10 acts the Forbidden Fruit booker says you shouldn’t miss

This weekend’s Bulmers Forbidden Fruit festival is in its fourth year, and growing steadily, expecting about 20,000 attendees over the weekend. With over fifty acts on site you’d be hard pushed to see them all. We asked Declan Forde, the man who booked them, to give us 10 acts you simply can’t live without. (See also Here Comes the Sun for this year’s Forbidden Fruit)

1) FLYING LOTUS

- Sat 21.15 Undergrowth Stage

Flying Lotus (otherwise known as Steven Ellison) is an electronic hip-hop producer from LA that Forde has been chasing to perform in Dublin for 10 years. He’s got him for this Saturday on the Undergrowth Stage and he’s bringing with him a brand spanking new 3D audio visual show that is described as having to be seen, to be believed.

2) FLAMING LIPS - Sat 21.15 Original Stage

Flaming Lips are back after headlining the first ever Forbidden Fruit for a reason. Ford describes them as a ‘classic festival act’. The flamboyant psychedelic rock veterans certainly know how to put on a show, get to the front early and you won’t be disappointed.

3) NILS FRAHM - Sat 17.00 Undergrowth Stage

German Nils Frahm will be pumping out neo-classical experimental electronic music on the Undergrowth Stage on Saturday. His latest album ‘Spaces’ is described as ‘answering the call from his fans for a record that truly reflects what they have witnessed during his concerts.’

4) GIRLS NAMES - Sat 21.45 The Lighthouse Stage

Girls Names are a four piece guitar band from Belfast whose performances Forde describes as ‘upbeat, melodic and a little bit punk’. Head to The Lighthouse Stage on Saturday to hear them and have a little head-bop.

5) BELL X1 - Sat 19.30 Original Stage

This is Bell X1’s only performance in Dublin this year, and we are in agreement with Forde when he points out that they are ‘always brilliant’. With their perfect balance of electronic and anthemic pop, they be one to catch on the Original Stage.

6) THE ESKIES - Sat 14.15 Undergrowth Stage

The Eskies are a ‘one to watch’, up-and-coming Dublin band guaranteed to get you on your feet. Their upbeat sing-along style of folk music would be a great way to kick off your Saturday at The Undergrowth Stage.

7) LITTLE DRAGON - Sun 18.00 Original Stage

Little Dragon are a laidback electronic Swedish band, apparently named after the tantrums lead singer Yukimi Nagano would throw while recording. Well no tantrums this weekend as their unique indie pop will hopefully clear away sore heads and lead us nicely into Sunday evening on the Original Stage.

8) PUBLIC ENEMY - Sun 17.45 Undergrowth Stage

Public Enemy were disappointed that Forde wouldn’t let them play a three-hour set on Sunday, but he’s pretty sure a one-hour set will still ‘lift the roof’ off the Undergrowth Stage. Ranked 44 on

Rolling Stones

100 Greatest Artists of All Time, we wouldn’t miss Chuck D, Flavour Flav and all the rest of them if you paid us.

9) dOP - Sun 21.45 Lighthouse Stage

dOP are a jazz influenced French house act, and Forbidden Fruit will be their first performance in Ireland. We’re hoping to hear their album ‘Greatest Hits’, which propelled them to fame in 2010.

10) KLANGKARUSSEL - Sun 16.30 Original Stage

If you attended Forbidden Fruit last year then you will know that all anyone could talk about was Chic’s performance. Well, according to Forde Klangkarussel will be that performace this year. He describes the German bands music as ‘anthemic, electronic, funk’ and the one not to miss.

[ ticketmaster.ie ]