Tickets are now on sale for the Governor’s Ball, a three-day concert in New York City. For those from the Northeast who are unable to go to Tennessee or Chicago for Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza, respectively, the Governor’s Ball is an excellent alternative.

Kanye West, Kings of Leon and Guns N’ Roses will be headlining. These groups will no doubt draw a huge crowd to Randall’s Island from June 7-9, but it’s really the supporting acts people should go see.

Unfortunately, Guns N’ Roses is not the same band from “Appetite for Destruction.” If we learned anything from Super Bowl halftime shows of the past decade, it’s that no one wants to see old rock stars past their primes, especially if the guys on stage weren’t even in the original band. Bruce Springsteen, however, is an exception. This considered, Guns N’ Roses is a poor choice for a headliner.

On the other hand, I had the pleasure of seeing Kanye in London last year during his Watch the Throne Tour with Jay-Z. It was one of the best shows I’ve been to in my life. Music you can dance to, combined with outstanding performers, equals a strong choice for a headliner. This music brings a needed variety to the show.

I’ve never seen Kings of Leon live, but with four Grammy awards, they’re one of the most successful rock groups in the world right now. They’ve played similar events like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, proving they are worthy of headlining.

But there are 63 other groups performing at this three-daylong festival, many of which will be better than Kanye, Kings of Leon or Guns N’ Roses.

In April, Gary Clark Jr. is performing at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival at Madison Square Garden. Come June, he will return to the Big Apple to play at the Governor’s Ball. He’s an incredible blues musician, yet this guitar virtuoso also delves into soul and rhythm and blues. The fact he’s been praised by both Clapton and Alicia Keys testifies to this.

The Avett Brothers will also be at the Governor’s Ball. They are one of the best folk-bluegrass-rock groups alive, but have been overshadowed by similarly sounding Mumford & Sons. They’ve played Bonnaroo multiple times, but because they mainly tour in the South, near their home state of North Carolina, they are not as widely known as they should be.

The Lumineers, another supporting act, are also similar to Mumford & Sons, as both utilize heavy kick-drum beats accompanied by acoustic guitars, banjoes and mandolins. Mumford & Sons had early hits with “Little Lion Man” and “The Cave.” The Lumineers have “Ho, Hey” and “Stubborn Love.” They were nominated for two Grammys, including Best New Artist. Though they haven’t been around as long as some of the other groups slated to play, they should put on one of the best performances.

The Governor’s Ball is by no means a showcase of only up-and-comers. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and the XX will add to the concert’s indie-rock component, and Nas and Kendrick Lamar will bring hip-hop to the festival as well, along with Kanye.

The headliners are worth seeing, but don’t buy a ticket to the Governor’s Ball just for them, especially not Guns N’ Roses. Instead, embrace those of lesser fame and whose work deserves a wider range of praise. Who knows? You could discover a new favorite band.

James O’Hare is a senior history and political science major. His column appears weekly. He loves cheeseburgers. He can be reached at [email protected].

Published on March 19, 2013 at 2:00 am