John Summit performing during his concert at Folsom Field on Oct. 18, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
The crowd roared as lights flashed across Folsom Field, a venue usually home to Ralphie and CU football games. But on Oct. 18, it wasn’t touchdowns or tailgates that brought thousands to Boulder, it was John Summit’s biggest show to date.
“She quit drinking Diet Coke, she on that Coke diet,” were the first lyrics John Summit played, setting the tone for a crazy concert.
He couldn’t have picked a better location. Boulder has long been a hub for house-music fans, and the energy inside the stadium made that clear. The air buzzed with basslines and anticipation as fans streamed through the gates at 4:30 p.m., ready for John Summit.
But with five openers on the lineup, the wait stretched into the evening. From B/AN/K, an up-and-coming artist who has been sending demos to Summit for years, to house icon Tchami, who has headlined his own Red Rocks shows, the openers set the tone for what was to come.
As the sun dipped behind the Flatirons, Folsom Field transformed. The sky turned a deep purple as lasers sliced through the air and towering LED walls came to life, with fireworks, visuals and bursts of fire shooting toward the crowd while the bass rippled through the stadium.
Senior Ava Bracalente, who managed to grab floor tickets after prices dropped the week before, said the accessibility made the experience even better, compared to Denver or Red Rocks, the typical concert hub.
“No one had to drive or pay for parking, so the whole day felt like one big celebration. Everyone in Boulder was pregaming and hanging out, it was like the entire town was getting ready for this one moment,” Bracalente said.
Ruby Goodman, University of Colorado Boulder alumna, echoed that statement saying, “It was so nice having it so close to home and within walking distance, It was also cool being in such a familiar place where I’d spent the last four years going to football games. I would love to see more artists come here, it felt special.”
Once the show started, Summit made sure it was worth the wait. His set flowed between 2000s throwbacks, deep house and heavy techno. He mixed crowd-pleasers with underground tracks, keeping the energy high from start to finish.
“When we first got there, we were pretty close to the stage,” Bracalente said. “It got a little too crowded, so we moved back to have room to dance. The whole experience was amazing, you could feel how excited everyone was to be there.”
Summit’s shows are known for rowdy crowds, but the vibe changed throughout the stadium depending on where you stood.
“We were pretty far back, around section 206,” Goodman said. “It started off kind of empty, but by the time Summit came on, it was packed. When I was with my friends, it was perfect, but once I left to grab a drink, it turned into chaos. People bumping into you, no apologies. Still, once I was back in my little bubble, it was just me and the music.”
From the bleachers, the view was electric. Thousands of people moving in rhythm, lights flashing in every direction and the ground literally shaking with bass. For many, this was a once-in-a-lifetime show.
“As a senior, it felt especially sentimental to stand on the same field where I’ve been so many times,” Bracalente said. “But this time, I got to experience it in a completely different way. Seeing one of my favorite artists on our college campus was surreal, definitely something I’ll never forget.”
Not everything went smoothly, though. The slick bleachers led to a few injuries, including one fan who fell several rows and fractured her nose. Still, most left with smiles and memories that would last far longer than the bruises.
As the final beat dropped and fire heated up the stage one last time, Summit thanked the crowd for his biggest show ever, the last of the year and one for the books. Fans spilled out of Folsom in a euphoric haze, the night far from over.
In true Boulder fashion, Summit ended his night at a frat annex, the perfect closing note to a wild weekend.
Come back soon, John Summit. Boulder already misses you.
Contact CU Independent Arts Editor Lou Leclercq at louison.leclercq@colorado.edu
