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For the Northern Hemisphere, summer officially starts on June 20.

Yet, for myself and many fanatic New Yorkers (interns we love to hate and true lifers alike), the first breath of summer feels more like the day one of Queens’ annual Gov Ball.

This year, fans packed shoulder to shoulder across three sprawling stages in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, braving warm rain and a few pops of thunder to catch jam-packed sets from headliners like Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, and Tyler, The Creator.

From pop to hip-hop and some indie rock, there’s really some music for everyone at Gov Ball, and it’s all just a quick subway ride away, depending on how many people are willing to squeeze into the 7. Since debuting in 2011, the fest has grown considerably in scale and scope, now drawing nearly 150,000 attendees over the weekend.

I’ve only lived here for a couple of years, but it’s long enough to gather that this multi-genre festival feels more like a good-natured family reunion than a raging musical bender. Were there quite a few twelve-year-olds in the crowd? Absolutely. Was I too cool to be there? Definitely not.

Ready to swap some head-banging for smoother swaying was no deal-breaker. We made our way to catch the final acts on Sunday: bedroom pop-girly Clairo, five-piece indie rock band Mt. Joy, Aussie-rockers Glass Animals, and of course, a new headliner that had the entire crowd hollering, Hozier.

Luckily for us, Flushing Meadows has no shortage of options for fueling up. Ticket holders have access to five food courts and freebies, too, if you know where to look. Dunkin’ was handing out throwback merch and ice-cold lattes (caffeinating highly recommended), and some spirit brands had spin-to-win deals, too.

My advice? Skip the longlines, $25 cocktails, and stick to the basics. Festival food is festival food.

Now, let’s get to what matters: the music.

The park spans miles, but no map was needed to find the first stop. Clairo’s voice finds you: soft, ethereal, layered, and breathy. The only heavy side of her set is the lyrics, but you may as well forget them when you’re in front of her. If Indie Goth-Girl is in this summer, she’s a blueprint, floating around in a black mesh dress, mic in one hand and wine in the other.

The singer/songwriter knows her aesthetic well and made her Gov Ball debut more gracefully than others, sweeping both sides of the stage with lo-fi gems like “Echo” and “Bags.” The slow burn in “Juna” offered a moment to make some sing-song intros to the band. And, still, nothing matched the dream-state of “Sofia.” Her sets are true easy-listening, albeit more mellow than expected.

Want to see her live? You can find Clairo’s complete 2025 tour calendar here.

For more energy, all we had to do was swap stages. One of the joys of a festival is the pace of it all. Most artists are allotted just enough time to deliver their greatest hits sandwiched between some new tunes. Occasionally, there’s room for leftovers. “Leave it to a bunch of stoners to map out an hour’s worth of time, and that’s what you get!” to quote Mt. Joy’s lead singer Matt Quinn.

What we got was more music, and nobody was complaining. The folksy rock outfit just released their fourth studio album, “Hope We Have Fun,’ and offered a rare example of artists whose fresh music lands just as well with a crowd craving all the oldies-but-goodies. They sang those, too — belting “Astrovan” and “Julia” before finding some solace in “Silver Lining.”

Throngs erupted as Quinn welcomed Gigi Perez — who has quite a few shows lined up — for “In the Middle.” The two duet together beautifully, building hazy vocals into a moody ballad that might make you want to text your ex, and blow up both of your lives a bit. Perez is someone to watch; the same vibrato that sent “Sailor Song” viral is just as infectious, live. It’s almost a Tracy Chapman-esque tone, deep, a bit androgynous, and intensely powerful. If she’s not on the next lineup, I’ll protest. Politely, but still.

Mt. Joy’s other items felt like a stripped-back reflection on life with a lens that lends beauty to all of it. “Lucy” rang like an anthem amid a stream of existential questions like “Dust to dust, what becomes of us?” — a track inspired by a friend battling cancer. A sweeter, slower escape came with “Bathroom Light,” and those still craving gritty guitar riffs and rebellious Americana got a rousing cover of Wheatus’ Millennial jam “Teenage Dirtbag.” Even when they turn up the tempo, this band doesn’t miss a beat.

Never seen the band live? Click here to see Mt. Joy’s schedule to see if they’re headed to your neck of the woods.

We’re already hours in, but if there’s a song worth holding out for, it’s Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves.” Nothing feels more thematically suited for this late spring/early summer extravaganza than these lyrics: “Sometimes, all I think about is you/ Late nights in the middle of June/ Heat waves been fakin’ me out.” It’s made exactly for this mood, and while it did offer a satisfying climax to their set, I found myself more impressed with the band’s deeper cuts and frontman Dave Bayley’s dance moves.

A standout moment came as he launched into mid-crowd for “Gooey,” the layered melody that helped put the group on the map in 2014. I watched them perform it almost a decade ago, and it still has that nostalgic, hypnotic quality that nips you when you least expect it. It feels a world apart from “Tokyo Drifting” feat. Denzel Curry, which the band offers as an invitation to rave beside jolting lasers and bouncing EDM graphics. That beat is a kind of its own; electric, eclectic, and a little bit sensual (I witnessed a parent cover her kids’ ears.) The best of Bayley and Curry in a bit over three minutes.

There’s still a bit of Glass Animals’ tour left. Snag tix to see the group now.

I caught Hozier at the laid-back Forest Hills Stadium last year, and he delivered with a force. But, closing out Gov Ball is higher stakes, and even more so for someone severely under the weather. He unnececarily apologized for his cold shortly after settling in (while still managing to look like a God), then belted like he’d never felt more alive, opening with “Nobody’s Soldier,” before carving out time in his set to deliver stone-cold classics “Someone New,” “Like Real People Do,” and “De Selby (Part 2).”

Of course, if anyone can perform while fighting a virus that feels “like a shark with knees and legs,” it’s the almost 7-foot Irishman who harnesses a voice my friend compares to “Heaven’s gates opening.” Like last time I saw him, his strongest moments were also the softest ones, especially when he wandered to the B-Stage for “Unknown/Nth” and “Cherry Wine”. For people who have speculated that he’s not real, this was the proof. Raw talent requires nothing more than a mic, melting eyes, and Hozier’s matchless yell.

Hozier, as a good headliner does, took a minute (several, actually) to speak on issues close to his heart. He called for an end to imperialism, expressed support for a “Palestine that’s free from occupation,” and encouraged unity over division. During “Nina Cried Power,” graphics of unhoused people lit up the screen, juxtaposed with charts showing the surging stock prices of Lockheed Martin. Faces froze; it was an impact you felt as much as you saw.

Just when it seemed that the only thing missing was “Too Sweet” and the long-awaited closer “Take Me To Church,” he gave us those, too. Breathless, but no less powerful, it was a testament to strength and solidarity, but also evidence that Governor’s Ball belongs to the people, regardless of age, background, or taste. It’s a fest filled with music all of us can enjoy — loud, clear, and definitely worth listening to.

Hozier is on the road. To see him, smash this link now.

Missed out on Gov Ball and want to catch a fest or three in the Tri-State these next few months?

You’re in luck.

Here are just five of our favorite options for can’t-miss multi-day outdoor get-downs in NY, NJ and CT in summer 2025.

What else is coming up? Take a look at our comprehensive list of 2025 music festivals to find the one that makes the most sense for you.