This weekend’s Experts Only Festival saw 50,000 electronic music fans make their way to Randall’s Island in New York City to be part of the city’s largest electronic music Festival this year. Expert’s Only was a stage for artists and fans alike to seeing an array of names in electronic music such as AYYBO, DJ Seinfeld, Pete Tong, Teed, LP Giobbi, a B2B with Green Velvet and Layton Giordani on Saturday and one with Kaskade and Cassian on Sunday, and headliner and curator of the Festival John Summit for both days.

Festival goers arrived in their rave attire–glitter, onesies, pashminas, funky boots and comfy sneakers–to dance the last summer weekend of the year to festival sets specifically created by Summit as “one-of-a-kind events in unique locations worldwide creating a community of like-minded artists and fans united by their love of boundary-pushing dance music and unforgettable live event experiences”. I was lucky enough to go on Saturday and it was a pleasure to groove in the middle of my city’s skyline. The green and open island was an excellent host for the fans as the massive space allowed for plenty of dancing and great vibes. Easily accessible by public transportation and with wonderful on the ground staff made their experience seamless, by 6pm droves of people had filled the grass and excitement was everywhere.

Cole Warner

@ALIVECO @BONDIO

One of my personal favorite sets of the day happened to be at the smaller stage for Teed. His set featured some super sweet disco with smooth movement from the crowd intended to just have a great time swaying with the music. I moved up a bit during AYYBO dancing and moving along, the energy was up! The energy the audience brings to these kinds of shows really make it all the more fulfilling. There was moving to the beats, shuffling, jumping, and a fun moment with festival staff bouncing along in the middle of the crowd beside an inflated Pickle Rick. The main stage with bright graphics and dancers held large crowds on the concrete, but even throughout the green grass of the island, I found pockets of people taking in the festival music, food and drinks, and enjoying the vibrations throughout.

As we got closer to the headlining performance, along with the sun setting and a chill that met the air around us, the pyrotechnics and lights of the stages setting the tone for for the night Green Velvet and Layton Giordani ended their buzzing B2B with a hug and everything went dark except for the stage lights and haze, and the crowd busted at the seams–believe me it got so packed towards the main stage– for John Summit. Summit took the stage arriving with a set bubbling with ecstasy and fan favorites. The bass to his opening song “Crystalized” shook our feet, and the lights in sync with the beats while streaming across the entirety of the island was a spitfire moment during Summit’s “Is Everybody Having Fun?” He beamed on stage elation and appreciation in his face and the audience pulsed back with the same sentiment as they danced the night away. 

@beatroutemedia

The kind of night you’ll remember forever. #JohnSummit #BeatRoute @john summit

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