ICYMI Governors Ball 2015 was ruled by a band of alternative, eclectic butterflies — and Björk was their moth mother. The fifth annual Governors Ball on Randalls Island in NYC this past weekend attracted its own bunch of weird crowds this year. However, it was the alternative female musicians who truly rocked the island and set the bar high for future music festivals. They fiercely showered attendees with a boundless array of genres and talent, futuristic, anti-festival outfits, and their own unique spirit, which ultimately conquered the three day event.
The female-dominated festival kicked off with brash UK pop princess Charli XCX freeing the nipple and dedicating her songs to “all the ladies” (particularly the fearless Danish singer/sportswear fanatic MØ) as she thrusted into the crowd with her soulful vocals. Later in the day, the ethereal St. Vincent gave us life as she crooned “Cruel Cruel Cruel,” spouted poetry, and played all those mystifying guitar riffs, leaving the crowd mesmerized.
The second day of Governors Ball included a set from Kiesza, who once again makes us jealous of her epic choreography, which included splits and acrobatic stunts, while Yukimi Nagano of Little Dragon bounced across the stage and on the drums throughout hits like “Ritual Union” and “Klapp Klapp.” Also on day two, Mariana Diamandis of Mariana and the Diamonds commanded the stage with her upbeat glam pop presence, while the ladies of White Lung offered festival go-ers their only taste of punk rock (the same goes for Kate Tempest and the female hip hop heads). Closing out Saturday was the aerial Björk, who delivered a sublime experience, performing in a butterfly costume, with a full orchestra and visuals behind her. It was truly Björk’s show, and we were all grateful to witness it.
Other off-center female artists of the day included Clean Bandit (the dance group responsible for “Rather Be”), Los Angeles based electro-pop singer Liz Nasitco of Holychild, Zoe Silverman of Astr (the atmospheric pop R&B group who give headliner Drake a run for his money with their groovy cover of “Hold On We Are Going Home”), and the angelic folk sounds of New York’s Sharon Van Etten.
Day three concluded the weekend with “Cool Kids” singer Jamie Sierota of Echosmith, the Brooklyn-based folk band Streets of Laredo, and America’s sweetheart and Yankee fan Lana Del Ray. The sole female closing headliner pleased fans with crowd favorites “Blue Jeans” and “Summertime Sadness,” as if we had been waiting for her to grace us our whole lives (even at a whisper.)
As the sun was setting over the main stage and the queen of wailing, Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, blissfully sang the somber track “St. Jude,” while audiences watched her in a daze. The graceful UK singer performed tracks off her latest album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, and totally delivered when bestowing us with the classics. While we said good bye to the muddy grounds, our mothers’ vintage overalls, and the slew of underage kids begging for alcohol, the talk leaving the festival was clearly “Florence was the best of the weekend.”
So, ladies of Governors Ball 2015, thank you for keeping NYC weird.
Review by Danielle O’Neill. Follow her on Twitter @doneill13.