John Summit Experts Only Festival review 2025: Thoughts, hot takes, more

Is John Summit bringing music festivals back to NY?

In short, yes.

But let’s start at the beginning.

I attended John Summit’s first-ever Experts Only music festival on Randall’s Island — and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun I had. Scratch that: I had the time of my life.

My Experts Only weekend kicked off with a surprise pop-up at Vessel in Hudson Yards on Friday– an event my friends and I dubbed “one of the most civilized pop-ups” we’ve ever been to.

At this surprise event, the 31-year-old DJ teamed up with Lululemon for a special Experts Only run that allowed special entry to the first 400 fans at their 5th Avenue location. Fans that gained access were treated to a pop-up concert and Lululemon gear following a run with Summit himself. Following Fred Again’s chaotic NYC scavenger hunt pop-up in June, this was a breath of fresh air.

The pop-up’s seemingly effortless organization and seamless roll-out foreshadowed just how the rest of the impressive weekend would play out. 

Summit, a Chicago native now based in Miami, is no stranger to big stages. He’s a regular at fan-favorite venues like Club Space and LIV Miami, and his sets at Miami staples like Ultra and III Points (among many other reasons) have cemented him as a force in house music. But, despite those roots, he chose to launch his own festival right here in The City That Never Sleeps.

When The Post last spoke with Summit just a few weeks before Experts Only, he admitted that he wanted to fill a major gap: New York’s lack of house-focused festivals. With Electric Zoo in limbo, Brooklyn Mirage facing setbacks, and nightlife in general feeling more all over the place than ever before, the city’s house fans were overdue for a proper gathering.

And, naturally, the always-reliable businessman turned turntablist delivered.

As someone who lives for live concerts, house music, and outdoor venues, this festival felt like a reminder of how fun and refreshing a well-executed music event can be. The last festival I attended was Gov Ball, which, of course, is a totally different experience, but Experts Only blew me away. Even as a house-only event, it felt personal and flawless, but not in a scrappy and overwhelming way. You know, like a great DJ set.

For my money, that’s something most NYC festivals (and festivals in general!) often get wrong. Too many times I’ve found myself at events that feel overcrowded, gimmicky, or like a giant ad with branding activations shoved in your face. Experts Only, of course, had sponsors, but they were integrated tastefully. Nothing distracted from the music or the laid-back atmosphere.

Experts Only’s lineup itself was well-curated with a balance of chill house and more intense sets, featuring artists like LP Giobbi, Kaskade performing B2B with Cassian and Green Velvet alongside Layton Giordani fit together perfectly. One might even say they…only…booked…experts. Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves.

The overall energy was truly immaculate and so many factors played into that. The weather was for a lack of a better term *chef’s kiss* and left me believing that mid-September might actually be the best time for a festival. Plus, the crowd was “mama bear” (just right). I never felt packed in or overwhelmed by pushing concertgoers and you could watch the mainstage from pretty much any angle. So clutch.

Even the food options felt thoughtfully chosen and, as a self-proclaimed foodie, this went a long way for elevating the experience. Instead of the standard Big Mozz and generic beer garden options, the festival leaned into NYC staples like Prince Street Pizza, Gotham Social Burger, matcha, and even boba which I didn’t expect but honestly? I’m here for it.

As for the location, logistically, Randall’s Island was a bit of a mixed bag. Personally, I had a smooth experience thanks to the dedicated Experts Only ferry service catering to attendees who bought passes for the boat that ran approximately every 20 minutes. But not everyone felt the same. TikTok lit up with complaints from festival-goers who were forced to walk back across the bridge to Manhattan once Ubers were cut off before the festival ended. Definitely a hiccup worth fixing if the festival comes back for year two.

Still, overall, I felt safe, free to roam, and fully immersed in the festival. By far the highlight of the night was Summit closing out his set with a remix of his magnetic new hit “Crystallized.” The dubstep remix at the end had my soul leaving my body — and judging by the crowd’s reaction and social media commentary, I wasn’t alone.

So… is John Summit bringing music festivals back to NYC? After Experts Only, the answer feels like a confident yes. Festivals like this are exactly what the city has been missing.

Well done, John — you deserve your flowers. Same time next year?

We promise we’ll be there if you are.

John Summit tour schedule 2025

Summit isn’t resting on his laurels after Experts Only.

Here all of his upcoming tour dates, the venues he’s performing at and links to buy tickets.