Gov Ball has been a part of my festival history for nearly a decade now. I first attended in 2016, during the summer after my first year out of college, and like a lot of people who have spent time wandering Randall’s Island with a schedule in hand and plans that inevitably change, some of my most memorable live music experiences are tied to that weekend. I finally got to see my favorite band, The Strokes, and also experienced one of those classic festival moments that somehow becomes better with time: getting completely soaked in the rain during The Killers’ set and embracing it rather than running for cover. I returned again in 2022 alongside fellow Staged Haze writer Ilana Rubin, and while the exact years have admittedly started to blur together a bit, the feeling surrounding the festival has stayed pretty consistent.

What has always made Gov Ball special to me is that beyond the headliners and the obvious crowd-pullers, it has a way of introducing people to artists they may not have otherwise discovered. Some of the best festival moments happen when you wander into a set with little expectation and leave wondering how you had gone so long without listening to that artist before. This year’s lineup feels especially strong in that regard, packed with newer acts, rising names, and artists who feel on the verge of a much bigger moment. So whether you’re planning your weekend down to the minute or leaving room to stumble upon something unexpected, here are the acts we think deserve a spot on your Gov Ball schedule. – Jesse

FRIDAY

Absolutely (Snapchat • 1:30-2 PM)

Singer, songwriter, and producer Abby-Lynn Keen, known best by her stage name Absolutely, is fresh off a massive tour supporting her sister RAYE. Musicianship must run in the family, because there’s another sister, AMMA, who’s also a singer, and also toured with the former two. Additionally, Absolutely just released her new album, Paracosm, in February, and paints a vivid world with her music. More dreamy and ethereal than the soul her sister has become famous for, Absolutely’s music touches on the intangible: after all, paracosm is defined as “an imaginary world, often created during childhood, a coping mechanism for stress or trauma, or simply a rich creative outlet.”

At just 22-years-old, Absolutely has been able to create a lane for herself that stands on its own outside of her famous family: she has several writing credits for artists like Teddy Swims and Giveon, plus tour experience with artists like BANKS and Reneé Rapp. It’s safe to say that Absolutely will be walking away from her debut at Governors Ball with some new fans. – Kristin

Audrey Hobert (GovBall NYC • 2-2:30 PM)

If you’ve ever read up on any of Staged Haze’s music recommendations in the past, you know we LOVE Audrey Hobert around here. Most well-known for her collaborations as a songwriter to real life best friend Gracie Abrams, Audrey Hobert launched her own career as a pop artist last year with the release of her spectacular debut album, Who’s The Clown?, which we named as the best album of 2025.

Since the release of the album, Audrey has been touring pretty incessantly, selling out large venues and debuting at a variety of major US festivals, including Governor’s Ball and Lollapalooza later this summer. Her live performance, from what I’ve seen online, gives major theater kid energy, and features props like a mini trampoline and an oversized trench coat à la Little Rascals. She takes “girl next door” vibes to the next level, reminiscent of the opening scene in “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” where Lizzie is dancing and singing into a hairbrush (IYKYK). I haven’t had the chance to see Hobert live yet, and I’m super curious to hear what type of demo she pulls in a festival setting. – Kristin

Confidence Man (The Grove • 2:15–3:00 PM)

I first heard of Confidence Man when their song “Don’t You Know I’m in a Band” landed on my Spotify Discover playlist one week, and I was instantly hooked. I love anything modern that has an ’80s sensibility to it, and anything that immediately makes me want to dance. Confidence Man somehow manages to do both effortlessly. Their music feels playful and larger than life, the kind of songs that instantly make you want to move even if you’re sitting still.

I was only able to catch part of their set at Primavera Sound in Barcelona last year, so I’m excited I’ll get another chance at Gov Ball. I remember loving how they carried themselves on stage: hot, sexy, and ridiculously fun. It felt less like watching a concert and more like getting invited into a party. Like their name suggests, listening to them gives me a little confidence boost, too. Playing Friday at The Grove, they’re perfectly positioned to wake everybody up and fully kick the festival day into gear. – Jesse

Arcy Drive (The Grove • 3:30-4:15 PM)

There’s something poetic about a band from Long Island coming home to play one of New York City’s biggest stages. Arcy Drive built their name the hard way — touring the country in an old converted school bus, playing backyards and dive bars for several years as an independent group. That grassroots grind paid off: their debut album The Pit, released in April of 2025, helped them amass over 35 million streams.

Now, they’re back for a major performance at GovBall with a whole lot more momentum behind them: plus a debut album on Atlantic Records teased for sometime in 2026. GovBall booked Arcy Drive before all that news dropped, and something tells me they’re about to get a crowd twice the size they were expecting. – Kristin

The Beths (The Grove • 6:00–7:00 PM)

The Beths are one of those bands that somehow make anxiety and heartbreak sound weirdly joyful. The New Zealand indie rock group has built a devoted fanbase through bright guitar melodies and incredibly specific songwriting that captures all of those messy little feelings most people keep to themselves. Songs that sound upbeat on the surface often reveal themselves to be quietly devastating once you sit with the lyrics, which is part of what makes them so addictive.

We even covered their latest album Straight Line Was a Lie and called it one of the band’s strongest releases. There’s also just something about festival season and guitar-driven indie bands that always hits differently. I can already picture a crowd of people screaming lyrics back while simultaneously dancing and having some sort of small existential crisis. That balance between emotional honesty and pure fun is what makes The Beths stand out to me. Playing Friday evening at The Grove, their slot feels perfectly timed, too. By then you’re usually a little sunburnt, a little tired, and maybe a little emotional, which honestly feels very Beths-coded. – Jesse

SATURDAY

Radio Free Alice (GovBall NYC • 1–1:30 PM)

Radio Free Alice are a relatively new five-piece post-punk band from Melbourne, Australia, and despite not even having a full album out yet, they already sound like a band with years behind them. There’s a chemistry and confidence there that feels incredibly natural, the kind where everybody seems locked into the exact same wavelength. The first thing that immediately grabbed me was the lead singer’s voice. You know those voices where halfway through listening you just kind of stop and go “ooooooo!” because there’s so much feeling packed into it? There’s something about it that reminds me a little of Morrissey, with that same emotionally charged and dramatic quality.

Pair that with intellectual lyrics and ridiculously catchy guitar riffs, and suddenly you understand why I’ve become a little obsessed. Their music feels a bit post-punk, a lot edgy, and entirely addictive. I’m also a huge fan of post-punk, so I’ll definitely be starting off my Saturday with their set and honestly could not be more excited. – Jesse

Flowerovlove (Snapchat • 1:30–2:00 PM)

I named Flowerovlove one of Staged Haze’s Artists to Watch in 2026, so seeing her on the Gov Ball lineup feels like a bit of a full-circle moment. She has this effortless quality to her music that feels polished and playful at the same time. Songs like “Casual Lady” have been on repeat for me, and she has a way of making catchy pop songs feel like they come from a very specific point of view rather than just chasing trends.

There still hasn’t been an official debut album announcement, but I’d honestly be surprised if she wasn’t building toward a much bigger moment. I’m especially excited because festival environments are often where artists like Flowerovlove break through to entirely new audiences. Fans of Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo will probably naturally gravitate toward her music, but she has a personality and perspective that feels entirely her own. Catch her Saturday from 1:30–2:00 PM on the Snapchat Stage, because I have a feeling this might become one of those “I saw them before they got huge” moments. – Jesse

Spacey Jane (Snapchat • 2:30–3:15 PM)

Australian indie rock quietly continues to win me over, and Spacey Jane feels like a natural addition to that list. Their music has that warm guitar-heavy sound that feels instantly familiar while still carrying enough emotional weight to pull you in. There’s something nostalgic about it without feeling like it’s trying too hard.

This also feels like one of those bands built for festival season. There’s something about hearing bright guitars and huge choruses outside in the middle of summer that just works. Playing Saturday from 2:30–3:15 PM at the Snapchat Stage, I can see this becoming one of those sets people casually stop by and then end up staying for the entire thing. – Jesse

Jane Remover (The Grove • 3:50–4:30 PM)

I was happy to see Jane Remover on the lineup after seeing clips from their Coachella performances earlier this year. The performances looked chaotic, energetic, and like the kind of thing that immediately makes you wish you had been standing in the crowd yourself. Jane has built a world around their music that constantly shifts between genres and sounds, pulling from rap, electronic music, and internet culture while somehow making it all feel cohesive.

Festival sets are often where artists like Jane Remover really thrive because unpredictability becomes part of the experience. You never really know what you’re walking into, and honestly that’s half the appeal. Their Saturday afternoon set at The Grove feels like perfect placement too, right when the festival energy starts building toward the evening rush. – Jesse

Snow Strippers (The Grove • 4:50-5:35pm)

Snow Strippers, the Detroit electronic duo made up of singer Tatiana Schwaninger and producer Graham Perez, first gained attention online during the indie sleaze resurgence and have quickly built a dedicated following over the last few years. While binging their discography, it became really clear why they’ve gained so much momentum and why their music feels like such a natural fit for a live setting. Their songs sit in an interesting space where they’re danceable and energetic without feeling overwhelming. There’s still emotion and atmosphere layered into everything, but what kept pulling me back in was how immediately I wanted to move while listening.

Ironically, I completely missed Snow Strippers at Primavera Sound in Barcelona last year, and now I’m kicking myself a little for it. Since then, they’ve only continued gaining popularity, especially following the buzz around their Coachella performances this year. Listening through their catalog, I also loved hearing how their sound has evolved. Their newest project, April Mixtape 3, leans into a darker atmosphere compared to their self-titled debut The Snow Strippers, while still holding onto the dreamy quality that initially pulled people in. I hear shades of Purity Ring and The xx in the way atmosphere feels just as important as the beats themselves. If you’re catching artists like 2hollis and Jane Remover earlier in the day, Snow Strippers feels like a natural next stop, while also serving as a perfect pregame before heading into Major Lazer later that night.

SUNDAY

Hemlocke Springs (Snapchat • 1:10–1:45 PM)

This will actually be my first time seeing Hemlocke Springs live, which feels a little overdue considering I dove deep into her debut EP, Going Going Gone, for Staged Haze back in 2023. Looking back now, it’s kind of wild realizing just how much she’s done since then. She’s opened for artists like Chappell Roan and Doja Cat, continued building her own world visually and sonically, and released her debut album, The Apple Tree Under the Sea, earlier this year.

What I’ve always loved about Hemlocke Springs is that there’s something delightfully strange about her music. Even as her audience has grown, she’s held onto this quirky personality and willingness to make choices that feel uniquely hers. Playing Sunday from 1:10–1:45 PM on the Snapchat Stage, she also gets the honor of potentially becoming someone’s first surprise discovery of the day. – Jesse

Slayyyter (GovBall NYC, 2-2:30pm)

If my prediction is correct, everyone and their mother will be at the GovBall Stage at 2pm on Sunday to see Slayyyter, whose current trajectory to stardom is rivaling the likes of Chappell Roan and Olivia Dean. Just last year, Slayyyter wasn’t at the level she’s at now, gearing up for the release of her 2026 album WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, which was, at one point, planned to be the artist’s last album.

It’s safe to say that before Slayyyter’s album was released, GovBall wasn’t banking on a meteoric rise to where she’s gotten today. With just thirty minutes to deliver a highly-anticipated set and a number of songs from the project currently going viral on TikTok, it’s safe to say that Slayyyter will be pulling in a large number of people into the park early, and I know she’s going to deliver. – Kristin

Between Friends (The Grove • 2:30–3:15 PM)

I feel like I’ve known about Between Friends forever at this point, and I loved their 2023 project I Love My Girl, She’s My Boy. There’s something about their music that feels dreamy and nostalgic while still sounding completely modern, almost like hearing a memory filtered through internet culture and bedroom pop.

They’ve always had a really distinct identity and aesthetic, and I’m excited to finally experience that energy in a festival environment. I can imagine this becoming one of those sets where people start dancing and suddenly realize they know way more songs than they thought. Playing Sunday at The Grove, their set feels perfectly placed for that hazy middle-of-the-day festival energy. – Jesse

Holly Humberstone (GovBall NYC • 3:15-4 PM)

I’ve been a fan of British singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone for several years now, and I was anticipating the release of her new album, Cruel World, ever since she she dropped the lead single, “Die Happy,” in November of 2025. Humberstone’s return after nearly three years since her last album feels like her magnum opus: so many of the songs have an amazing sing along vibe to them: I can only imagine the fans in the crowd singing along to “To Love Somebody” and “Cruel World,” plus throwbacks like “Falling Asleep At The Wheel” and “Scarlett.”

Holly’s spring and summer run of shows are her first back in the states since September 2024, making her set one not to miss for mega fans. She just performed at Coachella in April and Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 this past weekend, so her festival set is certainly fresh and ready to go. – Kristin

Fcukers (The Grove • 3:45–4:30 PM)

I feel like Fcukers have had a pretty quick rise lately, and after seeing them both at Primavera last year and opening for Lorde at Madison Square Garden during her Ultrasound Tour, I completely understand why. Their music feels like it was designed specifically for movement. Some artists make good songs and some artists make good moments, and Fcukers somehow feel like they’re aiming for both.

There’s a lyric in one of their songs, “if you want to party, come over to my house,” and honestly that feels like the best possible summary of their entire vibe. If you’re looking for a set where you can completely let go and dance, I have a feeling this is it. Playing Sunday afternoon at The Grove, they’ll probably be responsible for a lot of people suddenly finding a second wind on the last day of the festival. – Jesse

Check out our previous festival coverage HERE.