John Summit's Experts Only Festival Draws Thousands to Randall's Island
The dance music festival, curated by CPA-turned-DJ John Summit, brought an estimated 30,000 fans to New York City despite inclement weather.
The Experts Only Festival, spearheaded by DJ John Summit, drew an estimated 30,000 attendees to Randall's Island in New York City for its second annual two-day event. The festival, which ran on a recent weekend, featured a lineup including Subtronics, Adam Ten, and Max Styler, among others. Attendees braved rainy conditions to experience the event, which is a significant draw for the city's electronic dance music scene.
Summit, a 32-year-old former CPA who transitioned to a career in DJing, has gained considerable popularity. His label, Experts Only, produced the festival. The event aimed to provide an improved experience from the previous year, focusing on elements such as food and beverage service, security, and stage production. In the week leading up to the festival, Summit engaged fans with a scavenger hunt culminating in a mock newspaper, "The Summit Street Journal," and hosted a pre-party at the New York Stock Exchange.
The festival's diverse crowd included dedicated ravers and electronic music enthusiasts. The atmosphere during Summit's headlining set was marked by high energy, with the DJ interacting closely with the audience. He played a mix of his own tracks, such as "DON'T BELIEVE IT," "Lights Go Out," and "In Chicago," alongside remixes and covers, including notable renditions of Pitbull's "Hey Baby," Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go," and Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi."
The event also featured VIP sections, with tickets exceeding $800 and table service starting at $5,000, offering an elevated view of the main stage. The festival concluded with an afterparty at Brooklyn's Pacha.
Summit recently released his second studio album, "CTRL ESCAPE," on April 15, described as a reflection on escaping corporate life. Tracks like "STATUS:AWAY," "SHADES OF BLUE," and "CYANIDE" are noted highlights from the album.
The Experts Only Festival also announced upcoming dates for its iteration at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA, on October 3-4, featuring artists such as Cassian, Daniel Allan, Devault, Hamdi, and Jackie Hollander. Summit is also scheduled for numerous tour dates across North America throughout late 2026, including stops in Las Vegas, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles, concluding with a performance at the LA Memorial Coliseum on December 12.