New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani made a surprise appearance at All Things Go 2025 during its New York edition at Forest Hills Stadium on Friday.
Mamdani joined Lucy Dacus, one of the performers from the weekend, which includes sets from Doechii, Clairo, Djo, and more. In a video captured from his appearance, the pair sat onstage on a couch where Mamdani expressed his enthusiasm for the festival, which focuses on women and LGBTQ+ artists.
“I feel such love and joy in the crowd this evening, and this is what our city should feel like,” he said.
“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,” he continued. “And it has to be a city that all of us can afford, whether you’re an artist, or a dreamer, or someone who works the night shifts. And that city, that city is within reach, if we’re willing to fight for it.”
He also encouraged those who had not already registered to vote to do so via HeadCount, which has partnered with the festival.
Following Mamdani’s remarks, which were met with cheers throughout, he and Dacus hugged.
During her set, Dacus also fittingly covered Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago,” his song from his opus Illinois and from where the festival got its name. Festival promoter Stephen Vallimarescu confirmed to Forbes where it got its name in 2023 when discussing dream artists for the festival’s future lineups. “I think another left field one is Sufjan Stevens. All Things Go, the name is from a Sufjan song,” Vallimaresco said.
The song opens with the lyrics, “I fell in love again/All things go, all things go/Drove to Chicago,” and “all things go” is a repeated refrain throughout the exquisite song. Watch Dacus’ gorgeous rendition from her set on Friday.
The festival continues in New York through Sunday and includes the Marías, the Last Dinner Party, Gigi Perez, Rachel Chinourriri, and Joy Oladokun. It is being held in tandem with its D.C. edition, held at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, this weekend. The D.C. version features some of the same artists along with others like Kesha, Noah Kahan, Sharon Van Otten, Faye Webster, Wallows, Julien Baker & Torres, Lola Young, Marina, and Role Model.
