Afrojack, ATB, others sing praises of EDC in LV

For months, I have been asking the world's most famous DJ-producers if they have any suggestions on how to improve Las Vegas' Electric Daisy Carnival.

But no one does. Not Afrojack or Kaskade, ATB, Joachim Garraud, Chuckie, Manufactured Superstars or Martin Solveig.

They all performed at EDC in 2011 and will return this weekend.

"EDC was really sick - crazier here" in Vegas than it was previously in Los Angeles, says Afrojack, who also DJs at XS, Tryst and Encore Beach Club this weekend.

Afrojack says when EDC was in L.A., the Insomniac company crew that produced it seemed stressed out by the city's politicians and naysayers.

"In Vegas, everyone was happy and smiling. It was like an electric Woodstock," the Dutch hitmaker says.

Afrojack's advice for Insomniac this weekend: "Do it the same."

"I don't think they can do it any better. Everyone was happy," he says. "They were pretty on it."

Essentially, here's why EDC 2011 was amazing:

Superstar DJs produced great music; everything ran smooth technically; the open-air sound and stage systems were unreal; and fans were friendly and happy.

Kaskade says this will be his fourth EDC, and it just gets bigger and better.

"There's so much buzz around electronic music, this might possibly be the biggest EDM event in the world. That says it all," says Kaskade, who also DJs Saturday during his residency gig at Marquee.

Kaskade points out Insomniac has been crafting music fests for a decade and a half.

"They get it right, because they've been doing it for a long time," Kaskade says.

And since the event runs without major flaws, DJs feel as if their individual concerts soar.

"EDC Las Vegas was one of the best gigs I played last year," trance superstar ATB says.

"Vegas is getting more and more important for electronic music - something like Ibiza in the U.S.," ATB says.

Thus, for such a famous festival to be centered here is "a logical conclusion," he says.

"The people, the atmosphere, the location it simply fits," ATB says.

Likewise, Joachim Garraud says EDC is "like a dream."

"It's the best lineup in the world," the French composer and producer says. "So I can't wait to be there and just to play two hours in front of 100,000 people. This is very exciting for me."

Shawn Sabo, half of the duo Manufactured Superstars, says he was astounded by 2011's production values.

"I think everyone who attended was, too. Insomniac really does create an amazing experience for everybody," says Sabo, whose duo has a residency at the Wynn-Encore clubs.

"I expect nothing but to have my mind blown this year, by all the stages."

Sabo says one of the great things about EDC is something both fans and DJs share: the ability to walk from stage to stage and check out varied artists.

"You could really go on a journey. I was walking around with my wife for hours, just checking out different DJs and stages," Sabo says.

"It's a great way to find new music. Some of my favorite DJs are Fedde Le Grand, Chuckie, Tiesto - all those guys - and it's fun to see what they're doing with their sounds."

Dutch DJ star Chuckie (who performs Monday at Marquee) was so impressed by EDC 2011 that he thinks the Miami-based Winter Music Conference should move here. Or Vegas should start its own winter music conference.

"The possibilities are endless. Vegas is just a great place," Chuckie says.

French DJ-producer Martin Solveig viewed EDC 2011 as more than a great gig, but "honestly one of the moments of my life."

"The stage was so impressive," Solveig says.

"Even if I play stadiums and these big stages in Europe, it (EDC Vegas) is still very, very impressive and one of the biggest gigs I've ever played," Solveig says.

Solveig explains that in Europe, he and his peers have been known longer, so expectations are set in place between fans and performers.

But in Vegas - as is the case with many of these DJs - he's still just a year or more into being known by clubbers and EDC fans.

"There is this excitement of the discovery of a new genre" here, Solveig says.

"A year ago, I was a really, like, an absolutely unknown artist. And in just one year, the communication I had with the crowd in Vegas was really impressive.

"I think the American crowd is the future."

OUTSIDE EDC

■ ATB (plus Dash Berlin): today at Tao in The Venetian.

■ Afrojack: Saturday at Wynn's Tryst; Sunday at Wynn's XS; and Monday at Encore Beach Club with David Guetta.

■ Kaskade: Saturday at Marquee at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

■ Chuckie and Redfoo: Monday at Marquee nightclub at The Cosmopolitan.

Contact Doug Elfman at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.