Photo: Nora Weir
Experts Only hosted their sophomore festival on September 19th and 20th, making sweeping changes and improvements from the previous year. The festival, hosted on Randall’s Island in New York City saw 60,000 patrons (@relentlessbeats and @mediumrare on Instagram) and featured a star-studded lineup of Levity, Max Styler, Adam Ten, and the long-awaited return of John Summit b2b Subtronics, “Subjohnics.”
Photo: Nora Weir
The festival gained traction early on, with general admission selling out one day before the announcement that Levity would join the lineup. With the addition of Levity, the schedule now featured three dominant acts in the bass music community. GRiZ and Subtronics also played the festival.
Lineup
Fans celebrated the variety in the lineup compared to last year, which featured mainly tech house and dance house artists. That week, Experts Only shared the weekend with other prominent festivals. Lost Lands, Shaky Knees, and Riot Fest took place on the same dates.
Fans were also in favor of the staggered set times between the three stages, making it possible to see each and every act. Staggered set times occurred across the Main Stage, Mirror Field, and Pwemium Wounge in 15-30 minute intervals. Fans could catch up to four different acts within an hour. Select artists received extended sets, notably Adam Ten b2b Max Styler, John Summit’s 2.5 hour set on day one and day two sunset set, and Will Clarke’s Mirror Field set.
Transportaion
Transportation options were unchanged from the previous year. Attendees could either to take a ride share to the island or purchase a ferry pass. Ferry passes were a popular option due to the practicality and flexibility. From 2:30 pm until after the show ended, the boat operated every 30 minutes. Attendees could schedule their days around their preferred sets as a result. The arrangement reduced overcrowding aboard the ship. Attendees were in favor of the ferry, which included a shuttle ride once on the island. The festival also made a post on Instagram with instructions for public transport, ride share and walking.
Pop-Ups and Events
Fans who could not attend the festival were unable to participate. Experts Only hosted official pre- and afterparties with artists from the lineup. The official pre-party was held at the Marquee Skydeck at Edge, New York City’s “highest outdoor observation deck” overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
On September 18, the festival expanded its marketing by hosting a John Summit pop-up at the New York Stock Exchange. It echoed his accountant-to-DJ story line in the newest album.
The official afterparties were held at Pacha NYC, one of Brooklyn’s hottest open-air venues in the former Brooklyn Mirage space. The first night at Pacha was advertised as “house all night long,” with the main event being a b3b between Adam Ten, Innella, and John Summit. Night two teasing a “surprise bass artist,” which was revealed to be a b3b of GRiZ, Subtronics, and John Summit, dubbed “GRIZJOHNICS.”
Experts Only Festival hit the ground running in 2025, creating a unique and intimate experience for the dance music community. This year, they impressed again with their extensive social media campaign, boots on the ground marketing, and an undeniably complete concept. With an expanded lineup spanning across all genres of dance music and Experts Only’s unstoppable rise to the top, there is no doubt that next year will blow us all away.
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