Forbidden Fruit returns on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of June in Grounds of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin. Lineup includes rock headliners Primal Scream and Kasabian, Chic, Crystal Castles, Four Tet, Neon Neon, James Blake, Daphni, Daughter, Austra, IamamiWhoami, Mykki Blanco, New Jackson, Frank B, Le Galaxie, Bondax, Fight Like Apes, Lee Scratch Perry, Girls Names, Tieranniesaur, Everything Everything, Kormac’s Big Band, Cyril Hahn, Woodkid and more to be announced.
There’ll be 4 stages, tickets are €99 plus fees for the weekend or €54.50 plus fees for a day ticket. Early bird tickets are €79.50 and €44.50 plus fees. Tickets on sale tomorrow at 9am via Ticketmaster.
Personally, I think this is a reasonable lineup considering the now-crowded mid Irish festival market we now have. Fingers crossed there’s more interesting smaller bookings on the way, along the lines of Mykki Blanco.
In terms of medium to large multi-day festivals that’s Longitude, Forbidden Fruit, Body and Soul, Oxegen and Electric Picnic happening this year. Considering those odds, POD and Forbidden Fruit did pretty well in their booking.
Last year’s lineup was pretty stellar so I can understand the initial disappointment from some but there was no Longitude last year meaning that this time around, MCD could offer act who were potentially Forbidden Fruit-bound more moolah to play in July at Longitude rather than June. With so few big headliners at the moment, Forbidden Fruit had to resort to the tried and tested method of rock bands who have done it before: Primal Scream and Kasabian to bring in guaranteed ticket sales despite the other audience of more indie/Primavera-oriented potential festival-goers who would prefer to have the festival to themselves. It’s going to be an interesting year for all of these festivals.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
I know what you mean about MCD nabbing some acts who would be at home on the FF lineup, but there’s still plenty on the Primavera/Field Day lineups which could have a high billing at FF, not to mention the huge amount of mid-card quality that are at those 2 that would certainly be welcomed at FF, which Saturday especially, is very light so far.
i think with Kasabian especially, but also Primal Scream, it will be a very odd crowd. your typical Kasabian fan would hardly have heard of James Blake or Four Tet, and most who’ve been to FF the last 2 years would hardly be appreciative of such a bog-standard rock band.
Here’s hoping Ciaran. Headliners for FF are pretty much set. Space for lots more though!
I think what you’re referring to in the second paragraph is exactly why some people are disappointed.
I reckon you’ve hit the nail on the head. I am a bit underwhelmed by the lineup but there is more competition out there this year. I get the impression people also aren’t looking much beyond the headliners. There’s a lot more to music festivals than just the headliners.
straight away i see several acts i have seen before that i wish to see again.take the headliners out and you still have chic,four tet,la galaxie austra and crystal castle with more to be announced.still to meet some who has never complained about a line up
If you just cover the picture above where it says Kasabian things would look brighter indeed.
Agree with the Primavera comment above, it would be criminal if MBV didn’t land on these shores; throw in a few of Goat, Shellac, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Swans, Animal Collective, or the Jesus and Mary Chain and you have a mighty lineup for the June Bank Holiday!
Considering MBV did EP before, it may be likely they will do it again perhaps?
Think there’s scope for more Primavera crossover!
Fingers crossed!
Hey, last year you posted five must see acts, are you gonna do one for this year’s event??
Hey Janice,
I won’t be because of the stage I’m hosting at it. Too busy!
http://nialler9.com/nialler9-forbidden-fruit-centrestage-tent-opening-party-and-dj-set/
Highlights would be:
Four Tet
Chic
Daphni
Ghostpoet
I Am The Cosmos
Austra
Iamamiwhoami
Daughter
Girls Names
Le Galaxie
Neon Neon.