There’s a reason why the All Things Go Music Festival is historically nicknamed “All Things Gay.” For over a decade, the festival has highlighted an almost entirely woman, nonbinary and queer lineup — in turn gaining a loyal audience of similar demographics.
The annual festival got its start in Washington, D.C. in 2014 and expanded to New York City’s Forest Hills Stadium in 2024. This year, it spanned Sept. 26 to 28, featuring headliners including Lucy Dacus, Doechii and Clairo.
Canadian singer Goldie Boutilier kicked off the festival on Friday, pleasing the early crowd at 12:15 p.m. with a mix of theatrics and genre-blending tunes about the men she distrusts. Boutilier told WSN that she maintains her energy by reciting a prayer before each show: “Thank you, God, for making me a legendary bitch.”
The day continued with a line up of artists new to All Things Go. Indie pop artist Sarah Kinsely described the festival as a dream to play and aligned her set with the release of her newest track, “Fleeting,” which the audience reveled in hearing live for the first time.
“I don’t always get to relish in being around people on release days,” Kinsely told WSN. “It’s amazing to see so much representation and inclusivity at every level of the festival — this is what it should be.”
The night proved significant when headliner Lucy Dacus brought out New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani mid-set.
“It should be a city where trans New Yorkers are cherished, a city where our queer neighbors are celebrated, and a city where each and every New Yorker can be the fullest version of themselves,” Mamdani said. “And it has to be a city that all of us can afford.”
He commended the show’s celebration of LGBTQ+ artists, adding that “this is what our city should feel like.” With All Things Go’s young and diverse audience, the message rang clear, communicated through the crowd’s nonstop cheering.
Saturday carried the same spirit, bringing in a range of artists across genres and identities. Australian musician Peach PRC channeled her past occupations, telling WSN, “I do like a bit of a pole dance moment as a bit of a nod to my old stripper days.” As promised, her midday set included a memorable interlude with the singer pole dancing to Black Coast and M. Maggie’s “TRNDSTTR.”
Artists across the day shared their gratitude for performing at All Things Go. The festival marked a milestone in English-American dream pop band Sunday (1994)’s growth, closing its two-week North American The Prairie Tour on a high note.
“To play this festival really is like a dream, bucket-list kind of thing,” lead singer Paige Turner told WSN. “It feels like a strange time right now, like we’re living in ‘The Twilight Zone.’ But here, I feel safe and among like-minded people.”
Similarly, rising alt-rock star Alemeda told WSN that the event was “the best festival that I’ve ever been to.” Her afternoon set rallied the crowd with catchy tunes and tongue-in-cheek humor — she told the audience her songs came “straight from the heart” before jumping into her track, “I hate your face.”
Saturday night had a rough start with sub-headliner Lola Young speaking vulnerably to the crowd about her mental health before passing out mid set, forcing medics to cut the act short. Amidst the crowd’s concern, headliners Remi Wolf and Doechii paused their sets to confirm the singer’s health. Once Young’s well-being was ensured by the artists, both sets rejuvenated the audience, especially Doechii, who let fans pick her closing song — the crowd roared for her Tyler, The Creator collab, “Balloon.”
Though Sunday brought brutal heat, fans waited hours in the sun for the best view of the day’s headliners. The rest of the day proved equally exciting with its lower billed artists. British songwriter Paris Paloma emphasized the importance of being in America to sing her hit track “labour,” which critiques patriarchal expectations of women.
Sub-headliner The Last Dinner Party left a strong impression with its late-afternoon set, encouraging the audience to dance freely to its music. The set marked the end of the band’s “Prelude to Ecstasy” era on the heels of its sophomore record, “From The Pyre,” out in October.
“We’re really, really enjoying playing the new ones live. And obviously, the classics,” Georgia Davies, the band’s bassist, told WSN.
“With the forthcoming album, we’re leaning a little bit more into the medieval, little bit more whimsical, more theatrical, maybe more androgynous or more daring,” guitarist and vocalist Lizzie Mayland added.
The weekend ended with the smooth tunes of headliners The Marías and Clairo, both drawing massive cheers. The Marías noted the show was a special way to end its “Submarine” era, which produced hits like “No One Noticed” and “Sienna.” Clairo wrapped up the festival with tracks from across her three records. Though the night ended on a sour note with her last song cut due to Forest Hill Stadium’s strict curfew, fans were still thrilled with the artist’s set, which featured deep cuts like “Harbor” and “Bambi.”
Contact Amelia Knust at [email protected].