A music festival can often hinge on the weather report. Sunniness really does go a long way to improving the whole experience, while too much rain puts a dampener on any of the fun that is to be had around the campsite. Regardless if your favourite band is playing, being soaked through to the bone and shivering is not an enjoyable experience. But sometimes weather can turn extreme, and rain is the last of peoples worries. Especially when festival goers are holed up in flimsy tents which provide very little protection from the elements, the situation can become perilous.

Take Benicassim for example, in 2009 the Spanish festival was beaten with severe winds said to reach speeds of 70mph. The former lead singer of The Jam, Paul Weller, had to leave the stage mid-performance as it was swaying dangerously, putting himself and the crowd at risk. In the aftermath, headliners Kings of Leon were forced to pull out because of irreparable damage to the surrounding stage and the lighting equipment.

One fan described the scene saying: “It was a bit of a nightmare. It started clouding over at about 6 o'clock and getting quite windy then but by the time we got to the festival around 10, when Paul Wellar was on, it was just ridiculous. I've not seen wind like it. The site itself is on a disused industrial site and it's got loads of sand around it, so that was just going flying everywhere into people's eyes. It was chaos.”

In 2007, Wakestock Festival which is held on the Welsh coast near Abersoch endured similar conditions and had to be cancelled after 2 days of heavy rain completely flooded the site. The Friday night went ahead despite the atrocious weather, however security were ordered to close the car parks soon after due to waterlogging. This was a shame for people who made the journey to see the likes of Dirty Pretty Things, Mark Ronson and Ferry Corsten who were all scheduled to play.

Getting a boot in the face or a pint of warm beer thrown over you from a distance is all part and parcel of the Festival mosh pit experience. Artists performing on stage get so wrapped up in the music and the electricity of the crowd that they try to connect with the fans by diving on top of them, which does not seem the cleverest of ideas, but spontaneity wins the day. It is then the job of the burly security staff to pull the artists back to safety. Many hard core performers have been exponents of the crowd surf, like Eddie Vedder and Iggy Pop, but also includes less likely artists such as Lady Gaga and Beyonce.

The Pokerface singer Lady Gaga cut her crowd surfing teeth at Lollapalooza festival in 2010. Excited fans took advantage of the moment and groped the half-naked singer as she was carried around above them. Loolapalooza seems to have this effect on women, as Juliette Lewis did the same manoeuvre at the event which is held in Chicago every year, except she acted out her jump way back in 2007.

The long-haired rock god of Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder, made crowd surfing an art form. His style of music is much more suited to the idea of crowd surfing, considering his aggression and the predominantly male following of his band. One of Eddie Vedder's most daring jumps was at a festival in Holland in 1992, when he climbed on top of a camera rig which moved into position above the crowd. He jumped off the TV crane from an impressive height and pandemonium followed, as the crowd swayed and lurched to try and get a touch of their hero.

Dr. Dre had the honour of being the closing act of the 2012 Coachella Music Festival and he did not disappoint. Having a back catalogue of hit after hit is something not many acts can boast, and having friends such as Eminem and Snoop Dogg to back him up made for a more than memorable set.

Hits and co-stars alone would have been enough to floor crowds but his set was taken up a further and unexpected notch when a hologram of Tupac rose from the stage and performed with Snoop Dogg. Stunned fans were in awe as a life-like Tupac Shakur commanded the stage performing two songs, Hail Mary and Gangsta Party with Snoop, who rapped along with him as though the real Tupac was standing there. It was an amazing feat in technological advancement and provided a generation who would have never seen Tupac perform a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Although the Tupac hologram was the headline grabber of the set, there was plenty more to marvel at as Dr. Dre and his cohorts took control of one of the largest crowds and had them in the palm of their hands. A touching tribute was paid to fallen member of the Dr. Dre/Death Row camp Nate Dogg, who passed in 2011 after suffering multiple strokes. Dr. Dre managed to blend the old school with the new, performing with stalwarts such as Warren G and newcomers to the game like Wiz Khalifa and Dr. Dre signee Kendrick Lamar.

Dr. Dre would then go on to bring out Aftermath alumni and multiplatinum artist 50 Cent for a mini set of classic Dre and 50 collaborations including of course In Da Club. Eminem would then follow and perform with Dre, leaving to ‘catch a cab', leaving Dre and Snoop to close the show on their classic Still D.R.E.

Music Festivals seem to be on the up and up, superficially at least, as it seems a new festivals sprout up from nowhere at an alarming rate. There has never been such a range and choice for the paying public to invest their hard earned cash in.

Yet new research carried out by YouGov suggests otherwise. In the recent SixthSense Music Festivals report, it was indicated that just a fraction of people who went to music festivals last year will go again this year. This figure stands at a staggering 50% who say that ‘don't expect to go to a festival in 2012'.

The evidence has worrying implications for the British economy, as well as festivals everywhere, as attendances for 2012 will shrink far below those numbers in 2011, and therefore less money will be spent. Of all UK festival-goers tested in the survey over half (51%) admitted that they had visited a festival in the last year, ranging from Glastonbury to more boutique festivals like Kendal Calling.

Much of this downturn points to one factor, people tightening their belts during the economic downturn (39% said the recession played a factor). However, for 45% of UK festival-goers, the credit crunch has had no effect on them going out and buying tickets for festivals that they want to go to.

James McCoy, researcher for YouGov, commented on the findings saying: “While financial constraints may curtail the number going to festivals this year, factors within the industry itself should also be taken into account. For instance, the absence of a Glastonbury Festival is particularly significant. It's the flagship UK music festival and the most visible expression of festival culture, occupying a key place in the UK psyche.”

One festival has set party goers tongue wagging this year, and that festival is Bestival. Every September festival goers flock from all corners of the UK and further afield to enjoy the biggest acts in popular music over 4 days of celebrations. Now Bestival has all of the qualities to fill the void left by Glastonbury, which is having a year off sadly.

Since attracting 10,000 people to the Isle of Wight in 2004, the events has grown considerably in popularity and each year the capacity has had to increase. In 2010, this number rose to some 55,000 punters, thanks to performances from the likes of Pendulum, The Cure, Björk, Primal Scream and Brian Wilson.

2012 promises to be no different as the first wave of acts have been announced on the official website, with legendary 80's electronic act New Order headlining the coveted Saturday spot. New Order formed after the disintegration of the much loved alt rockers Joy Division, who came to a premature end after the suicide of frontman Ian Curtis. New Order dominated the dance floor throughout their long careers with hits like Blue Monday and True Faith, and are still making hits today.

Like many other festivals, the entertainment is all embracing, and offers much more than meets the eye. With this in mind Bestival won the award for the ‘fans' favourite festival gong at the annual UK Festival Awards.

Chairman Rob da Bank said: "We're lucky to have won a lot of awards over the years but this is the one that counts tonight as it's voted for by the fans. The Bestival crowd are the best party crowd ever and we can't thank them enough for supporting us year after year. Roll on 2012, we're gonna give you one hell of a show to say thanks!"

UK festivals are always serious fun. Aside from the possibility of Trench Foot and the appalling condition of the toilets, there's always a good line-up and a great atmosphere. No matter what your taste of music is, there's always a festival that caters for you. And with the big Daddy of Festivals – that's Glastonbury, in case you were wondering – taking a year off for the Olympics, maybe this year, it's time to go to a different one. Who knows? You might even get a different variant of Trench Foot. Now there's something to talk about when you go home.

Download is the UK's biggest and most well-known rock festival, and its tenth year is going to be good. With veteran rockers The Prodigy and Black Sabbath headlining the events, as well as Chase & Status, Machine Head and Tenacious D, fans of all types of rock are bound to be pleased. Download takes place in June, and tickets are already on sale.

The Reading Festival is a three-day event which takes place in August. The line-up hasn't been released yet, and rumours are flying around naming all sorts of bands. But seeing that this festival had Muse headlining last year, we can be sure of only one thing – whoever headlines, it's going to be good.

If you have been to Benicassim recently you will have noticed a shift in the atmosphere of late, a change in the average party-goer who flocks there. Listening to the background noise on the beaches, there is a clamber in the air that wasn't there before. It is the sound of 17 year old trust fund babies, and screeching sixth formers, on the verge of university and jumping on the Beni -bandwagon before they disembark.

The sense of a secret being let out is heartrending for those who have been flying to Spain religiously for a number of years. But now there is an alternative, The Spirit of Burgas Festival.

The Spirit of Burgas is a festival situated right on the tip of the Bulgarian coast, facing out on the Black Sea with gorgeous white sandy beaches. The event occurs toward the end of the Summer Holidays (15th-17th of Aug) and is the perfect setting for one last hootenanny to see out festival season. Temperatures reach high 20's- low 30's (Celsius) during this month, so sun lotion and swim wear is essential.

Having gained steadily in popularity, The Spirit of Burgas now has over 23,000 fans on Facebook and this number will only increase as people get wind of this new foreign adventure by word of mouth. But there is a two year window, perhaps a little longer as no one can predict the future, when this event will remain a relatively underground European music festival. Prices for weekend and day tickets are also very reasonable, 60 EURO and 25 EURO respectively. However, prices vary on the door, so make sure you get yours well in advance.

It is key to not this festival still has the pull of a niche dance festival and all of the live bands who love to play in front of the best crowds embrace this festival with open arms. The line-up over the last few years has continued to improve in quality, and standards were at an all-time high in 2011 as Moby graced the main stage and rocked through some of his best loved hits, many coming from his seminal album Play.

Ever since Noel Gallagher opened the can of worms as to whether Jay Z, the biggest hip-hop artist in the world, should headline Glastonbury so much has changed. In the immediate aftermath, the contentious debate raged on in all quarters of society, as people questioned whether hip-hop had a place in Britain's most historic music festival.

Glastonbury is the most prestigious rock and roll festival in Britain, perhaps even the world, with headliners in the past have included hall of famers like Pink Floyd, The Who, Radiohead, and Oasis. Change is never accepted lightly, and the announcement that Jay-Z would be headlining was met with shock and horror by many purists.

The Oasis frontman famously quipped: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong." Noel contended that such a line-up choice on the prestigious Saturday night slot would bring to question the history and the roots of the much loved festival.

The war of words raged on, as Jay Z replied: “We don't play guitars, Noel, but hip-hop has put in its work like any other form of music.”

The Brooklyn Wrapper continued, saying: “This headline show is just a natural progression. Rap music is still evolving. We have to respect each other's genre of music and move forward …. I've never ever had a show that's caused this much of a stir so I'm really looking forward to it.”

Jay performed that night in 2008, coming onto stage with a pearl white electric guitar and playing a version of the influential Oasis track Wonderwall, before ripping into his own hit 99 Problems. The event was a star studded occasion, with Beyonce and Gwyneth Paltrow watching on from the side of the stage, as Jay Z blew the crowd away. Critics and fans alike congratulated Jay Z on an amazing showpiece, and a seminal Glastonbury moment.

Organising your own music festival or event is something that many people would love to have a go at. But often people are put off by the idea there is a lot of work and studying to do beforehand. This is true and you’ll have to spend some time in learning the trade before starting to make some money. Here are some shortcuts to becoming a music festival organiser:

Find the right musicians and bands. For beginners, it is wise to organise a festival in your own locality. This will enable you to choose the right musicians and bands. Do a little bit of research to find out what people would like to watch.

Get professional security personnel. Make sure security is at its best. In such social gatherings, many different people converge. So the more number of attendees you expect, the more security personnel you should hire.

One of the biggest mistakes event organisers normally make is the location choice. This all depends on the results of your research. If you expect a moderate attendance then you should opt for a smaller venue like a theatre, but if the number is expected to be in many thousands then you could hire a stadium.

One of the biggest mistakes event organisers normally make is the location choice. This all depends on the results of your research. If you expect a moderate attendance then you should opt for a smaller venue like a theatre, but if the number is expected to be in many thousands then you could hire a stadium.

Last, but not least, is a stand-by technical team. The team should comprise of an electrical technician, sound engineers and lighting engineers. This will save you from headaches and embarrassments in case technical issues arise.

Are you planning to attend a music festival or concert? Do you lack the correct outfit or simply don’t know what to wear? Here are a few options to help ladies deal with the dilemma. Though most music festivals are organised in the summer; before thinking of what to wear, check out the weather forecast – just in case. This may be your saviour when the weather changes.

On a sunny day, wear a dress made from light material or skimpy shorts that will help reduce the heat. For the foot wear, look for an open sandal. A funky hat would be perfect so that you don’t burn your face or strain your eyes whilst looking at the sun. Also make sure you don’t forget your sunglasses. Remember to wear plenty of sun cream because you are going to spend hours on end outside.

Since you are going to be outdoors; there is a high chance of chilly winds and even rain. It is a wise idea to get a headband to hold your hair in place, you can make it work with your outfit by matching it with the dress. If the weather is cool or you expect it to be cooler, avoid shorter and light clothes. Go for the casual ‘boyfriend’ kind of jeans, a top made from relatively heavy material and a scarf. For those who are badly affected by cold weather, you can opt to carry a cardigan just in case.

Perhaps the most important item of clothing to take to a festival, especially if there is a chance of rain, is wellington boots. Wellies can be your knight in shining armour when those pesky grey clouds turn ‘el tempesto’.

Avoid wearing costly jewellery or carrying your most expensive accessories. It is never a good idea to take costly things with you when going to a music festival or concert. The reason simply is, in case of confusion, you are bound to lose the things.