John Summit recently made a massive impact on the New York City music scene, blending his passion for fitness and electronic music into a weekend-long takeover. To kick off the festivities for his sold-out “Experts Only Festival,” the DJ and producer hosted a surprise one-mile run through Chelsea in collaboration with lululemon. The run concluded with an unannounced pop-up performance at the base of the Vessel at Hudson Yards, where Summit played an energetic set for the unsuspecting participants.
The main event took place at Randall’s Island, where more than 50,000 fans gathered for two days of music across multiple stages. The festival, named after Summit’s record label, featured curated lineups, art installations, and a variety of high-end amenities. Reflecting on the weekend, Summit described the festival as a “passion project” aimed at building community, noting that the scale of the production—which included a surprise throwback set—felt like a significant evolution from his solo performance at Madison Square Garden the previous year.
Summit’s connection to New York City goes beyond just the venue; he views the city as the world’s creative capital and a vital platform for electronic music. Following the success of his debut album Comfort In Chaos and chart-topping hits like “Human” and “Deep End,” the producer sees this successful event as a “proof of concept” for the future of his brand.
Looking ahead, Summit plans to turn the Experts Only Festival into an annual tradition and aims to expand the brand to other cities globally. He also revealed that he will spend the upcoming winter focusing on his second album, emphasizing that his creative output remains the driving force behind his growing business empire.