Mooi RiverHaving never been to a Southern Cross festival until last weekend, I really didn't know what to expect from this four day event in the stunning 'hidden valley' of Mooi River. I was therefore delighted to experience something quite unlike the wild debauchery normally associated with big music festivals in KZN.

Instead what we found was a truly relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of camping space and some amazing bands to enjoy while sitting around the bonfire under the stars. However, let me just emphasize the word 'some' in that sentence, as a lot of the daytime music was decidedly weak and often nothing more that a couple of aging musicians bashing out badly covered classics. This was luckily offset by the incredible performances of the higher profile acts that I'll cover later on.

You have probably inferred from the remark 'plenty of camping space' that the turn-out was quite low - and you'd be correct. I honestly cannot believe that the organisers made any money off Southern Cross this year, and at a guess I would say there were about 500 people there. This is great for those attending, for many reasons: the gigs are that much more intimate, there's more space, easier access to showers and the toilets are still shining by day three.

VerismoObviously for the farmers it's a bleak situation, which is a shame because it is a great site and it does have great facilities. There are real, flushing toilets and proper hot showers – what more can a camper ask for?!

There is no doubt that the White Mountain festival being on the same weekend has contributed in some way to the low turn-out, however I don't think it's the only reason. I got the impression that the organisation of the festival was quite amateurish, for a number of reasons including the fact that the craft and food markets were seriously unimpressive, and from the issues they had on Friday night – a few friends told me how there was no food available and that the bands were running 1.5 hours late towards the tail end of the lineup.

Of course, some people (including myself) would not see this necessarily as a bad thing. One of the biggest complaints lodged at Splashy Fen by those that have been attending since the beginning is that it's sold out and become too 'commercial' these days. Southern Cross still captures the essence of that rugged experience that is drowned out by big sponsorships, corporate banners and radio celebrities gabbing on between sets. Sometimes it's better to be rustic. It just depends on your expectations.

DNA StringsLuckily we went in with none, and were thus thrilled to spend our time swimming in the icy river, chilling in the warm sun and gazing in awe at the magnificence of the stars which are so abundant in the midlands. It was great to get a decent night's sleep (read: pass out drunk) without irritating teenagers screaming and blowing vuvuzelas until 5am. It was great to listen to the bands on stage from your campsite, without having to endure thumping boot music coming from all directions. It was the kind of festival that you don't need a holiday to recover from.

LarkThere are two real reasons I chose Southern Cross over White Mountain, and they are Dan Patlansky and Lark. The latter is yet to perform a set in Durban, something I hope will change very soon as they are one of the most creative, intelligent and mesmerising acts I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Words cannot convey the intensity and power of Inge's voice, she's like a classically trained opera singer who has managed to twist her style around this deep, compelling drum 'n bass electronica that will chill you to the bone.

Another reason I love Lark is because the style is so completely anti-pop (for lack of a better description). Inge wore a smart blazer, long skirt and stockings and generally acted like a bit of a freak, but in a very sexy way, believe me. She does this crazy march-dance around the stage while at other times kicks her legs out and swings her arms in a most unconventional manner. It's amazing.

“Tricksy” is one of their hit singles and I recorded a video of the entire song from the front row. The link to download is at the bottom. Of course, it's nothing compared to being there, but great to get a small taste of what we're in for when they finally come to Durban.

Dan PatlanskyThe other reason, the great blues musician Dan Patlansky, has shown me things on a guitar that I never dreamed were possible. He's a prodigy and a legend in his own time, and it is an absolute privilege to witness him play. I never thought I'd see the day that I looked forward to listening to blues music, but after listening to his new album “Real” a few times I can honestly say I'm hooked. Stunning stuff, and once again there's a video of him shredding available for download. I chose parts where you can really see the skills, but just wait till you hear the man's voice... will keep you posted if I hear he's playing in Durban soon.

Besides the main attractions, there were many pleasant surprises in the line-up, including the incredible Stellenbosch outfit “DNA Strings”. They blew us all away with their amazing fusion of African and European styles, and included a violin, acoustic guitar, and even some bongo drums in the mix. They don't have any vocals, which I think is quite difficult to pull off, but they manage it brilliantly. From nothing, they puled the entire crowd to their feet and everyone was dancing. Catch a sound file at the bottom for a glimpse of what I'm on about.

Another great act worthy of mention is “Verismo”. They're a Cape Town group that can best be described as having a kindof ska-ish tempo, with a look similar to “Panic! At The Disco”. The keyboards, timing changes and 'cabaret' feel of the music also leads me to make this comparison, although the music is a bit slower and not so punky. It's weird, original and creative and I would definitely make a plan to check them again.

Undersound were also phenomenal, although I missed most of the set, they have a great stage presence and fired everyone up with a fantastic performance.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, there were many, many great bands, some of which I missed because we only arrived on Saturday. You can't see everything unfortunately!

Along with perfect weather to compliment, we thought the festival was a great success. The ultimate test though, is the answer to the question “Would I go back next year?”. From my perspective this is a very resounding “yes”, however amongst my friends we are skeptical that there will be another Southern Cross to look forward too. Let's hope that our maths and economics skills are proved wanting.