THE GOVERNORS BALL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanMusical madness rolled into Randall’s Island, situated in the East River in New York City, this past weekend on June 23rd and 24th. This festival of merriment was none other than The Governors Ball Music Festival 2012. It was a non-stop musical celebration as over 42,000 attendees decided to check it out over the span of two days.
Although this sounds like quite a production, the festival was well organized and consisted of only two stages. Artists played to a sold-out crowd and music was varied from electronic dance to rock. The musical spectrum catered to a diverse set of fans.
Popular talent included Beck, Chromeo, Fiona Apple, Passion Pit, Kid Cudi, Modest Mouse, Devendra Banhart, Built to Spill and more.
Saturday was a scene right out of the club with the electronic dance sound entertaining every minute and keeping fans dancing to the beat, clapping their hands in the air and enjoying the sounds. A real treat was in store when Special Disco Version, the partnership of James Murphy and Pat Mahoney from LCD Soundsystem, included a blast from the past, vinyl discs. The party took a fast ride into the late 70’s, early 80’s, pulling its audience along with positive and persuasive messages of a better world and higher aspirations.
One of the most animated team of artists of Saturday was Duck Sauce (a D.J. duo) with a style of their own and they even included a singalong called “Barbara Streisand”.
Attendees eagerly got into the mood as the musical artists called for their audience participation. “Get up, sit down, turn around, clap your hands”……..
Santigold had to get the award for best theatrical performance. She was accompanied by dancers and a pantomime horse and took her fans from garage-rock to dancehall reggae in an instant.
Sunday took us the whole other side of the spectrum with more live acoustics than the previous day. It was a trip down memory lane as we were back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. There was plenty of retrospection and reminiscing. Beck was definitely one of the highlights of the day.
We all know and love Fiona Apple who is always a bundle of emotions waiting to be set free in interesting ways with meaningful lyrics and mood changes within a bat of eyelash.
There was plenty of rock resounding.
In addition to the music, there were also original activities entertaining throughout the event. The silent disco had the club-like atmosphere underway and people were dancing while wearing wireless headphones that played music from live D.J.s. Ping pong and lawn games such as cornhole, bocce ball, croquet, ladder ball and beer pong were a welcome diversion.
You were able to capture the moment for years to come in the photo and video booth.
CamelBak provided the four refillable water stations to keep guests hydrated and refreshed.
Festival goers got their money’s worth with pleasant weather conditions brought on this time of the year and loads of music mania.
PHOTO CREDITS: Getty Images, www.zimbio.com
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