Southbound creates good vibes | Review

Featuring two days of music, extensive food van choices and impressive outfits and camping scenarios, it was one that lived up to previous years expectations regardless of a few expected hiccups.

Change was a huge concept at this year's event, particularly with the introduction of vehicles into the camp grounds, which no doubt needs a few more years of practise before it will be perfected to be on par with the international festivals after which the concept is modelled.

The overall festival set up still created a great atmosphere with the addition of a champagne bar and greater variety of food vendors situated throughout the festival as well as the village. Midnight hot chip runs became almost too easy for most.

Then, of course, there was the music.

Dreamy tunes eased punters into the day, with Vance Joy, Asgeir and Safia all pulling large crowds for a midday slot, with Jagwar Ma kicking off the move from swaying into dancing.

George Ezra pulled all the ladies, while Temper Trap seductively lulled the crowd into a complete sing a long.

Alison Wonderland took everyone down the rabbit hole, playing a set that woke up the exhausted masses.

The real stars of day one appeared to have been lefty's stage closers Salt N Pepa, with all reports saying that their DJ set was the highlight of the day with their overwhelming enthusiasm.

Empire of the Sun visually enthralled with seascape nightmare ensembles drawing people to the stage, purely to witness what seemed to be under the sea mayhem for the final set of the day.

Day two saw half the campsite flock to the Busselton foreshore in the early hours, no doubt revelling in the ocean's ability to wipe away the dirt and decisions of the day before.

As people wandered back from the shores of Busselton, the music lured crowds back into the main festival area.

Milky Chance and Sticky Fingers were commended for their smooth energy on stage, while veteran rockers Spiderbait brought the house down, captaining their audience and demanding a reaction.

The beauty of the set was the novelty of it, with the Black Betty sing along seeing what was most likely the most energised reaction from the soon-to-be heat stroke victims of Southbound.

It was a loved farewell that saw Bluejuice play their final set as a group, with their humour appreciated by all in attendance with a string of videos, gags and tunes that left the crowd with fond memories of what felt like their favourite uncles.

SBTRKT left less fond memories however. Due to technical difficulties only a couple of songs were played before all hope was abandoned of a full set.

Alt J soothed the crowd into the Mainbreak stage completion; their gentle songs making all very ready to call it a night as witnessed with the mass crowd exodus after Breezeblocks hit its final note.

All in all it was ridiculously hot, ridiculously exhausting and resulted in an outrageous amount of sun screen and aloe vera being purchased, but most of all, it had all the ingredients of a ridiculously fun festival.