This past weekend saw Randall’s Island in New York City host John Summit and the Experts Only Festival. Ever since the initial announcement, expectations were very high. With only a couple of months to prepare after announcing, fans were impressed with the level of talent, organization and production the event had to offer.
Pre-Festival Prep
Before the event began, fans received emails containing all the information needed to arrive and enjoy the festival. These emails had information on how to arrive, festival hours, and security policies.
Many were concerned about transportation going into the event. Experts Only Festival provided several outlets on how to get to the festival- which was located on Randall’s Island. The most common method of transportation was by ferry. Ferry passes were available for purchase, which would be able to take you to and from the festival grounds each day. As expected, rideshares were a popular method with the option to be dropped off right on the island. Another option was the RFK walking bridge, an easily accessible way to get to the festival.
Activities
The festival itself was rather small- selling 95% of tickets with around 50,000 patrons. There were two stages- the smaller Mirror Field, and the Main Stage at the very end of the grounds. In between the two stages were attractions like the Summit St. Market, the Pwemium Wounge, the Femme House, and the merchandise shop. Each booth had their own unique activities for festival-goers to enjoy between sets.
Summit St. Market had interactive features like a photo booth and a graffiti wall for people to contribute to. The market was one of many stops throughout the festival for fans to pick up merchandise or festival essentials such as sunglasses and pashminas. The “Pwemium Wounge,” named after a popular video of John Summit, had a VIP atmosphere for all festival-goers to enjoy some shade and live DJ sets in a more lowkey setting.
The FEMME HOUSE tent offered crash courses on DJing and producing to promote their message: “fostering more equitable opportunity for women and gender-expansive individuals in music.” FEMME HOUSE had two DJ controllers and a wide selection of synths and pads commonly used in creating electronic music. The non-profit partnered with Synth Library NYC, supplying gear for demonstration. This spot was a huge hit at Experts Only, providing the chance for fans- specifically female and nonbinary festival-goers, to learn the basics of music production and performance.
Food & Beverage
A notable feature of Experts Only festival was the wide variety of food and beverage options. Sponsors such as Ghost Energy, White Claw and Don Julio were popular options amongst fans. The festival grounds were lined with tents which reduced long lines and waiting times. Food vendors were also clearly marked with their cuisine and dietary restriction offerings. They highlighted local businesses like Andrew Bellucci’s and Butcher Bar, which were massive hits.
Expert-Level Talent
The entertainment was the festival’s biggest selling point. A collection of small up-and-comers blended with established talent created an environment focused on the art rather than booking the biggest names. The Mirror Field opened on day one with Brooklyn DJ and producer, Eve Lauren. Lauren was one of the smaller creators playing the festival- clocking in at just under 5,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Despite the numbers, her melodic house and techno tracks captivated the audience. Other names such as Lumia and Tony Y Not– who opened for John Summit at the Mirror Field on Sunday, all having under 6,000 monthly listeners, though that is expected to change following the festival.
Incredible B2B sets from Layton Giordani B2B Green Velvet and Kaskade B2B Cassian propelled incredible momentum for the festival as well. Giordani and Green Velvet’s tech house sounds came together to create an unforgettable set. Notably, fans could not contain their excitement hearing “When It Kicks,” their most recent collaboration. Kaskade B2B Cassian, “Kassian,” hyped audiences with remixes of essential festival tracks such as “I Remember (John Summit Remix),” “Escape (John Summit Remix),” and Cassian’s newest release, “Love Parade.”
A Moment for Representation
There was no shortage of representation throughout the event. A powerful moment came during the transition from Tini Gessler to LP Giobbi. While LP Giobbi was mixing into her first track, the video walls displayed a message about her foundation, FEMME HOUSE.
“Expertise required opportunity. This festival is creating that for every voice. $1 from every ticket powers FEMME HOUSE’s mission to support diverse music creators. Endless thanks to John Summit and Experts Only for amplifying possibility”
As this message was being displayed, fans cheered for LP Giobbi and Tini Gessler with John Summit standing right next to them. This was a small but monumental moment for the female, non-binary and underrepresented DJs and producers of the future.
John Summit
Of course, John Summit himself performed three times at Experts Only Festival. He had two headlining slots from 8-10pm on both days, as well as a special appearance at the Mirror Field on day two. His first set was primarily music he has released in the year, opening with his newest single, “crystallized.” He played recognizable tracks like “Is Everybody Having Fun?,” “light years,” and “Focus” in his first show.
At Summit’s second appearance, which he marketed as a “surprise guest appearance,” he dropped tracks like “La Danza,” “Human,” and “Sweet Disposition” in a “throwback” set curated for the most senior fans. It was special to see Summit take the stage beside Tony Y Not, an up-and-coming artist local to New York City.
John Summit’s third set was the last of Experts Only festival. This final encore from Summit was an Experts Only-focused set.. The opening track teased the “Diet Coke” ID that fans cannot get enough of. Other snippets in the opening track were “I Don’t Trust a Soul,” “Is Everybody Having Fun?” and “Night Time,” some of the biggest Experts Only hits of the year. Other tracks in Summit’s final set included “Diamonds” by Danny Avila and Matt Sassari and “Shake and Pop” by Green Velvet and Walter Phillips
Overview
John Summit’s inaugural Experts Only Festival in New York City was a huge hit. The first festival set a high standard for future Experts Only Festivals and events. From the diverse lineup to the variety of activities, Experts Only has nearly perfected the festival experience. With no sign of John Summit or the label slowing down, we can continue to expect greatness for years to come.
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