The 9 best moments from the 2024 Gov Ball: SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and more

For much of the first part of his set on Friday night, reggaetón superstar Rauw Alejandro performed solo on stage, proving that he's all alone in his striped suit. But for his biggest unaccompanied Billboard Hot 100 hit, 2022's “Todo de Ti,” several backup dancers arrived — seemingly via the MTA, as a fake subway car appeared on stage for Alejandro and his sharply dressed crew to to tremble in and around. with a special camera that shows the view inside the car. Lady Gaga of the 'LoveGame' era would surely have approved. – ANDREW UNDERBERGER

Post Malone's hit-filled headlining set on Friday took a breather for his beloved acoustic ballad 'Stay' – with the singer-rapper even inviting a couple of fans on stage to help him on guitar and vocals. The guest guitarist was more than up for the occasion – he commanded the mic to brag that this was actually the third different gig where Posty had picked him out of the crowd – but the singer was a little more nervous. With the help of a supportive Post (and the lyrics uploaded to the guest singer's phone), the trio cruised through the show, creating one of the sweetest and heartwarming moments of the night. — AU

Gov Ballers who flocked to Corona Park hoping for several surprise performances likely left the weekend disappointed – none of the headliners brought special guests, nor did most of the other big names on the lineup. One artist who did, however, was Saturday afternoon rockers Quarters of Change, who brought Blue Öyster Cult drummer Albert Bouchard on stage for a cover of BOC's rock classic “(Don't Fear) The Reaper” , with an added drum solo. section where Bouchard and the band's own timekeeper started smiling. And yes, QOC frontman Ben Roter made the obligatory “More Cowbell” joke. – AU

The festival marked the first time Carpenter performed new single “Please Please Please” live, which she preceded by cheekily asking the crowd, “Have you heard my new single, New York?”

After also making sure the audience had seen the track's video – which stars real-life boyfriend Barry Keoghan – the singer smiled, winked and clapped her way through the Jack Antonoff-produced track. Despite only being released a day before, many fans already knew every word.

And of course, Carpenter sang her Billboard Hot 100 hit “Espresso” before closing out her set with one of her usual NSFW “Nonsense” outros, tailor-made for the event: “To answer him, is that such a tough call?/ That won't fit in me bro, I'm a silly little one/ People that hate pride can suck my balls.” – HANNAH DAILEY

Savage had fans in the palm of his hand from the moment he hit the GoPuff stage, but his hour-long set was ultimately building to his best number, which the rapper saved for last: 2024's “Redrum.” Bringing all the intensity of command of the track as fans provided unofficial screaming backup vocals, he looked unreal as he stood directly under a shower of bright sparks, flanked by fireballs shooting on either side of him.

“New York, make some noise for yourselves!” 21 cheered before exiting the stage. “If you had a great time, let me hear you say, 'Hell yeah! Oh yes! Oh yes!'” – HD

Eight years after headlining Gov Ball in 2016, the Killers are back as seasoned pros to once again close out the night two festivities on the main stage. The band was electric from top to bottom — opening and closing with hits “Somebody Told Me” and “Mr. Brightside,” respectively — but the biggest highlight of the set came when a fan in the crowd caught the attention of frontman Brandon Flowers by holding a sign asking them to play drums on “For Reasons Unknown.” Why; To celebrate his grandmother's 73rd birthday.

Flowers invited him onstage and, after receiving a brief introduction from the band, the fan slid into drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr.'s seat. The spontaneous lineup then launched into the 2006 track, with the fan nailing every change, fill and cymbal like a pro. In fact, he killed it – to no purpose. — HD

During their Sunday afternoon set, Brooklyn dreamers Beach Fossils enlisted support from the wings, in the form of guitarist Tommy Davidson's young daughter Cleo, joking that she “won the million dollar lottery” to come help out the band to take the stage. Decked out in a toy guitar, yellow-rimmed sunglasses and some extra-large earplugs, Cleo helped the band through 2013's “Sleep Apnea,” ending the show waving and shouting “HI!” in the crowd. “Cleo, you're hired!” the band announced soon after. – AU

Fans knew they were in for an unforgettable Chappell Roan performance from the moment the star made her entrance, stepping out of a large apple brace in head-to-toe mint green body color to play Lady Liberty. “I'm in the biggest drag queen of them all,” she told the crowd. “In case you've forgotten what's engraved on my pretty toes: 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.'

Roan was in her element throughout her set, performing all of her Billboard 200-ascending songs The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess are considered fan favorites in their own right, as evidenced by the many festival-goers in pink cowboy pony hats, as well as one in Joker 'My Kink Is Karma' make-up, shouting every word. That same status is already developing for the singer's brand new, deeply cathartic ballad “Subway,” which she premiered Saturday night on stage. — HD

SZA was an absolute force on the main stage on Sunday night, closing out the entire festival with a setlist that was pretty much one hit after another. Fans who didn't necessarily think of the star as a dancer or dancer before were certainly put off by the musician's performance, which at one point featured her swinging on a rope before jumping and landing in a perfect split.

It's hard to say which of her numbers earned the biggest screams from her packed crowd, but it might have been a toss-up between “Drew Barrymore” — made all the more special on Sunday, which was the seventh anniversary of SZA's debut album Ctrlwhich he noted on stage — and Drake and Sexyy Redd's “Rich Baby Daddy” team.

“I love you so much!” he told the audience candidly before disappearing from the stage. — HD