Festival au desert in Timbuktu - Mali

Anyone have been to the desert festival or are going this year?

http://www.festival-au-desert.org/

I'm thinking about it but have heard mixed reviews.

I also have stuck around Mali much longer than I thought I would. I haven't been to the Festival in the Desert, but I've everyone I've talked to says it's amazing, but that the recent security efforts are starting to overshadow the music. As far as I know it is still in the relocated location closer to Timbuktu, which a lot of people seem to lament. You also have to consider a pretty hefty budget for getting there and away. That said, this is a concert I will definitely be attending at some point in the future. Tuareg, mande, malinke, and songhay musics are some of the most powerful on earth.

B well, Phil

Wildjasmyne-
You mentioned that the festival has lost a lot of its charm. I will have very limited time in Mali...about a week to 10 days tops. I'll be coming by land to Bamako and want to do some trekking in dogan country too. Do you recommend the trip to see this festival? Is all this even possible in 10 days? Plan on taking land transport for all of it.