PANCAKE PICKS: GOVERNORS BALL ‘17 EDITION

Helllll yes, the weekend is finally upon us, and it’s not just any weekend for many New Yorkers. If you’re a music fan in the region, you may be getting geared up for Governors Ball, the annual music festival held on Randall’s Island – and all the after-shows, summer parties, and quick-vanishing cocktails that seem to come along with it. Since we’re excited AF, we’re serving up this week’s Pancake Picks Gov Ball-style, so read on to check out our festival recos for 2017!

Governors Ball

You’re likely all over the music schedule already, as there are countless cool sets to try to catch over the course of the 3-day fest. But you may not have had a chance to peek at the food lineup yet, which was once again curated by The Infatuation and, frankly, looks absolutely stupid delicious this year. Those of us with the permanent munchies can look forward to taste-testing a wide range of much-loved local vendors from the greater NYC area, including several food trucks we’ve drunkenly raved about in the past. We’re looking at you, Nugget Spot, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, Jalapeño Corndog, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Momofuku Milk Bar, and Wafels & Dinges, among many more. This is all topped off with an equally-impressive drink menu – and yes, you hip kids, the ultimate #foodporn photo opp of the festival this year, bar none: the sushirito.

Ramen Burger ftw

As we all cross our fingers for fair weather this weekend (rain has plagued the outdoor fest in years prior), we can look forward to some must-see musical sets right off the bat on Day 1. Notably, Friday’s lineup includes the Manchester-based indie pop band, Blossoms, who take the Honda Stage at 1:30pm, and none other than funk/soul legend Charles Bradley, who will be stealing hearts at the Bacardi Stage at 3:45pm. We’re also looking forward to seeing Bleachers, the solo project from Fun.’s Jack Antonoff (4:45pm at the Gov Ball Stage), and the unforgettable young New Zealand singer who’s been impressing us for years, Lorde (7:30pm at the Gov Ball Stage). We’re finishing off our Friday with headliner Chance the Rapper (9:45pm at the Gov Ball Stage), who is currently knee-deep in a spring tour after the release of his 2016 mixtape, Coloring Book, last year.

Charles Bradley

The festivities will be in full swing on Saturday, and attendees should keep an eye out for sets from British punk rockers VANT (12:15pm at the Gov Ball stage), and L.A. electronic band Lo Moon (12:45 at the Bacardi Stage), both of whom we’re really looking forward to interviewing. With many good names on the Day 2 lineup, you won’t want to miss L.A.-based indie rockers Local Natives (5:45pm at the Big Apple Stage), who are getting tons of buzz right now. And of course, you’d be craaaazy to miss the one and only Wu-Tang Clan, who will surely be blowing our minds at 6:45pm at the Gov Ball Stage.

Gov Ball

Highlights for Sunday (that we’re already freaking out about) include some absolute-must-see shows in the evening; namely, badass English rock duo Royal Blood (4:45 at the Gov Ball Stage), the “Take Me Out”-famed Scottish rockers known as Franz Ferdinand (5:45pm at the Big Apple Stage), and one of our favorite live bands, Kentucky rock outfit Cage the Elephant (6:45pm at the Gov Ball Stage). Day 3 will wrap with a highly-anticipated performance from festival headliners Tool at 9:15pm, so make sure you head over to the Gov Ball Stage early to secure yourself a spot. We can’t wait for the weekend to kick off – and hope to see you all there getting a good whiskey buzz on for the occasion. Except for you, rain. You stay the fuck away.