The Meadows
From Saturday, October 1st, to Sunday, October 2nd, the E and F parking lot outside Citi Field was home to the inaugural Meadows Music and Arts Festival, which boasted performances by J.Cole, Chance the Rapper, and Kanye West.
There were mixed reactions when New York’s Founders Entertainment, known for putting together New York’s Governor’s Ball, announced their plans to bring a fall festival to New York’s music scene, especially in the wake of confusion about location, news of a rainstorm, and headliner The Weeknd dropping out only a few days before the show.
These worries proved needless, however, as the launch of The Meadows Festival was hugely successful. It certainly wasn’t sunny, but cloudy skies turned out to be ideal for waiting in packs for the artists to appear, and J.Cole outdid himself, giving his all in his performance.
While not watching the performers, attendees could take pictures with any of the beautiful art pieces installed specifically for the event or hit up the food lineup. Vendors included Dough (my personal favorite), Korilla BBQ, Pizza Nova, and Tea and Milk. There were also vegan, vegetarian, and gluten - free options to accommodate almost any kind of diet.
As a huge Kanye fan, I had to be up close to see him, and so spent my second day waiting ten rows from the front of the Meadows Stage for Yeezus himself to appear. My eight hour long wait was both exhilarating and frightening. Multiple fans fainted, overcome by body pressure and fatigue, and when water became scarce, we all shared, thirsty enough to swap spit with countless strangers. Tensions ran high, but luckily, the desire to see Kanye perform up close was stronger than the urge to fight.
Nevertheless, there were some great moments while waiting. Those close enough to the stage were able to catch a glimpse of Chris Rock and Zac Efron in the VIP box, and everyone was able to see artists like The Temper Trap and Bryson Tiller perform. The situation turned dire, however, during Chance the Rapper’s set, when the crowd surged forward, crushing those in the front rows. Everything was halted while an employee urged everyone to have “human decency” and step back to let people breathe.
Finally, after a long, irritable day, Kanye West started performing a mere (for him) half an hour late. After delivering songs from his newest album, The Life of Pablo, Kanye performed hits from across all six of his critically acclaimed albums, including “Black Skinhead”, “Mercy”, and “Ni**gas in Paris.” Unfortunately, a minute into “Heartless,” Kanye had to leave due to a family emergency, but left behind a crowd both pumped and pleased.
Overall, the inaugural Meadows Festival was equally as enjoyable as it was a huge success. Although there were a few hiccups, it was a great intro to what will no doubt be another long running music festival for New Yorkers to enjoy.
Governor's Ball 2016
Eleven a.m on Saturday morning and the Robert Kennedy Bridge is packed with excited music lovers ready to experience the second day of The Governors Ball Music Festival on Randall’s Island. From its inception in 2011, Governor’s Ball has been New York City’s biggest and best loved music festival and 2016 was no exception. This year’s lineup featured The Strokes, The Killers, and Kanye West as headliners, as well as popular artists Haim, M83, and Catfish and the Bottlemen. Among the many food options were vendors from the famed Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, The Nugget Spot, and Asiadog.
Along with the amazing performers, Governor’s Ball also featured a silent disco, the opportunity to meet some of the performers for a signing, and various lawn games. Of those, the giant Jenga set was my favorite, but there was also a beanbag toss and a brand new mini golf course. The photo booths proved popular as well, with people lining up to get little snapshots of themselves in fun poses.
And if all the excitement tired you out, there was plenty of room to spread out and chill on a blanket or the grass in between performers. Volunteers frequently walked around handing out energy bars and water, demonstrating Governor’s Ball commitment to the safety and well-being of festival goers.
One of the best things about music festivals is the ability to get close to your favorite artists without paying an ungodly amount for a front row ticket. As a huge fan of The Killers, hundreds of other people and I took advantage of this, and although they weren’t set to appear until 9:15 p.m, many of us crowded around the GovBall stage as early as 5 p.m trying to get spots as close to the stage as we could. Even when it began absolutely pouring for a few hours we all stood our ground, determined to see our favorite band. In a true testament to the community that Governor’s Ball attracts, much of the time in the rain was spent singing songs together to pass the time and talking about how excited we were for the band to appear. Although a few people gave up by the end, seeking shelter and warmth, I believe being so close to one of my favorite bands was definitely worth it. When they came out, starting off the set with “Mr.Brightside,” the crowd absolutely lost it, and their performance has become one of the best nights of my life.
Unfortunately, due to severe weather, the final day of Governor’s Ball was cancelled, with refunds distributed to those who had bought tickets. Many people, myself included, were disappointed, but in the end the safety of ticket holders and the artists had to come first. Still, come next year I’m sure the line up will be equally as fantastic and completely worth the trek out the Randall’s Island. If you’re a music lover, this event if definitely for you.