John Summit playing at Experts Only on March 22, 2026. (Lou Leclercq/CUIndependent)
For many attendees, the Experts Only festival weekend in Vail, Colorado, was an escape from reality and a chance to get away from the city.
The experience started early. Après-ski sets at Avanti began at noon, with DJs like Devault, Fallon, and Odd Mob setting the tone before the crowd moved to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater for the main event.
Experts Only is DJ John Summit’s record label; the goal of his brand is to make “music without limits,” reflecting Summit’s desire to experiment with a variety of sounds and styles. According to the Experts Only page, the team he has created is united by their love of boundary-pushing dance music and unforgettable live event experiences.
Fans packed the venue, dancing in moon boots and fur coats, waiting for Summit’s headlining set. Gabbs opened, followed by Fallon, who played his viral track “Diet Coke,” and Odd Mob, whose high-energy mix of house sub-genres kept the momentum going.
Even with limited snow for mid-March, the atmosphere didn’t fall short. With Mountains framing the stage, the Experts Only logo lit up the hillside, and Summit delivered a full production, lasers, visuals, and bursts of fire matching the scale of his biggest show, at Folsom Field.
For many, the weekend wasn’t just about the music, but about whether the experience justified the cost.
Tickets started around $200, not including travel, attire, or a full day spent in Vail. Still, for attendees, the value wasn’t measured in dollars.
“A group of my friends was going, and they sent me the info on Instagram. I had to go,” attendee Bryan Bacarda said.
Social media and word of mouth played a huge role in drawing people in, but what kept viewers there was the feeling of being part of something bigger.
“It’s so wholesome. There are so many good DJs and a lot of diversity between male and female artists. I’m here because I love it,” said Hannah Wells, who previously attended an Experts Only event in Tahoe.
Because the event ended at 9 p.m., many attendees made the drive back to Denver or Boulder that same night, turning the festival into a one-day escape rather than a full weekend commitment.
For college students, especially, that accessibility made the decision easier.
With graduation approaching, University of Colorado Boulder senior Josh Thorner said experiences like this feel more urgent.
“I want to go on as many random side quests as I can before life gets a little too real,” he said. “This was one of my favorite Sundays.”
In a time when live music is getting more expensive, events like Experts Only highlight a shift in priorities. For many young people, the question isn’t whether it’s affordable; it’s whether it’s worth it.
And in Vail, for a few hours in the mountains, the answer seemed to be yes.
Contact CU Independent Senior Arts Editor Lou Leclercq at lou.leclercq@colorado.edu
