There are certain nights that feel bigger than just a show, and John Summit’s CTRL + ESCAPE pop-up at Red Rocks Amphitheater was exactly that. From the moment it was announced, the energy around this one felt different… and somehow, it still exceeded every expectation we had.

Fans started lining up as early as 1 PM for 5:30 doors, which tells you everything you need to know. And in true John Summit fashion, the crowd leaned all the way in. It was so awesome. People showed up dressed as accountants and in full business casual fits, a nod to his past life and the perfectly timed album drop on National Tax Day. It was hilarious and very iconic. Also being festival babes, we love a good theme.

Summit even teased fans beforehand, saying he’d start at 7 PM… but instead, he walked on right as doors opened. No warning, no buildup, just straight into it. What followed was a 4.5-hour open-to-close set that had the entire venue locked in from start to finish. And when we say packed, we mean packed. Every inch of Red Rocks was filled with fans ready to ride the wave.

The set itself? Incredible. He touched every corner of his sound. OG tracks, tech house, bass-heavy moments, and unreleased music sprinkled throughout. As the night went on, things got heavier, leaning into bass in a way that felt perfectly tailored to Denver’s reputation as the bass capital. The crowd matched that energy every step of the way, and the set FLEW by because we were having so much fun.

One of the most unforgettable moments came during “Lights Go Out,” when thousands of voices echoed through the rocks, screaming every word before completely losing it on the drop. Pure, unfiltered energy.

To top it off, Summit brought out Julia Church for a live performance, adding an emotional, goosebumps-level layer to an already unforgettable night. And of course, the crowd-favorite call—“Red Rocks, how we feelin’ baby?”—hit exactly as hard as you’d expect.

We had the absolute best time, as always.

XOXO,

The Festival Babes