FESTIVAL SEASON STARTS HERE

It’s time to dust off your wellies, pull the tent down from the loft and get ready for this summer’s music festival season. These days Glastonbury Festival is just the tip of the iceberg, as new music events pop up every year to woo hippies, head bangers and everyone in-between. Whilst festivals are all about chilling out and getting into the hippy vibe, thieves have other ideas and benefit from easy pickings.

Music festivals are a prime target for criminals, who can quickly sweep through a field of tents, stealing belongings and money, while people are out enjoying the bands. Tents don’t offer the best security. Festival-goers could be just one zip away from losing hundreds of pounds worth of items, as well as their spending money for the entire trip.

It’s tempting to take your smartphone, mp3 player and all your best designer gear to a festival, but all those crowds make it easy for pickpockets. And anyway, nobody at a festival really cares what you’re wearing or whether you’ve got the latest gadgets.

The good news is that there’s a music event for everyone and people aren’t just staying in the UK to get their festival fix these days. From folk music in France, to thrash metal in Croatia or dance music on the beach in Spain, Europe’s festival scene offers some of the best experiences around.

Seasoned festival-goers will be leaving their valuable items at home. Check your travel insurance covers theft if you’re camping, leaving you free to enjoy the party atmosphere.

June-August 2011 Music Festivals

Hurricane Eichenring, Germany 

Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Chemical Brothers 

17-19 June

Sonar Barcelona, Spain 

Underworld, MIA, Aphex Twin 

16-18 June

Hellfest Clisson, France 

Ozzy Osbourne, Opeth, Rob Zombie 

17-19 June

T-Mobile In Musicc Zagreb, Croatia 

Arcade Fire, Cypress Hill, The Streets 

21-22 June

Hove Festival Norway 

The Strokes, Linkin Park, Kasabian 

28 June – 1 July

Open’er Festival Gdynia, Poland 

Prince, Pulp, British Sea Power 

30 June – 3 July

Roskilde Roskilde, Denmark 

Iron Maiden, Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys 

30 June – 3 July

Calvi on the Rocks Corsica 

LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, A-Track, DJ Oil, Carl Craig 

1-6 July

The Garden Festival Croatia 

Odyssey, Jurassic Five’s Chali 2na, Incarnations 

6-13 July

Benicassim Spain 

The Streets, Plan B, The Strokes, Paolo Nutini, Arctic Monkeys 

14-17 July

Spirit of Burgas Bulgaria 

Moby, Skunk Anasie, Deftones 

13-15 August