Returning to New York City’s Randall’s Island at the end of the month is none other than Governors Ball Music Festival. Now in its ninth year, the growing festival continues to make a strong name for itself by delivering eye-opening lineups, curated experiential activities, and always ensuring the best of New York City (and the world) is at our very fingertips.

This year, the festival is promising headliners Tyler, the Creator, Florence + the Machine, Major Lazer, and The Strokes but in addition to a knockout topline, Governors Ball has also committed to rounding out their lineup with some of the best artists in music.

Here are the five non-headlining acts we can’t wait to see at Governors Ball 2019:

Elohim

Concocting an intoxicating blend of pulsing electronic beats, smooth vocals, and high-energy live performances, Elohim is not someone you want to miss at Governors Ball this year. Following her incredible eponymous 2018 album, the artist has continued to release FIRE singles like “Connect,” “Buckets,” and her latest, “TV.” After confirming in an interview with Variety that “TV” is the first taste of Elohim’s upcoming 2-part album “Braindead,” and news the first volume, Braindead Pt. 1 EP, is due in May, you better believe we’ll be front and center for this completely new and reimagined live set.

Saba

Rap fans attending Governors Ball need to add Chicago rapper Saba to their weekend lineups. Fusing influences of R&B, soul, and jazz, Saba’s poignant lyricism is perfectly complemented by an impressive blend of mid-tempo, eclectic, and at times, bass-heavy beats. Last year, the “Photosynthesis” rapper released an incredible concept album called CARE FOR ME that is dedicated to the memory of his late cousin and truly shows the artist’s sonic growth since his 2016 debut, Bucket List Project. 

Clairo

Lo-fi bedroom pop artist Clairo will soon be a headliner in her own right. After her viral single “Pretty Girl” sent seismic waves across the music world in 2017, the singer-songwriter continued her unrelenting ascension by releasing her 2018 debut diary 001 EP. Now, after releasing music alongside SG Lewis, Cuco, Jakob Ogawa, and others, Clairo’s latest singles “Bubble Gum” and “Sis” find the young artist gearing up for another major release — just in time for Governors Ball and her arena tour supporting Khalid.

Led by 16-year-old Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, IT), Calpurnia is a Canadian indie rock band you need to have on your radar. In March, the band released their newest single “Cell,” a buzzing guitar-led track that will definitely have the crowds dancing at Governors Ball, and their first follow-up to 2018’s Scout EP. Though it’s clear the band is influenced by staple classic and contemporary rock bands, they’re quickly developing their own unique sound and will surely deliver a festival-worthy performance at Gov Ball 2019.

Relying on a healthy blend of organic and electronic sounds, alt-R&B multi-instrumentalist Cautious Clay creates a textured experience that erupts in a live setting. The rising soulful singer recently released his Table of Context EP which finds him further exploring and developing the many exciting elements of his music. The new EP follows Cautious Clay’s 2018 debut EP Blood Type and the viral single “Cold War.” After seeing Cautious Clay a few times over the past few years, and with new music in his discography, you know we aren’t missing this set at Governors Ball 2019.

In addition to our must-sees, Governors Ball returns on May 31-June 2 with major performances by some of the biggest names in music like Kacey Musgraves, The 1975, Lil Wayne, Brockhampton, and more. See the full lineup and purchase tickets here.

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