2025’s Governors Ball Music Festival is without a doubt one of the most exciting lineups on the East Coast for 2025. With artists as varied as T-Pain and Amaarae to Hozier, Mk.gee, and Clairo, this is a festival that music lovers of all tastes certainly don’t want to miss!
This year’s Governors Ball is one of the most diverse and exciting East Coast festival lineups to come out of 2025.
With artists spanning across a wide variety of genres, such as longtime legends like T-Pain and Hozier and Gen Z icons like Clairo and Olivia Rodrigo, there’s something for every kind of music lover. This year’s iteration is shaping up to be just as memorable as the past lineups, especially coming off the tail of a particularly iconic lineup from 2024.
Last year’s Governors Ball was an amalgamation of artists that were steadily on the climb to superstardom: Doechii, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, alongside long established musical luminaries like The Killers, SZA, and Post Malone.
This year is no different, the lineup casting a wide net catching musicians all at different points in their career and musical discography. From the return of Marina (formerly known as Marina and The Diamonds) to artists riding the high of incredibly successful album releases like Tyler, The Creator, the weekend is without a doubt going to be a music event that East Coast music lovers can’t miss.
Friday, June 6th
Friday is going to be a remarkable opener to the weekend, a fantastic mix of genres, from hip-hop to alternative rock acts and bands.
Starting off the day are some fantastic up-and-coming musicians, such as bLAck pARty, also known as Malik Flint. Flint is an LA based R&B artist with soundscapes that are the perfect mix of relaxed production with syrupy smooth vocals, a perfect artist to kickstart the energy of the weekend.
Looking for a vibe with more rock and grit? If so, Mannequin Pussy is a set you can’t miss. The Philadelphia rock band’s discography is textured and varied, genre hopping from tracks that are more pop centric to songs that imbue the distinct punk sound they’re known for. With music that ranges the emotions of furiously charged to a more heady vibe, this band is perfect for those that are looking for a cathartic and enchanting set towards the afternoon of day one.
Falling somewhere between country and indie pop, Role Model is a set that fans are eagerly awaiting to hear this weekend. Coming off the heels of his incredibly successful album Kansas Anymore, 2024 People Magazine nominee for Sexiest Man Alive will be a can’t-miss set for those in attendance this Friday. Role Model’s stage presence is charming and energetic. Getting to hear “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” will be a great way to keep spirits high later into the day on Friday.
If you’re looking to get back into the hip-hop vibe, artists like Tyla and T-Pain are going to be some highlight performances of the weekend. T-Pain’s legendary discography will transport listeners back to the glory days of the 2000s with tracks like “Buy U a Drank,” “I’m Sprung,” and countless others, making for a flagship performance for the weekend.
Tyla is a modern R&B artist that is redefining the genre with her music, somehow sounding both nostalgic and current all at once. With a hypnotizing voice and choreography, her set is perfect for those that are looking for a hybrid of traditional R&B and South African amapiano.
One of Atwood Magazine‘s top artist discoveries of 2024, Mk.gee (aka Michael Todd Gordon) is set to deliver one of Friday’s most dynamic and emotionally stirring sets. Riding high off the breakout success of Two Star & The Dream Police, the genre-defying artist blurs the lines between alternative rock, R&B, and experimental pop – often within a single song. Tracks like “Breakthespell” and “Alesis” showcase his raw, kinetic energy and layered, atmospheric production, promising a performance that’s both vulnerable and electrifying. With his guitar in hand and a voice that cuts straight through the noise, Mk.gee is a must-see for those looking to feel something deeply on day one.
Friday’s headliners are closing off the first day with a shockwave of energy, starting off with Benson Boone, one of the artists that shot to fame in 2024 with tracks like “Beautiful Things” and “Slow It Down.” Known for his booming vocals and his on-stage flips, of course, Benson Boone is sure to get a tired crowd back up and moving. With the upcoming release of his sophomore album, American Heart, fans can expect to hear new songs like “Mystical Magical” with the hits that sent the heartthrob to fame during 2024.
Tyler, The Creator is closing off Friday, and if his previous performances are any indication, longtime listeners and new fans alike should make sure to see this one of a kind performance. Tyler, The Creator’s comedic, vibrant, furious, almost theatrical performances are something that the artist has become widely known for. Chromakopia, his 8th studio album, was one of the most talked about and acclaimed releases to come out of 2024, filled to the brim with fantastically crafted production and lyricism that is somehow hilarious, heartbreaking, and deeply personal all at once. Friday would be a waste if anyone were to miss Tyler, The Creator’s set.
Saturday, June 7th
Saturday is for those that are looking for a lineup that spans pop and indie-subgenres, making for a welcome and natural switch in tone from the first day of the festival.
If you want a relaxed mood to start off your day, a band like The Backfires are a great set to kick off Saturday’s lineup. Reminiscent of pop-punk and indie rock bands like Quarters of Change and Benches, the band’s sure to keep spirits high from the start with their nostalgic energy that somehow manages to remain contemporary.
New Jersey-bred, West Coast based artist Orion Sun is performing later on during Saturday. With a discography that is rich and diverse, mixing genres like soul, dance, and pop, Orion Sun’s set is one that will have fans happily swaying later into the day. Her signature charming vocals that give off a unique warmth is something day two attendees won’t want to miss, especially since Sun will likely be performing tracks off their self-titled album that was released last year.
Fans of bubble-gum pop, a subgenre that has made a terrific comeback in recent years thanks to artists like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, need to check out Marina’s set ahead of the headlining acts on Saturday. Singer of long loved tracks like “Bubblegum Bitch” and “Primadonna,” Marina’s airy tone alongside the production that almost forces you to dance is a must-see set. With the release of her 6th studio album, PRINCESS OF POWER (out June 6th), she’s sure to perform new hits like “CUNTISSIMO” and “CUPID’S GIRL,” a special opportunity to hear tracks from the new album.
Beloved indie pop/rock band Wallows are performing on Saturday as well. Fans of sentimental and emotional pop that harkens back to bands like Two Door Cinema Club would assuredly enjoy Wallows’ set. Known for tracks such as “Remember When,” “Are You Bored Yet?,” and newer hits like “Calling After Me,” this will be a wonderful performance to catch as the day begins to lead up to the headliners. The band will likely sing tracks from older hit albums like Nothing Happens and more recent records like last year’s Model and this year’s EP, More. While Clairo is performing the following day, who knows, maybe she’ll make a special appearance for her feature on “Are You Bored Yet?” . . . don’t miss this performance!
Conan Gray, singer of modern classics like “Heather” and “The Cut That Always Bleeds,” is the final artist to take to the stage before Feid and Olivia Rodrigo. With Gray’s ‘80s inspired synth pop record Found Heaven, his set should be nothing short of energetically charged with the sounds that made up that era. Conan Gray and Olivia Rodrigo have been close friends for a longtime and have spoken publicly about their friendship and shared career in music over the years . . . perhaps we’ll get an onstage collaboration between the two on a track, if we’re lucky. Gray’s next album, Wishbone, will be released later this summer, so expect to hear the leading single “This Song” during his set!
Closing off the night is the widely admired Olivia Rodrigo, certainly an artist that is pulling in tons of festival goers this weekend. With the incredible success of her sophomore album GUTS, Rodrigo is sure to give an electrifying performance. She has long mirrored the kind of stage presence from past pop-punk icons like Paramore, making for a set that will be full of head banging and reveling in the pleasure of hating on your ex with songs like “vampire” and “traitor.” Rodrigo embraces and fully embodies the sweeping range of emotions that Gen Z resonates with, from the social anxiety of songs like “ballad of a homeschooled girl” to the quiet envy of tracks like “lacy.” There’s a reason why she’s been able to achieve such high levels of acclaim and a loyal fanbase, and there’s no doubt that her set this Saturday will show exactly why that is.
Sunday, June 8th
Sunday is full of sets and artists to close off the weekend with a bang, or rather, a gradual and calm buildup to artists like Hozier and Glass Animals.
If you’re still looking for the hypnotic R&B vibe from Friday and Saturday, then catching Amaarae’s set is a must. One of the leading voices in alternative pop, Amaarae has tracks that will have you dancing one moment and swinging to the spellbinding production the next. Her most recent album, Fountain Baby, has house-adjacent vibes on tracks like “Angels in Tibet” switching to more traditional pop feels on a song like “Sociopathic Dance Queen.” Check out Amaare’s set for a great start to the final day of this festival.
The Japanese House is also performing on Sunday, following in the footsteps of similar bands from earlier in the weekend, such as Wallows and The Backfires. With lead singer Amber Mary Bain’s voice that is inherently romantic, this is a set that will have you comfortably reminiscing on times past. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the introspective dream-pop music that the band is known for. Hits like “Saw You in a Dream” and “Sunshine Baby” are sure to make it on the setlist. You may even be able to relive ‘brat summer’ momentarily if they choose to play their rendition of “Apple” off of Charli XCX’s remix album, on which they’re featured. Check out their slot to find out!
British singer/songwriter Raye will be performing this Sunday as well. Another artist that has cemented herself as a remarkable talent, both in her soaring vocals and hybrid of modern and old-timey production backing her, this is a chance to see one of the UK’s most talented artists. With the heart of artists like Amy Winehouse and the modernity of today’s trends in soundscapes, she’s distinctly unique. Raye makes for an intriguing hybrid between jazz and pop and is certainly one of the artists that you’ll want to catch if you’ll make it the last day of the weekend.
The leader of soft-girl pop these days, Clairo will be performing ahead of Hozier and Glass Animals. With the success of her third studio album, Charm, Clairo’s stage presence within this album cycle feels as natural and fully realized as the sonics of her last album did. A repeated performer at Gov Ball, Clairo is sure to sing hits like “Bags” and “Sofia,” as well as songs off of the new record such as “Juna” and “Second Nature.” Charm was made to be listened to in the summer heat, imbued with the same energy as the surrounding greenery and lushness that comes with the season. If you’re to see anyone on Sunday, Clairo has to be on that list!
Glass Animals, known for their psychedelic pop and alternative rock sound, are one of the leading acts for the weekend. Their long and successful career is marked by hits like “Heat Waves,” “Gooey,” and “Youth.” What remains the same throughout all their eras is an addictingly magnetic sound, one that is equal parts contemporary and genre bending. Another band from the weekend that is able to effortlessly capture a feeling of nostalgia within their songs, Glass Animals’ performance is one that will stand out from the weekend of already terrific acts and artists.
Closing out 2025’s Governors Ball is Hozier, the iconic pioneer of modern-day folk pop. With too many hits to name (“Take Me to Church,” “Too Sweet,” “From Eden,” etc.) the Irish artist is known for his thunderous and climatic vocal performances while also being able to maintain a softer tone on tracks like “Cherry Wine.” Hozier’s live shows often have stunning psychedelic visuals, as if his spellbinding voice wasn’t enough. They’re known for their emotional intensity while also being able to expertly maintain an intimate atmosphere, even while performing for thousands upon thousands of fans. Hozier is sure to deliver a deeply moving, musically rich experience, one that will be a highlight of the weekend.
Those are just a few of the acts that we’re most excited to see at this year’s Governors Ball! Check out our post-coverage once the weekend wraps up to catch our thoughts on some of the best performances to come out of this year’s festival.
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© Charles Reagan
© Charles Reagan
