Live, in Photos: Governors Ball 2025 with Olivia Rodrigo, Clairo, Glass Animals, and More

EventsLive, In Photos

Live, in Photos: Governors Ball 2025 with Olivia Rodrigo, Clairo, Glass Animals, and More

Hozier, Mannequin Pussy, Raye, The Beaches, MARINA, Car Seat Headrest, Wallows, and more from Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York.

Words: Dutch Doscher

Photos: Dutch Doscher

June 09, 2025

Governors Ball 2025 rolled into Flushing Meadows with thunderclouds overhead and something electric in the air. It was one of those rare weekends where chaos and clarity coexist—where sweaty, sunburned crowds bounced between punk rage, pop bliss, and moments of genuine transcendence.

It all started Friday under gray skies, with Dog Park hitting early like a warning shot—loud, fast, and unbothered by the sparse early crowd. But it was Mannequin Pussy who detonated the day. In a weekend built around big pop and brand-backed polish, they showed up with nothing but fury and guitars. Singer Marisa Dabice didn’t just perform—she challenged the stage to survive her. And somehow it did.

Jean Dawson followed with an unpredictable, glitch-heavy set that felt like a beautifully orchestrated breakdown. Tyla countered with tight choreography, shimmering vocals, and pop star precision that never once felt rehearsed. The Beaches rolled in with something to prove and a new album (No Hard Feelings) on the way. They delivered glam-rock confidence and previewed new tracks like “My People” and “What Doesn’t Break Us” with swagger to spare. Role Model was met with a wall of screaming fans who knew every word—and just when the emotion peaked, Conan Gray strolled on stage for a surprise kiss. It was the kind of moment you don’t plan, but never forget.

Benson Boone, part heartthrob, part Olympic gymnast, somersaulted across the stage—literally. We lost count at six flips. And then came Tyler, the Creator. No band. No props. Just him, perched on a massive shipping container tagged Chromakopia, performing solo like a prophet in the floodlights. He opened with new tracks—weird and wonderful—and then swung into crowd favorites with ease. People left drenched, buzzing, and convinced they’d seen something special.

Saturday’s sets almost didn’t happen. Morning storms wiped out a chunk of the schedule—Die Spitz, sadly, never made it to stage—but by afternoon the clouds parted and the music returned. The Lemon Twigs opened with pure showmanship, all matching suits, tight harmonies, and rock-star bravado. Wallows slid in with a laid-back, sunny set, and then Conan Gray turned the field into a cinematic shipwreck fantasy—performing amid visuals of rolling seas and a sinking mast, like the captain of his own heartbreak.

Then came the main event: Olivia Rodrigo, playing to what may have been the largest crowd Gov Ball has ever seen. And just when the set reached full scream-along, she brought out David Byrne for a searing duet of “Burning Down the House.” It was wild, weird, and unexpectedly perfect—an icon from another era crashing into Gen-Z pop royalty.

Sunday kicked off with Snow Wife and Militarie Gun, both pushing fresh material and raw energy. Raye arrived like a jazz-era time traveler with a set that mixed velvet vocals and goosebump-inducing ballads. Her voice, her band, her presence—it all hit. Hard. Royal Otis brought breezy charm, and then the skies opened just in time for Clairo’s ‘60s lounge act, casting a romantic haze over her cocktail-hour vibes. Mt. Joy followed with what’s become their signature: no flash, just songs that make you feel everything. Glass Animals took things into a dreamier zone, layering rhythm and haze.

And then came Hozier. For 90 minutes, he turned the park into a cathedral. Hit after hit, with a mid-set surprise: an acoustic performance from a small riser deep in the crowd. No announcement. No drama. Just Hozier and a guitar, playing to a circle of awestruck fans under a fading sky. By the time it was all over, no one wanted to leave. People lingered—hugging, hydrating, and trying to memorize the feeling before it vanished.

Gov Ball 2025 wasn’t the loudest or most polished year. But it was honest, surprising, and unforgettable. The kind of weekend where rock still kicks, pop still stuns, and strangers still look out for each other.

Day One