Governors Ball competing with new Panorama Festival on Randalls Island
Beck is slotted to perform on the opening night of the Governors Ball music festival, happening Friday, June 3 through Sunday, June 5, on Manhattan's Randalls Island. Credit: Newsday / Jeffrey Basinger
With Kanye West, The Strokes and The Killers headlining this year’s Governors Ball, the festival seems stronger than ever.
Digging deeper into the lineup finds cult favorites like Amityville’s De La Soul, Robyn and Death Cab for Cutie, as well as buzzed-about newcomers like Lake Grove’s Jon Bellion, rockers Bully and DJ Duke Dumont.
However, the future of the festival is in question with the arrival of the competing Panorama Festival, created by Coachella producers Goldenvoice, also set for Randall's Island later this summer. The city approved the new festival over the objections of Governors Ball producers Founders Entertainment.
“We’re very confident our lineup and proven track record will draw a great crowd to Governors Ball this year,” Founders Entertainment partner Tom Russell said in a statement. “But this is a shortsighted and disappointing solution. The city needs a long-term strategy for approving music festivals that ensures it is maximizing the economic and community impact of these events. Scheduling two same-genre festivals on top of each like this makes it difficult for either to provide the maximum benefit to its fans, its neighbors and taxpayers.”
Goldenvoice producer Mark Shulman says that both festivals can succeed.
“New York City has 12.5 million residents, plus an enormous number of domestic and international visitors, who keep our many sports arenas, music venues, museums, theaters and restaurants at capacity each night,” he said in a statement. “NYC sustains multiple music festivals, and Panorama will add one additional entertainment option over the summer.”
This year will show whether that is true.
WHAT Governors Ball
WHEN | WHERE Noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Randalls Island
INFO $105; 888-541-9753, governorsballmusicfestival.com
AFTER DARK
Festivals not your scene? Not a fan of sunlight? Well, the Governors Ball After Dark series may be more your speed. In addition to their Governors Ball sets, some acts are doing full concerts at other venues around New York this weekend. Here are some worth catching:
FRIDAY
Against Me! (10 p.m., Webster Hall) The rockers led by Laura Jane Grace have always been fiery, but she took that to the next level in North Carolina recently, burning her birth certificate onstage there in protest, declaring, “Goodbye, gender.” The band’s New York show will likely feature different fireworks.
SATURDAY
Albert Hammond Jr. (11:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl) The Strokes guitarist will do double duty throughout the festival, playing with the band and on his own. He’ll be pushing songs from his underappreciated “Momentary Masters” solo album at this show.
SUNDAY
Galantis (10:30 p.m., Webster Hall) We can only hope a dance battle breaks out at the Swedish EDM duo’s show as cool as the one in their recent “No Money” video. — GLENN GAMBOA
DON’T MISS
With nonstop music on four stages, the Governors Ball schedule is filled with plenty of tough decisions. But here are some sets that are sure to be special:
FRIDAY
Beck (6:45 p.m., GovBallNYC Stage) The ever-changing Beck just dropped a surprising new single, “Wow,” this week that is straight-up hip-hop, following a string of impressive EDM collaborations. Who knows what his full set will bring?
SATURDAY
De La Soul (5:45 p.m., Big Apple Stage) The pride of Amityville won’t roll out their much-anticipated album “And the Anonymous Nobody” until August, which features collaborations with everyone from Usher to David Byrne, but this high-profile set should give fans an idea of what to expect.
SUNDAY
Eagles of Death Metal (3:25 p.m., Big Apple Stage) The first area appearance for the band since surviving the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, where they were performing at the Bataclan, should bring some emotional moments in the midst of the band’s humorous indie rock. — GLENN GAMBOA
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