Gov Ball 2025 launched into its 14th year as a festival — and its third at the lush Flushing Meadows Corona Park — with a vibrant Day 1 lineup that had something for everyone: local love, surprise guests, and viral moments.
By the time gates opened at 11:45 AM on June 6th, the energy was already electric. Despite a rain scare throughout the day, fans showed up in ponchos, glitter, and good spirits, ready to dance. Luckily, the weather delivered for one of the most iconic festival lineups of the year.
NYC Local Spotlight: Stolen Ginand Dogpark
Two of the most refreshing moments of the day came courtesy of NYC locals, who brought a homegrown energy that felt tailor-made for the Gov Ball crowd.
Just across the park on The Grove Stage, Dogpark turned in one of the day’s most heartfelt and buzzed-about performances. The band came fresh off a new single drop — “Far Away From You,” which they officially debuted live for the first time after it’s release at the festival — and wasted no time getting fans locked into their signature blend of emo-tinged indie rock.
Their set featured fan favorites like “Dive Bar Named Nirvana” and “Washington Square Park,” and even with the overcast skies above, there was a warmth to their performance that felt deeply personal. The band’s lyrics hit like scribbled notes in a diary passed between friends, and the ASL interpreter signing passionately alongside them added another emotional layer to the experience. Gov Ball can often feel like a whirlwind of massive pop moments, but Dogpark reminded everyone that intimacy and honesty still have a place on a big stage.
Stolen Gin
Over at the Kiehl’s Stage, Stolen Gin delivered a set that was equal parts funk-fueled party and jazz-drenched jam session. The band — known for never playing a song the same way twice — has been building on NY’s scene. Blending elements of psychedelic rock, disco, jazz, electro-pop, and jam-band spontaneity, their performance had the crowd grooving from the jump. Extended solos, tight improvisation, and slick transitions made every song feel alive — evolving, pulsing, and begging you to dance. With their genre-defying style and infectious energy, Stolen Gin proved why they’re one of NYC’s most dance-worthy live acts.
Isabel LaRosa
Over on the GovBallNYC Main Stage, Isabel LaRosa wasted no time making her mark. Fresh off her After Dark show at Mercury Lounge, the 20-year-old pop prodigy delivered a moody, cinematic set that included “Pretty Boy,” “Famous,” and “More Than Friends.”
bLAck pARty
Back on the GovBallNYC Main Stage, bLAck pARty brought the vibe. With a lush mix of funk, soul, R&B, and breezy pop, his set was one of the most sonically smooth of the day — but don’t let the chill energy fool you, the crowd was moving. Dressed cool and confident, he commanded the massive stage like a living-room jam session blown up to festival scale.
“Turn up if you know my track ‘Mango’!” he shouted early in the set — and the response confirmed just how many fans had that song on repeat during lockdown. But bLAck pARty wasn’t just riding old hits. “We went back to the classics, now we got some new shit,” he said before dropping “Distant Lover”, a fresh cut that fused velvety vocals with a moody beat. “New sh*t alert!” he declared with a grin before previewing more unreleased material, each track making the case that he’s not just a smooth operator — he’s an innovator. Even VIP guests found themselves pressed up against the barricade, breaking it down with the rest of the crowd.
Gov Ball Standouts
T-Pain
T-Pain, a legend in his own right, hit the Main Stage in a rhinestone-studded top hat and black suit. He joked, “I thought this was a fancy affair, you’re telling me the Governor’s not here?”. His set was a joyful ride through nostalgia, remixing classical strings into ATL bounce beats before dropping hits like “Blame It” and “Buy U A Drank.” ASL interpreters were present throughout his set, adding to the festival’s growing accessibility efforts.
The Beaches
Meanwhile, at the Grove Stage, Toronto rockers The Beaches turned up the volume and the queer energy. “Where my lesbians at?!” shouted frontwoman Jordan Miller, who later joked, “Who’s ready for Role Model?? I asked to be his Sally but I haven’t heard back yet.” With a new album dropping August 29, their set was explosive, capped off by their angsty breakup anthem “Blame Brett.”
Role Model
Role Model (aka Tucker Pillsbury) brought his usual cocktail of heartache and hilarity to the Grove Stage, opening his set with: “Hey Gov Ball, I’m Benson Boone.” Fans chanted “DIVA!” and wore shirts in support of his ongoing bit — which evolved into him claiming he was Clairo, Troye Sivan, and The 1965. Between tracks like “The Dinner” and the crowd-wide “I’ll do the dishes” ad-lib during “The Longest Goodbye,” the emotional high point came during “Sally When the Wine Runs Out” when Conan Gray was chosen as Sally and ran on stage and planted a kiss on Tucker, sending the crowd into an absolute frenzy.
Mk.gee
Elsewhere, Mk.gee tore through a fuzzy, eclectic set that included “Rockman.” Mannequin Pussy raged with punk energy and defiant vulnerability. Tyla brought the heat with her genre-bending South African pop. ASL interpreters signed alongside many of the day’s biggest sets, continuing Gov Ball’s push for greater accessibility.
But the biggest eruption came at the end of the night, when Tyler, the Creator took the Main Stage. With his Chromakopia visuals, insame pyrotechnics, and razor-sharp stage presence, Tyler closed out Day 1 in fitting fashion. With a thunderous, theatrical set, he reminded the crowd why he’s one of the most dynamic performers in the world.
Day 2 kicks off at noon today with performances from Wallows, Marina, Conan Gray, and Olivia Rodrigo. Stick with us for more weekend coverage of NYC’s favorite summer tradition — Gov Ball 2025.
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