From Governors Ball 2026: Sunday Soundbites With Rachel Chinouriri, Blood Orange, and Dominic Fike

Sunday is usually a day for rest and relaxation ahead of a busy work week. However, festival goers at Governors Ball in Queens reserved June 7 for a different purpose. After a hectic, storm-disrupted Saturday, Sunday’s lineup aimed to restore momentum — and that it did.

Rachel Chinouriri

Rachel Chinouriri, a rising British pop singer, took the Snapchat stage in a pastel green dress. She opened with her unreleased “AAAHHH!!!” before settling into a run of “So My Darling” from her 2024 album, “What A Devastating Turn of Events,” with a light, airy grace. Her soft, heady voice contrasted with hyperactive drums in a surprisingly melodic way. Though Chinouriri’s set was cut short by weather, she still found time to dance barefoot, teach the crowd her hit “All I Ever Asked,” and advise everyone to “delete Hinge.” She accepted every friendship bracelet thrown onstage and lingered long after her last song, radiating warmth throughout.

Perhaps the most impressive feat of Chinouriri was her ability to turn her rain-interrupted slot into one of the day’s warmest moments. Before the storm fully set in, she ducked off-stage to greet fans in person rather than remain dry and wait it out backstage. Overall, Chinouriri’s actions and words throughout her performance and towards her fans signaled her genuine and down-to-earth demeanor.

Blood Orange

With some adjusting of set times by festival organizers, fans were relieved to see Blood Orange return to the stage after his Saturday set was canceled due to weather. A gentle breeze, soft sun, and a post-lunch crowd set the perfect tone for his laid-back performance.

He opened with an unexpected cover of The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now?” before smoothly transitioning into “Saint” and “Jesus Freak Lighter” and newer releases like “Somewhere in Between” off of his 2025 album “Essex Honey.” A theme of his set was the performance of songs derived from multiple stages of his career. Notably, “Uncle ACE” and collaborations “Best to You” with Empress Of and “Chosen” with Caroline Polachek gave longtime fans a wave of nostalgia. Rotating between keys and electric guitar, Blood Orange crafted soothing synth textures through hits like “Vivid Light” and his popular closer, “Champagne Coast.” Maintaining his graceful and calm demeanor, the artist closed by enthusiastically thanking his band.

Dominic Fike

Dominic Fike emerged as the night’s most unpredictable performer, shifting between a spacey detachment, wild-eyed intensity, and pure playfulness — running across the stage and through the crowd and also rolling on the floor. This chaotic energy was also manifested in the song transitions. Fike tore through songs from his 2023 album “Sunburn” — “How Much Is Weed?,” “Frisky,” “Ant Pile,” “Bodies,” and “Mama’s Boy” — which at points, he weaved in tracks from his sophomore album “What Could Possibly Go Wrong,” such as “Why” and “Politics & Violence.” Undoubtedly, momentum was never lost.

At times, Fike veered into theatrical provocation, knocking the mic over and daring anyone who spotted him on the streets of New York to “knock him out.” The crowd responded with matching energy, swaying through hits like “Babydoll” and “misses.” Fike also debuted an unreleased track titled “AI,” sending the crowd into a frenzy. In a dramatic finale, he sang the last note of “Mama’s Boy,” and then proceeded to pull off his pants, apparently overwhelmed by the heat, and somersault off the stage.

Needless to say, Dominic Fike left an impression on festivalgoers worthy of conversation. While his chaotic stage presence raised a few eyebrows, for the most part, the crowd was left satisfied with the alternative performance.

—Staff Writer Julia J. Downey can be reached at [email protected].