Electric Daisy Carnival Does More With a Little Bit Less

In the increasingly competitive concert market, it’s tempting to try to be bigger than your rivals. But as the biggest rock acts, from U2 to Bruce Springsteen, have learned, less sometimes is more.

Insomniac Promotions, the organizer of Saturday’s Electric Daisy Carnival, seems to have learned that lesson. Held at Long Beach’s picturesque Queen Mary Events Park, the all-day, no-frills show was remarkably free of the pomp that threatened the L.A. festival scene last year.

This year’s model still featured carnival rides, a glittery fashion show on the main stage and more than 30 DJs, but the vibe among the estimated 6,200 attendees was decidedly chill.

The main attraction was BT, who spun in the sun at 6 p.m. Though he resists being called a DJ, he looked a lot like one onstage as he engaged the appreciative crowd with heavy showmanship and a mix that drew liberally from his albums.

Taylor, who preceded BT on the main stage, got the crowd pumped with a set that utilized old-school techno beats with great success.

On the outer stages, Philadelphia’s King Britt, with a genial house set that had just the right mood for the afternoon, and Jason Blakemore, whose set was well divided between the futuristic sounds of progressive music and quirkier dance beats, provided some of the highlights.

As is often the case at festivals, though, the real stars were the organizers, who by scaling back set a high standard for the rest of the summer rave scene.