2025’s Governors Ball Music Competition is undoubtedly one of the thrilling lineups on the East Coast for 2025. With artists as various as T-Ache and Amaarae to Hozier, Mk.gee, and Clairo, it is a competition that music lovers of all tastes definitely don’t need to miss!
This yr’s Governors Ball is likely one of the most various and thrilling East Coast competition lineups to come back out of 2025.
With artists spanning throughout all kinds of genres, reminiscent of longtime legends like T-Ache and Hozier and Gen Z icons like Clairo and Olivia Rodrigo, there’s one thing for each type of music lover. This yr’s iteration is shaping as much as be simply as memorable because the previous lineups, particularly coming off the tail of a very iconic lineup from 2024.
Final yr’s Governors Ball was an amalgamation of artists that had been steadily on the climb to superstardom: Doechii, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, alongside lengthy established musical luminaries like The Killers, SZA, and Submit Malone.
This yr isn’t any completely different, the lineup casting a large internet catching musicians all at completely different factors of their profession and musical discography. From the return of Marina (previously often called Marina and The Diamonds) to artists using the excessive of extremely profitable album releases like Tyler, The Creator, the weekend is undoubtedly going to be a music occasion that East Coast music lovers can’t miss.
Friday goes to be a outstanding opener to the weekend, a implausible mixture of genres, from hip-hop to various rock acts and bands.
Beginning off the day are some implausible up-and-coming musicians, reminiscent of bLAck pARty, also referred to as Malik Flint. Flint is an LA primarily based R&B artist with soundscapes which are the right mixture of relaxed manufacturing with syrupy clean vocals, an ideal artist to kickstart the power of the weekend.
On the lookout for a vibe with extra rock and grit? If that’s the case, Model Pussy is a set you’ll be able to’t miss. The Philadelphia rock band’s discography is textured and various, style hopping from tracks which are extra pop centric to songs that imbue the distinct punk sound they’re recognized for. With music that ranges the feelings of furiously charged to a extra heady vibe, this band is ideal for these which are on the lookout for a cathartic and enchanting set in the direction of the afternoon of day one.
Falling someplace between nation and indie pop, Position Mannequin is a set that followers are eagerly awaiting to listen to this weekend. Coming off the heels of his extremely profitable album Kansas Anymore, 2024 Folks Journal nominee for Sexiest Man Alive will likely be a can’t-miss set for these in attendance this Friday. Position Mannequin’s stage presence is charming and energetic. Getting to listen to “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” will likely be a good way to maintain spirits excessive later into the day on Friday.
In the event you’re seeking to get again into the hip-hop vibe, artists like Tyla and T-Ache are going to be some spotlight performances of the weekend. T-Ache’s legendary discography will transport listeners again to the glory days of the 2000s with tracks like “Purchase U a Drank,” “I’m Sprung,” and numerous others, making for a flagship efficiency for the weekend.
Tyla is a contemporary R&B artist that’s redefining the style together with her music, someway sounding each nostalgic and present unexpectedly. With a hypnotizing voice and choreography, her set is ideal for these which are on the lookout for a hybrid of conventional R&B and South African amapiano.
One among Atwood Journal‘s high artist discoveries of 2024, Mk.gee (aka Michael Todd Gordon) is ready to ship one among Friday’s most dynamic and emotionally stirring units. Using excessive off the breakout success of Two Star & The Dream Police, the genre-defying artist blurs the strains between various rock, R&B, and experimental pop – typically inside a single music. Tracks like “Breakthespell” and “Alesis” showcase his uncooked, kinetic power and layered, atmospheric manufacturing, promising a efficiency that’s each susceptible and electrifying. Together with his guitar in hand and a voice that cuts straight via the noise, Mk.gee is a must-see for these seeking to really feel one thing deeply on day one.
Friday’s headliners are closing off the primary day with a shockwave of power, beginning off with Benson Boone, one of many artists that shot to fame in 2024 with tracks like “Lovely Issues” and “Gradual It Down.” Identified for his booming vocals and his on-stage flips, in fact, Benson Boone is bound to get a drained crowd again up and transferring. With the upcoming launch of his sophomore album, American Coronary heart, followers can count on to listen to new songs like “Mystical Magical” with the hits that despatched the heartthrob to fame throughout 2024.
Tyler, The Creator is closing off Friday, and if his earlier performances are any indication, longtime listeners and new followers alike ought to make sure that to see this one among a form efficiency. Tyler, The Creator’s comedic, vibrant, livid, nearly theatrical performances are one thing that the artist has change into broadly recognized for. Chromakopia, his eighth studio album, was one of the talked about and acclaimed releases to come back out of 2024, crammed to the brim with fantastically crafted manufacturing and lyricism that’s someway hilarious, heartbreaking, and deeply private unexpectedly. Friday can be a waste if anybody had been to overlook Tyler, The Creator’s set.
Saturday is for these which are on the lookout for a lineup that spans pop and indie-subgenres, making for a welcome and pure swap in tone from the primary day of the competition.
In order for you a relaxed temper to start out off your day, a band like The Backfires are an excellent set to kick off Saturday’s lineup. Paying homage to pop-punk and indie rock bands like Quarters of Change and Benches, the band’s positive to maintain spirits excessive from the beginning with their nostalgic power that someway manages to stay up to date.
New Jersey-bred, West Coast primarily based artist Orion Solar is performing in a while throughout Saturday. With a discography that’s wealthy and various, mixing genres like soul, dance, and pop, Orion Solar’s set is one that may have followers fortunately swaying later into the day. Her signature charming vocals that give off a novel heat is one thing day two attendees received’t need to miss, particularly since Solar will seemingly be performing tracks off their self-titled album that was launched final yr.
Followers of bubble-gum pop, a subgenre that has made a terrific comeback in recent times because of artists like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, want to take a look at Marina’s set forward of the headlining acts on Saturday. Singer of lengthy beloved tracks like “Bubblegum Bitch” and “Primadonna,” Marina’s ethereal tone alongside the manufacturing that nearly forces you to bounce is a must-see set. With the discharge of her 6th studio album, PRINCESS OF POWER (out June 6th), she’s positive to carry out new hits like “CUNTISSIMO” and “CUPID’S GIRL,” a particular alternative to listen to tracks from the brand new album.
Beloved indie pop/rock band Wallows are acting on Saturday as nicely. Followers of sentimental and emotional pop that harkens again to bands like Two Door Cinema Membership would assuredly take pleasure in Wallows’ set. Identified for tracks reminiscent of “Keep in mind When,” “Are You Bored But?,” and newer hits like “Calling After Me,” this will likely be an exquisite efficiency to catch because the day begins to steer as much as the headliners. The band will seemingly sing tracks from older hit albums like Nothing Occurs and newer data like final yr’s Mannequin and this yr’s EP, Extra. Whereas Clairo is performing the next day, who is aware of, possibly she’ll make a particular look for her characteristic on “Are You Bored But?” . . . don’t miss this efficiency!
Conan Grey, singer of contemporary classics like “Heather” and “The Lower That At all times Bleeds,” is the ultimate artist to take to the stage earlier than Feid and Olivia Rodrigo. With Grey’s ‘80s impressed synth pop document Discovered Heaven, his set must be nothing wanting energetically charged with the sounds that made up that period. Conan Grey and Olivia Rodrigo have been shut associates for a longtime and have spoken publicly about their friendship and shared profession in music over time . . . maybe we’ll get an onstage collaboration between the 2 on a observe, if we’re fortunate. Grey’s subsequent album, Wishbone, will likely be launched later this summer season, so count on to listen to the main single “This Track” throughout his set!
Closing off the evening is the broadly admired Olivia Rodrigo, definitely an artist that’s pulling in tons of competition goers this weekend. With the unimaginable success of her sophomore album GUTS, Rodrigo is bound to provide an electrifying efficiency. She has lengthy mirrored the type of stage presence from previous pop-punk icons like Paramore, making for a set that will likely be stuffed with head banging and reveling within the pleasure of hating in your ex with songs like “vampire” and “traitor.” Rodrigo embraces and absolutely embodies the sweeping vary of feelings that Gen Z resonates with, from the social nervousness of songs like “ballad of a homeschooled woman” to the quiet envy of tracks like “lacy.” There’s a motive why she’s been capable of obtain such excessive ranges of acclaim and a loyal fanbase, and there’s little question that her set this Saturday will present precisely why that’s.
Sunday is stuffed with units and artists to shut off the weekend with a bang, or relatively, a gradual and calm buildup to artists like Hozier and Glass Animals.
In the event you’re nonetheless on the lookout for the hypnotic R&B vibe from Friday and Saturday, then catching Amaarae’s set is a should. One of many main voices in various pop, Amaarae has tracks that may have you ever dancing one second and swinging to the spellbinding manufacturing the subsequent. Her most up-to-date album, Fountain Child, has house-adjacent vibes on tracks like “Angels in Tibet” switching to extra conventional pop feels on a music like “Sociopathic Dance Queen.” Try Amaare’s set for an excellent begin to the ultimate day of this competition.
The Japanese Home can be acting on Sunday, following within the footsteps of comparable bands from earlier within the weekend, reminiscent of Wallows and The Backfires. With lead singer Amber Mary Bain’s voice that’s inherently romantic, it is a set that may have you ever comfortably reminiscing on occasions previous. This can be a nice alternative to immerse your self within the introspective dream-pop music that the band is thought for. Hits like “Noticed You in a Dream” and “Sunshine Child” are positive to make it on the setlist. You could even have the ability to relive ‘brat summer season’ momentarily in the event that they select to play their rendition of “Apple” off of Charli XCX’s remix album, on which they’re featured. Try their slot to search out out!
British singer/songwriter Raye will likely be performing this Sunday as nicely. One other artist that has cemented herself as a outstanding expertise, each in her hovering vocals and hybrid of contemporary and old-timey manufacturing backing her, it is a probability to see one of many UK’s most proficient artists. With the center of artists like Amy Winehouse and the modernity of in the present day’s developments in soundscapes, she’s distinctly distinctive. Raye makes for an intriguing hybrid between jazz and pop and is definitely one of many artists that you simply’ll need to catch in case you’ll make it the final day of the weekend.
The chief of soft-girl pop lately, Clairo will likely be performing forward of Hozier and Glass Animals. With the success of her third studio album, Attraction, Clairo’s stage presence inside this album cycle feels as pure and absolutely realized because the sonics of her final album did. A repeated performer at Gov Ball, Clairo is bound to sing hits like “Baggage” and “Sofia,” in addition to songs off of the brand new document reminiscent of “Juna” and “Second Nature.” Attraction was made to be listened to in the summertime warmth, imbued with the identical power as the encircling greenery and lushness that comes with the season. In the event you’re to see anybody on Sunday, Clairo needs to be on that record!
Glass Animals, recognized for his or her psychedelic pop and various rock sound, are one of many main acts for the weekend. Their lengthy and profitable profession is marked by hits like “Warmth Waves,” “Gooey,” and “Youth.” What stays the identical all through all their eras is an addictingly magnetic sound, one that’s equal elements up to date and style bending. One other band from the weekend that is ready to effortlessly seize a sense of nostalgia inside their songs, Glass Animals’ efficiency is one that may stand out from the weekend of already terrific acts and artists.
Closing out 2025’s Governors Ball is Hozier, the long-lasting pioneer of modern-day people pop. With too many hits to call (“Take Me to Church,” “Too Candy,” “From Eden,” and many others.) the Irish artist is thought for his thunderous and climatic vocal performances whereas additionally having the ability to keep a softer tone on tracks like “Cherry Wine.” Hozier’s dwell exhibits typically have beautiful psychedelic visuals, as if his spellbinding voice wasn’t sufficient. They’re recognized for his or her emotional depth whereas additionally having the ability to expertly keep an intimate ambiance, even whereas performing for hundreds upon hundreds of followers. Hozier is bound to ship a deeply transferring, musically wealthy expertise, one which will likely be a spotlight of the weekend.
These are just some of the acts that we’re most excited to see at this yr’s Governors Ball! Try our post-coverage as soon as the weekend wraps as much as catch our ideas on a few of the greatest performances to come back out of this yr’s competition.
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