The Hidden Gems of Gov Ball: Meet the Future of Rock
While most of the spotlight at Governors Ball shines on its big name acts, there’s a quieter magic that kicks things off each day. And it deserves just as much attention. Before the major crowds roll in and the stages get packed shoulder to shoulder, a different kind of energy fills the air—the raw, electric buzz of kids who are just getting started, but already know how to own a stage!
When the doors open, Gov Ball gives the opening slot to youth music programs—and it might just be one of the most underrated parts of the entire weekend.
Friday featured a full set from School of Rock Queens, a local crew of teen musicians absolutely shredding their instruments like they were born for it. Saturday was supposed to bring in School of Rock New York, but unfortunately, rain delays canceled all early sets that day, a heartbreaker for any young artist dreaming of playing one of the biggest festivals on the East Coast. Sunday wrapped up with Kids Rock for Kids, another music program based in Brooklyn, NY.
NO—these aren’t just glorified recitals. These are bands. Tight, loud, expressive. They perform like they know this could be the first of many big stages.
I know what it feels like to grow up in a music school. I went to Lakehouse Music Academy in Asbury Park as a teenager. Our big shows were usually at venues like The Stone Pony or House of Independents, which felt massive at the time. But standing in front of the Gov Ball main stage and imagining being 15 or 16 up there? Running circles around that stage, and hearing yourself rock out of a festival-sized PA system? That’s entirely something else.
There was a modest but enthusiastic crowd of parents and early risers cheering them on, but I couldn’t help but notice that I was the only photographer documenting their sets. And that felt important. What these kids are doing matters, not just for them, but for the future of (dare I say)…ROCK AND ROLL. In a world dominated by beats, backing tracks, and computers, watching full bands made up of teens playing live instruments felt like watching rock get reborn in real time.
Sure, it’s easy to brush off the early slots as “filler,” but honestly, the musicians I saw gave it everything they had. You could see how much it meant to them to be up there, how seriously they took it, and how hard they worked to get to that moment.
Music education programs like School of Rock and Kids Rock for Kids aren’t just teaching kids how to play notes. They’re giving them confidence, community, purpose, and in a lot of cases, a shot at something bigger! And at a festival packed with some of the biggest artists in the world, these young openers made just as lasting an impression on me.
I’m genuinely glad Gov Ball gave them the space. I just hope next year, more people show up to hear what the next generation sounds like. Spoiler alert! It’s realllllly good.
