the festival brought everyone to their happy place once again.
Courtesy Yuxi Liu
Courtesy Sacha Lecca Rolling Stone
Sunday:
The last and final day Gov Ball NYC was interesting to say the least…
Not only was there an unexpected lineup change, which meant that the doors didn't open until later in the day at 6:30, but there was also an unexpected cancellation the festival once the sky actually opened up and the rain came pouring down.
It was a day that seemed the opposite what we experienced on Friday and Saturday. The weather was just flat out not good and was at some point pretty unsafe. We did get to see some performances though despite the cancellation the event, some those artists included Nas, Bob Moses, Sheck Wes and Bazzi. Each one the made the best a bad situation and some even had to cut their set in half. Despite all that though, they did not disappoint and still were able to give the brave festival goers Sunday a show.
My heart also goes out to the acts that did not get to perform that day because the weather. I'm sure there were a lot fans disappointed and it was a shame that they didn't get to play. Nevertheless, I think Gov Ball did a fine job handling the situation. The first and foremost priority any festival is to keep its attendees safe and Gov Ball made sure that. When things got bad they gave their best efforts to ensure that everyone got out quickly, knowing that the weather was going to get worse and worse.
Even though there were definitely some stragglers and people who did not intend on leaving. Eventually the crowd dissipated and the island was empty, which ended yet another crazy weekend musical enjoyment that a lot fans will probably never forget.
Courtesy Griffin Lotz Rolling Stone
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Gov Ball 2019 was an event unlike any other, it provided everything needed for the avid festival goer and I, as I'm sure all you, cannot wait for the next one in 2020. Although it wasn't the smoothest weekends, in the end the festival lived up to its name and gave the people what they wanted. Thanks to Gov Ball for having me and I hope you all enjoyed the festival as much as I did!