John Summit is the king of dance music so far as New York is worried. A metropolis that has had nightlife stripped from it after the Ezoo fiasco in 2023 and the chapter of the enduring Brooklyn Mirage. Whereas New York is blessed with many different wonderful venues, the shortage of a real music pageant has all the time left ravers wanting extra—step in, Specialists Solely.
John Summit’s label, which initially targeted solely on music, has expanded to incorporate full-blown exhibits. Final yr, he had the concept of beginning a pageant beneath the model, and no higher place than New York Metropolis. Taking on Randall’s Island for two days, Specialists Solely had a stacked lineup of home legends and newcomers on the rise. The venue is similar place Ezoo occupied for over a decade, and it really is ideal for a music pageant.
The Lineup consisted of Summit each days and Inexperienced Velvet B2B Layton Giordani, Ayybo, Enamour B2B Weska, Pete Tong, Roddy Lima, Teed, and extra on Saturday. Sunday saved the get together going with Kaskade B2B Cassian, DJ Seinfeld, Kasablanca (Dwell), LP Giobbi, Tini Gessler, and extra.
The pageant couldn’t have gone extra easily for its first version. Throwing a pageant is not any straightforward feat, however the Specialists Solely crew confirmed how devoted they have been to the imaginative and prescient with a big selection of artwork installations, food and drinks distributors, merch and purchasing, and extra. The pageant welcomed greater than 50,000 followers.
I sincerely hope they proceed to return again to New York and increase the pageant in years to return.
The Venue
Randall’s Island is located simply exterior Higher Manhattan. The island provides the uncommon mixture of being near the town whereas feeling like an escape from it. With wide-open fields, waterfront views, and easy accessibility by foot, bike, or ferry, it has every part a pageant must thrive. Expansive lawns present loads of house for large phases and sprawling crowds, whereas tree-lined paths and pockets of greenery carve out pure spots to recharge between units.
Specialists Solely Pageant had 3 phases. A huge essential stage full of large screens, lights, and lasers. It regarded most spectacular at night time when fireplace would shoot out in every single place. Mirror Area was the 2nd largest stage located on the other facet. It was intimate and had loads of house to get down. Spectacular artwork installations surrounded it, together with a chill spot with beanie luggage. The ultimate stage confirmed that John can take a joke by naming it the Pwemium Wounge after considered one of his viral clips.
There was a ton of actually good meals and drink choices. They featured New York classics like Prince Avenue Pizza. It was extremely numerous with Hibachi, Dumplings, Mac & Cheese, BBQ, Sushi, and extra. I actually favored the Summit St. Market part, which had boutique clothes choices excellent for raving and past. It additionally had Polaroid cameras so that you can seize the second just like the olden days.
The Music
John Summit had two unbelievable two-hour units. Whereas his Saturday set was superior, his Sunday set was legendary. Each have been numerous throughout genres, and whereas there was, after all, some crossover tracks, you could possibly really feel the distinction. He performed all of his classics from ‘Go Again’ to ‘The place You Are’ to ‘Shiver’ and his ‘Candy Disposition’ remix. John performed some DnB as nicely, showcasing Dimensions‘ remix of ‘Silence’.
Saturday, he performed a model new edit of ‘Go Again’ that was lovely. I’m a sucker for the unique and was very joyful when he performed that in full on Day 2. John performed a loopy quantity of tech home from IDs that I couldn’t shazam to SIDEPIECE’s edit of Kesha’s ‘Die Younger’. He after all, performed his new hit ‘crystallized’. He had a wide range of variations and ended the pageant with Subtronics‘ remix that had everybody thrusting.
The 2 huge B2Bs of the weekend have been a conjunction of the outdated and new guard. My second favourite set was Kaskade B2B Cassian. They have been the right combo of huge vocals and hard-hitting home. They introduced the large pageant power and crowd-friendly peaks. They performed Kaskade’s classics ‘I Bear in mind’, ‘Escape’, and ‘Resonate’. Cassian dropped his newer bangers ‘The place I’m From’, ‘SOS’, and his remix of ‘Blessings’.
Inexperienced Velvet B2B Layton Giordani was one other very good set. This was a novel set full of uncooked tech-house power and techno. It was one of many darker, sweat-drenched highlights. Chicago met New York of their B2B home crossover. Massive build-ups, dramatic transitions, and mixing in older classics from Inexperienced Velvet to get sing-alongs. Layton offered the driving techno.
