festivals
“The first thing we do when we book: we type in your name, and we write ‘homophobic,’” says nightlife promoter and producer Rayne Baron of finding acts for her annual festival, LadyLand. If nothing incriminating shows up, the artist has “passed the first test.” Next up: Has the musician in question wished fans “happy Pride”; have they collaborated with LGBTQ artists before; have they ever just flat-out said, “I love gay people”?
Sitting in Greenpoint’s quaint McGolrick Park as a light rainstorm hovers above, Baron — better known to New York City music venues and party people as Ladyfag — is telling Billboard how she and her tiny team go about booking acts for her LGBTQ music festival, which debuted in 2018. Baron is laughing, but she’s entirely serious: LadyLand is a very queer and very Brooklyn affair that takes place during Pride Month — a time when the last thing any self-respecting LGBTQ person wants to do is watch a hater, or even a lukewarm ally, onstage.
Trending on Billboard
Over the course of seven years (during which it took a pandemic breather), LadyLand has grown from a 5,000-strong party at Bushwick’s Brooklyn Mirage to one with 10,000 revelers at Greenpoint’s Under the K Bridge Park, the fest’s home since 2023; this year, LadyLand is expected to draw some 20,000 to the official-but-DIY-coded outdoor space on June 27-28, with Cardi B and FKA Twigs headlining.
“It’s not a party with problems,” she muses of the event, which takes her three-person team all year to plan. “It is a problem, and you keep solving them until you have a festival.”
2025 marks her second year working with Bowery Presents on LadyLand, which they co-produce. “It was a struggle from the start to find investors,” she admits. “People said the numbers don’t work, there’s a reason it doesn’t exist.”
But Baron — who by the time LadyLand launched in 2018 was an NYC nightlife legend thanks to seamlessly executed ongoing parties like Holy Mountain and Battle Hymn — was undeterred, intuitively sensing that queer New Yorkers, Brooklyn residents in particular, could use something that was “part party, part concert, part festival, part gay Pride.” LadyLand has been called “gay Coachella,” a label that Baron embraces while noting that it doesn’t quite give the full scope of the experience. (“But that’s fine, because people need something to reference,” she says.)
While Coachella brings to mind influencers snapping selfies in the desert, LadyLand is an inner-city gathering for LGBTQ people whose very identity reshapes culture — not merely reposting or recreating it after it’s made the rounds.
“In Brooklyn, we are still the heart of queer counterculture. We still write the prophecies for fashion, our DJs are playing the tracks with the ripple effect and the slang we use is a solid three years ahead of Hollywood,” says Charlene, a local performer and writer who’s become a mainstay of Brooklyn’s queer scene over the last decade (she recently took over summer Sunday BBQs at long-running gay bar Metropolitan from “Mother of Brooklyn Drag” Merrie Cherry.) “LadyLand is the only festival in New York that happily places our club fixtures and family alongside acts that are frankly too big for the club.”
“What makes LadyLand stand apart is how it celebrates the full spectrum of queer creativity — New York DJs, underground legends, dancers, fashion kids — it’s all there,” says dance music and ball culture legend Kevin Aviance, who made a surprise appearance in 2019 and returns this year. “Ladyfag curates with such intention, and it shows. Unlike circuit parties, this isn’t just about a beat — it’s about art, community and freedom.” As for what to expect from his DJ set, he adds, “Get ready, because I’m bringing the heat. Beats will be served, and the dolls will dance.”
That club-meets-festival vibe means that despite LadyLand’s big headcount, it doesn’t feel like a sprawling, isolating affair. “If it’s 10,000 people, 5,000 of them know the other 5,000; if they don’t know them, they might want to sleep with them. So you have to make it feel more familiar,” Baron says of pulling together the three-stage festival every year. “It’s a really strange concept to explain [to investors].”
Baron says Bowery Presents (which owns and operates many NYC venues) has been an open-minded co-producer. “It’s nice to feel supported,” she says. “They’re concert people, they know.” She also hails 12-year partner Red Bull: “They don’t do bullsh-t. They have never tried to do things that would affect the integrity of LadyLand.” This year, the energy drink brand helped her create a new stage that will bring Paul’s Dolls, a weekly party in Manhattan celebrating trans artistry, to the fest. “It’s a club, and you cannot have a gay club without dolls. We need them they need us. Gay culture is an ecosystem,” Baron explains. “In general, gays to the front. You don’t have to be gay to be here, but it helps.”
Ladyfag took her signature festival (including those giant inflatable green forearms with blazing red nails) from the Brooklyn Mirage to Under the K Bridge in 2023 for a simple reason. “Mirage kicked me out because I didn’t make enough money,” she frankly admits. When she started looking around her own neighborhood of Greenpoint, she was struck by the fact that the freshly built state park (where folks sometimes held illegal raves during the pandemic) reminded her of an electronic music festival in London which takes place in a park under a bridge. “I was always obsessed with Junction 2 Festival — my wife is English,” she says. After connecting with the parks department, she pulled everything together (“shoutout to my little team, Veronica and Carlos”) in just three months, putting on the first big event of any kind at the Under the K Bridge Park: “There was no template.” Since then, the state park has hosted numerous live music events, with the inaugural CBGB Festival set to take place there on Sept. 27.
LadyLand
Courtesy of LadyLand
To appeal to an extremely discerning nightlife crowd (“people can be c-nty,” she sighs) and live music lovers in a city that has no shortage of concerts, Baron goes through a high-wire balancing act every year while booking the lineup. Her team needs to nab headliners who sell tickets, but not book so many A-listers that it turns into a gathering of Stan armies. “I don’t want mega fandom,” she says. “We don’t want people standing in front of stage for 20 minutes waiting for the next performer, ruining the vibe.” She mixes in LGBTQ legends with up-and-coming artists, and spotlights local talent while also bringing in names who rarely make it to NYC. Plus, there are radius clauses with other NYC events and scheduling conflicts — oddly enough, Glastonbury has proved to be some of her biggest competition simply because it often goes down the same weekend and can pay more to performers than her scrappy little fest can.
“We are a small festival, as far as fests go,” she acknowledges. “Agents’ jobs are to make their artists money and there have been a lot of kindnesses shown my way.” Her long history in NYC nightlife has helped in that area, too — including for this year’s day-one headliner. Prior to Cardi B’s meteoric rise, when she was just another reality star (Love & Hip Hop) trying to break into music, Ladyfag booked her to play her monthly party Holy Mountain in February 2017. “She got very excited about being with the gays,” Baron recalls, her lips curving and eyes twinkling. “She was only supposed to do a few songs, but she wouldn’t stop. Within a few months, she became one of the biggest stars in the world — and she always remembered it.”
With that shared history, Baron was able to get the hip-hop superstar for less than what Cardi B would get from Madison Square Garden. “Was it free? F–k no,” she laughs. “Was it $4,000 that she put in her bra back in the day? No, we have all evolved from that.” This year’s day-two headliner, FKA Twigs, is someone Baron knows “outside of her agent,” too. LadyLand’s 2018 headliner Eve came from a similar situation (“We met at a party”) and she notes that while the inaugural edition “didn’t make any money, we didn’t lose money.” The following year, her nightlife background helped her nab Pabllo Vittar to pinch hit at LadyLand when headliner Gossip dropped out the last minute.
“We jumped in blind not really knowing what to expect, but I was completely blown away,” says the Brazilian drag juggernaut, who returns to play the fest this year. “It was amazing! The community, the energy, the artists, the vibe. I am so honored she asked me to play again this year officially, it feels very full circle with her.”
Despite that extensive Rolodex, LadyLand now books dozens of acts each year — meaning long gone are the days when everyone on the bill is a pal or acquaintance.
To fill out the lineup — and bring in artists outside the NYC nightlife realm — Baron and her team spend months sending each other clips of singers, DJs and rappers, debating their musical merits and keeping an eye on who’s buzzing on queer socials. Oftentimes, that means she can book rising artists before they become big names and demand higher price tags. One such case was 070 Shake, who blew up after signing on for the inaugural LadyLand but before the festival made its bow; this year, she sees 19-year-old rapper Cortisa Star in that vein.
But intuition without dollars only goes so far. With palpable remorse, she talks about the year where she almost booked a pre-fame Megan Thee Stallion but wasn’t able to afford the private plane that would have been required to take the rapper from point A to point B. Miley Cyrus has been a white whale for LadyLand; she says they’ve tried to get Ethel Cain every year; Grace Jones is on her wish list; and once she almost had Charli xcx locked, but her stage setup was too large for LadyLand’s then-home at Brooklyn Mirage. “Those are the things that happen that people don’t understand,” Baron says ruefully. But with each passing year, she checks another name off her wish list. For 2025, that “bucket list” booking was New York dance legend Danny Tenaglia, who plays Friday, the same day as Cobrah and Sukihana.
Plus, there are leftfield surprises that seem to fall into her lap thanks to LadyLand’s reputation as an experience that is queerer, edgier and more communal than most Pride Month events. “I appreciate those people who don’t need me and did it anyways. Madonna doesn’t need me, she had just done Brazil — the biggest concert she’d ever done — and then she came to my festival,” Baron shares of the 2024 edition, where the Queen of Pop popped by to help judge a ball. “She wanted to make a moment for gay people, and she did.”
LadyLand
Courtesy of LadyLand
Her careful, intuitive curation has brought everyone from SOPHIE to Honey Dijon to Pussy Riot to Christina Aguilera to the LadyLand lineup. “For a lot of people, it was the only time they ever got to see SOPHIE,” Baron says. One of those in attendance at the late electronic pioneer’s 2018 set was indie singer-songwriter Liam Benzvi, who is on this year’s bill. “The BQE is an institution of noise, and I’m proud to call it a friend and a bandmate,” says Benzvi of delivering his synth-pop gems at a state park that is literally under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. “Being from Brooklyn, I expect to see quality live music while surrounded by cool people, and cool is usually LGBTQ, so it’s a win-win for me.”
Bringing thousands of people to a state park entails “so much more work,” Baron chuckles as the raincloud above us finally burst open, forcing us to move the interview indoors to her apartment. “It’s a neighborhood. People live here — I live here — and you can’t have people partying after until 7 a.m. We need to make sure there’s enough bathrooms so that people aren’t pissing everywhere…. These are things that people don’t think about, nor should they have to.”
Plus, there’s “boring festival stuff with agents and managers, arguing about the run of the show, the size of the name on the poster.” To ensure each day’s lineup has an organic flow and isn’t solely based on least-to-most Instagram followers, there’s oftentimes an extended back-and-forth with artist reps, who care less about sonic juxtaposition and more about optics. “Sometimes agents do win and it’s a pisser,” she says. “I’m usually right on vibes.”
As anyone who has spent a moment at LadyLand (or any of her ongoing parties) can attest, Ladyfag does indeed know vibes — arguably, she’s become the premier connoisseur of queer nightlife vibes in NYC over the last decade. And in doing so, she’s not only spotlighting queer culture, but changing it.
“Ladyfag has created the pinnacle opportunity for us to show off the cultural engine we are,” Charlene says, “and in doing so has reshaped my relationship to the word ‘Pride.’”
“It feels like church for the children, honey,” says Aviance. “A safe, fierce space where you’re seen, heard and celebrated. I’ve been to a lot of parties in my time, but LadyLand is truly one of the best.”
Remi Wolf made the most of an unfortunate situation after this year’s Bonnaroo was canceled from Friday-Sunday (June 13-15) due to severe weather, hosting a joint concert in Nashville featuring Hayley Williams and more special guests.
On Saturday (June 14) — the same day the California native had been slated to host her Bonnaroo Superjam on the festival grounds in Manchester, Tenn., before thunderstorms forced the entire event to end early — Wolf took the stage at the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville. In addition to singing several covers of ’70s hits on her own, she and the Paramore frontwoman duetted on Chaka Khan’s “Sweet Thing” and “Tell Me Something Good” with Rufus, according to The Tennessean.
Gigi Perez and Mt. Joy, who were also part of Bonnaroo’s canceled Saturday lineup, performed their new song “In The Middle,” while Grouplove helped Wolf sing Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and Hall and Oates’ “Rich Girl.” Plus, Brian Robert Jones assisted in paying tribute to Sly and the Family Stone — whose influential frontman, Sly Stone, died at the age of 82 last week — with a performance of “Family Affair,” while Grace Bowers and Medium Build also shared songs.
Trending on Billboard
“This is so f–king fun, thank you guys for coming out tonight,” Wolf reportedly told the crowd. “We’ve been working on this show for like five months, and when Bonnaroo was canceled yesterday, we just had to make this s–t happen!”
According to The Tennessean, Wolf ended the show by having all of her guest artists return to the stage for a group performance of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.”
Just as it had been originally billed on the Bonnaroo lineup, the indie-pop star called her Nashville concert “Remi Wolf’s Insanely Fire 1970s Pool Party Superjam.” She announced the make-up show late Friday night, and tickets reportedly sold out the next morning.
The change of plans came in light of Bonnaroo’s Friday announcement that the festival had been canceled after just one full day of performances. “Today, the National Weather Service provided us with an updated forecast with significant and steady precipitation that will produce deteriorating camping and egress conditions in the coming days,” the festival shared in a statement. “We are beyond gutted, but we must make the safest decision and cancel the remainder of Bonnaroo.”
The annual festival had been slated to last four straight days with sets from Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator, Hozier and dozens more. Before it was delayed and eventually canceled, Bonnaroo kicked off Thursday (June 12) with performances by Luke Combs, Dom Dolla, Insane Clown Posse and Rebecca Black.
After issuing an evacuation notice to attendees earlier Friday (June 13), the remainder of the 2025 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has now been canceled due to severe weather.
The Manchester, Tennessee, festival shared the news on social media around 7:30 p.m. local time Friday, saying that the updated forecast was showing unsustainable conditions for on-site campers as heavy thunderstorms ripped through the area.
“Today, the National Weather Service provided us with an updated forecast with significant and steady precipitation that will produce deteriorating camping and egress conditions in the coming days,” the statement reads. “We are beyond gutted, but we must make the safest decision and cancel the remainder of Bonnaroo. We are going to make things right with you, and you will find refund information at the end of this message, but let’s start with the next steps.”
Trending on Billboard
The message goes on to suggest that any campers whose sites are in decent shape or who are safely inside an RV consider camping overnight to prioritize evacuating those festivalgoers in the roughest situations.
“The number one thing we need from the Bonnaroo community is patience,” the message reads. “Some of your fellow campers’ sites are in rough shape. The rain has settled in areas and made certain parts of Outeroo difficult to manage. We’d like to prioritize getting those folks as well as those with accessibility needs off The Farm as soon as possible this evening. To do this, we ask that if your campsite is in good shape or if you’re in an RV or pre-pitched accommodation, please consider spending the night with us and we’ll start working to get you out of here safely tomorrow.”
The festival wrapped its message by reiterating how “crushed” organizers are to make this decision. “We have put our hearts and souls into making this weekend the most special one of the year, and cannot express how crushed we are to have to make this decision. Thank you in advance for your patience, your positivity and your unfailing Bonnaroovian spirit.”
As promised, the post ends with refund details, spelling out what tickets and parking passes will be refunded in full and what will be returned in part since Thursday’s day 1 went off without a hitch. Find the full refund details in the second slide below:
Bonnaroo kicked off Thursday with performances from Luke Combs, Dom Dolla, Insane Clown Posse and Rebecca Black. Friday night’s headliners were scheduled to be Tyler, The Creator, John Summit and Glass Animals; Saturday’s lineup was led by Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne and Justice; and Sunday would have wrapped up with Hozier, Vampire Weekend and Queens of the Stone Age.
Consumer demand for live and out-of-home entertainment remains high, but Generation Z consumers — born between 1996 and 2020 — are particularly motivated to pay extra for convenience, upgraded experiences and sustainable options, according to a new EY survey. Perhaps not surprisingly, Gen Z is less patient than the average consumer. Nearly two-thirds (66%) of Gen Z respondents plan to buy a “fast pass” or priority pass to theme parks in the next year compared to 59% of all consumers, according to the inaugural EY Media & Entertainment (M&E) Pulse Poll, which surveyed 4,000 consumers across the U.S., U.K., Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. According to Javi Borges, EY global media and entertainment sector leader, companies that build convenience into their experiences can take advantage of consumers’ comfort with smartphone apps that offer digital ticketing and contactless payment and check-in. “When you look at the Millennials and Gen Z, there’s an expectation of a certain level of tech enablement and frictionless experience,” he says. “And even older generations post-pandemic, that maybe had never ordered Uber Eats until the pandemic, now they’re just much more accepting of the apps and the frictionless experience.” Speaking of Uber Eats, consumers’ desire for faster service is also reflected in a new McKinsey study, which found that delivery’s share of global food spending increased from 9% in 2019 to 21% in 2024, while takeaway’s share was flat and in-person dining fell to 55% from 69%. Though respondents weren’t polled specifically about music, this same trend toward speed and convenience can be traced in terms of modern-day music consumption habits, where streaming accounts for 69% of global music consumption in 2024 vs. 56% in 2019, according to the IFPI. And on the live front, concert promoter Live Nation says it now expects VIP offerings to account for 30% to 35% of its amphitheater business. Overall, McKinsey predicts that consumer tolerance for inconvenience will continue to decline as their desire for speed and service increases. Despite news headlines that consumers are at a financial breaking point, local entertainment (i.e., entertainment that doesn’t require travel) and live entertainment were purchased by 48% and 46% of respondents, respectively, according to EY’s poll. The poll focuses on companies’ pursuit of consumers’ “fun money,” which Borges calls the 10% to 15% of income people set aside for leisure activities. This segment of discretionary spending goes toward everything from music and video streaming services to concerts and vacations. “Globally, but especially in the U.S., we have more options battling for our fun money than ever before,” says Borges. Spending on live music, which offers an increasing menu of VIP options that provide greater convenience than basic offerings, is especially strong. As Billboard noted in May, a Bank of America study found that U.S. consumers spent an average of $150 a month on entertainment — such as live music and theme parks — from May 2024 to April 2025. Over the same period, credit card holders spent double that amount on live event tickets, racking up an average of $300 per month. In the same study, a third of respondents said they plan to attend more events this year than last year. Indeed, the trend in consumer spending — especially for the young, and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic — is toward experiences over material items. That said, people are willing to pay extra to make their experiences more pleasant or special. EY found that about half (49%) of respondents who visited theme parks or went on a cruise paid extra for premium options, while about a third did so for sporting events and casino/resorts. Younger demographics are also willing to spend a premium of 26% or more on sustainable features when it comes to buying entertainment experiences. For example, 12% of all consumers will spend more on carbon offsetting compared to 25% of Gen Z and 15% of Millennials. Willingness to spend extra based on water conservation practices also splits the age groups: 11% of all consumers globally, but 23% of Gen Z and 15% of Millennials. Live music has made strides to satisfy Gen Z’s preference for sustainable consumerism. Festivals are turning to batteries, sometimes powered by biodiesel or solar panels, instead of diesel-powered generators. That should be music to Gen Z ears: EY found that 24% of Gen Z would pay more for entertainment options that use renewable energy sources (versus 11% of all consumers) and 22% of Gen Z would pay a premium for lower energy consumption (versus 10% of all consumers). Looking ahead, Americans are more likely to spend money at a casino in the next year than people in other regions surveyed (66% versus 49% globally), while Asia-Pacific respondents have a greater preference for theme parks (74% versus 65% globally). About half (48%) of respondents expect to spend the same amount of money on live entertainment in the next 12 months as the past 12 months. The percentage of people who expect to spend more and spend less is almost equal at 21% and 20%, respectively.
The second day of this year’s Bonnaroo is not going quite to plan, with the Tennessee festival having to issue an evacuation notice Friday (June 13) as severe weather closed in.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
In an announcement posted to Instagram, officials asked attendants to “please head calmly to the nearest exit” and find a vehicle to wait in safely. “Severe weather is approaching,” the caption read. “Please exit Centeroo immediately and shelter in a vehicle. No vehicle? Find a friend.”
Shortly afterward, the festival shared another update. “We expect weather to impact The Farm for the next couple of hours, at least,” it read. “Centeroo and the tolls are closed until the weather has passed. Please remain in a vehicle. We know you’re curious about today’s schedule and we will update you as soon as we can.”
Trending on Billboard
Billboard has reached out to Bonaroo reps for more details.
The announcement comes as heavy thunderstorms are ripping through Manchester, Tenn., where the four-day music festival is held annually. Tyler, the Creator, John Summit and Glass Animals had been expected to perform later Friday night, with Megadeth, JPEGMAFIA, Marina, Goose and more acts also on the Day 2 lineup.
This year’s Bonnaroo kicked off Thursday (June 12) with performances from Luke Combs, Dom Dolla, Insane Clown Posse and Rebecca Black. If the festival proceeds as planned, the next two days will see Olivia Rodrigo, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, RAYE, Tyla, Arcade Fire, Hozier, GloRilla, Vampire Weekend, Remi Wolfe, Role Model, Alex Warren and more take various stages on the grounds.
See Bonnaroo’s announcements below.
Serbia’s long-running EXIT Festival says that this summer’s edition of the event might be its last in the country.
The electronic event reports that its government funding and cultural grants have been revoked due to the festival publicly aligning with student-led anti-corruption protests that happened after the Novi Sad railway station collapse in November 2024, a tragedy that killed 15 people. The festival also says its sponsors have withdrawn due to pressure by pro-government entities.
“This is the hardest decision in our 25-year history but we believe that freedom has no price,” EXIT founder and director Dušan Kovačević says in a statement provided to media and posted to EXIT’s social channels. “With this act we are defending not only EXIT but the fundamental right to free expression for all cultural actors around the world. We invite them to stand with us in this fight.”
EXIT Festival is set to happen July 10-13 in Novi Sad, Serbia. The lineup features Tiësto, The Prodigy, Eric Prydz, Solomun, DJ Snake and many others.
Trending on Billboard
The event has a long history with pro-democratic movements, starting in 2000 as a pro-student movement meant to fight for freedom in Serbia and the Balkan countries. Happening at the Petrovaradin Fortress in the city of Novi Sad, the festival has won myriad awards that have distinguished it as one of the top festivals in Europe.
“Through music, creativity, and activism, EXIT has connected generations and nations, rebuilt broken ties, and built bridges where others route to divide,” Kovačević’s statement continues. “We have brought numerous European festival awards to our country and region, along with hundreds of millions of Euros in tourism revenue and international recognition that global experts consider invaluable.
“However, ever since we publicly stood with the students of Serbia in their fight for a freer and more just society, we have been subjected to immense financial and political pressures aimed at stripping us of our fundamental rights to freedom of thought and expression. Despite being completely cut off from public funding at all levels of government, and with some sponsors forced to withdraw under state pressure, we refuse to be silenced. As a result, this year’s anniversary edition will be the last to take place in a Serbia where freedom of speech is systematically suppressed.”
Rolling Loud is headed to India. The hip-hop festival – which already has editions in California, Florida and Thailand – will debut its first festival in Mumbai after bringing the signature event to eight other countries. The two-day festival will be exclusively ticketed and produced in partnership with District by Zomato, a discovery and booking app.
“We never imagined Rolling Loud would take us all the way to India — it’s incredible,” Rolling Loud co-founders and co-CEOs Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif said in a joint statement. “The hip-hop scene in India has been booming, and bringing the festival to Mumbai felt like the right decision. We’re excited to create a space where Indian fans can celebrate the artists they love, while also introducing international acts to a new audience. For us, it’s always been about building community through hip-hop — and we can’t wait to experience how India shows up.”
The two-day festival in India — which will announce dates and venue at a later time — will feature two distinct stages with elaborate production, plus fans can enjoy a series of local food and drink options, art installations and experiential activations that all tie back to the celebration of global and Indian hip-hop culture. Rolling Loud India promises a spotlight on an array of global superstars and international talent and top and rising Indian hip-hop artists.
Trending on Billboard
“India’s hip-hop scene is on fire right now, it’s raw, it’s real, and it’s ready. Rolling Loud coming to India isn’t just another festival drop; it’s a cultural shift,” District by Zomato CEO Rahul Ganjoo said in a release. “For years, we’ve felt the need to bridge India’s sound with the global stage, and this is that moment. It’s bigger than music, it’s a loud, undeniable signal that Indian hip-hop is here, it’s global, and it’s got something to say. We’re proud to bring this home.”
Since the event was founded in 2015, Rolling Loud has held festivals in New York, Miami, Toronto and Los Angeles, as well as in Australia, Germany, Portugal, The Netherlands, Thailand and Austria. Rolling Loud lineups throughout the last decade have included Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Future, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, Cardi B, Playboi Carti and more.
Rolling Loud India tickets will go live exclusively on the District app. For more information on talent lineup, ticket details, festival details and more, check the District app and @districtupdates page on Instagram.
Day three of CMA Fest’s nighttime concert series at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium started right on time at 8 p.m. on Saturday (June 7), following a rain delay the night before. This time, there were clear, but slightly cloudy Nashville skies, with no rain in sight as another round of top artists took to the stage. […]
Mariah the Scientist is not taking the stage at Governors Ball 2025 today (Saturday, June 7), even though her name had remained on the day’s reworked schedule after the New York City festival experienced a four-and-a-half hour delay in opening.
Billboard learned of the cancellation on the ground at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. No announcement was heard at the event, and the change of plans came with no explanation.
Gov Ball organizers posted a brief update in a temporary Instagram Story close to the updated time Mariah was set to perform (5:45-6:15 p.m. ET), but did not give a reason for her set being called off last minute. The social media message simply stated, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mariah the Scientist will no longer be able to perform.”
Trending on Billboard
The “Burning Blue” singer-songwriter — whose breakthrough hit is her first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100, where the single currently sits at No. 35 — later acknowledged the cancellation on her Instagram account, writing, “So upset I’m not getting to perform at Gov Ball today. I’m so sorry to everybody who showed up through the traffic and rain. I apologize.” She later added a photo showing a rainy view through a window with the caption “I really wanted to perform.”
Billboard has reached out to representatives for both Mariah and Governors Ball for further comment.
The three-day outdoor festival, which launched Friday, opened doors hours later than expected on day two due to forecasts of rain and thunder in the area. While those in line on Saturday were originally meant to be let in at 12 p.m., doors were delayed until 4:30 p.m.
With the weather delay, early sets by Lexa Gates, Yaya Bey, The Backfires and others were removed completely from Saturday’s schedule, while several later performances were pushed back an hour or more. Olivia Rodrigo‘s headlining set on the main stage was moved to 9:25 p.m.; Feid and Wave to Earth, both set to close other stages, had their set times shifted to 8:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Hozier, Mt. Joy, Clairo, Raye, Royel Otis, The Japanese House and more are on the bill for Governors Ball 2025’s third day on Sunday (June 8).
Governors Ball 2025 hit a snag on day two as weather concerns forced organizers to cancel and delay performances.
On Saturday (June 7), the three-day festival — which launched Friday at New York City’s Flushing Meadows Corona Park — announced that headliners and other scheduled sets would be pushed back due to forecasts of rain and thunder in the area.
“Due to predicted weather, doors will be delayed until 4:30pm. Please delay your arrival and plan accordingly. Stay tuned for the updated schedule!” Gov Ball organizers posted Saturday morning on X
The festival was originally set to open at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Trending on Billboard
Later in the morning, organizers released an updated schedule confirming the cancellation of early sets by Lexa Gates, Yaya Bey, The Backfires, and others. Several later performances were rescheduled, with most acts pushed back by an hour or more.
Saturday headliner Olivia Rodrigo, initially slated to perform at 8:30 p.m. on the main stage, was moved to 9:25 p.m. Feid and Wave to Earth, both closing out other stages, had their set times shifted to 8:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., respectively. Other artists still expected to perform Saturday evening include Marina, Young Miko, Conan Gray and Car Seat Headrest.
Governors Ball 2025 opened Friday with performances from Tyler, The Creator, Benson Boone, Mk.gee, T-Pain, Tyla, Role Model, The Backseat Lovers, JPEGMAFIA, and others. The fest is scheduled to wrap on Sunday (June 8) with sets by Hozier, Mt. Joy, Clairo, Raye, Royel Otis, The Japanese House, Amaarae, Key Glock, Berlioz and Montell Fish, among others.