Forbidden Fruit: Everything you need to know
Ellen O'Donoghue
Forbidden Fruit is back, with two jam-packed days featuring international and homegrown artists such as Jamie XX, Caribou, Mallgrab, Underworld, Peggy Gou, and Jazzy, across five stages.
One of the first big festivals of the summer, the event is sure to be hopping regardless of the weather.
Not to forget that after the onsite festivities, there is Forbidden Fruit Night, consisting of ticket-only events with a festival wristband, having a range of official after-parties in city-centre locations. Running until 3am on Sunday and Monday, the after-parties will include DJ collectives joined by artists from the festival line-up.
So, wondering where to begin, what to bring and how to get there? Never fear, keep reading to find out everything you need to know.
When and where is it on?
Forbidden Fruit takes place on the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin 8, for two days, on Saturday, May 31st and Sunday, June 1st.
Are there any tickets left?
Fortunately for you, at the time of writing there are limited tickets remaining for the festival.
Currently, over 90 per cent of tickets have been sold, with less than 1,000 Saturday tickets, less than 250 Sunday tickets and less than 5,000 weekend tickets left, so nab them while they're still available.
Who is playing and when?
Saturday, May 31st
Main Stage
Jamie XX – 9.30pm-10.45pm
Caribou – 7.45pm-9pm
Glass Beams – 6.15pm-7.15pm
Bricknasty – 4.55pm-5.55pm
Trinity Orchestra – 3.30pm-4.30pm
Undergrowth Stage
Mall Grab – 9.15pm-10.35pm
Effy – 7.45pm-9.00pm
Sam Austen – 6.15pm-7.30pm
Clara La San – 5.15pm-6.00pm
Sarah Crean – 3.45pm-4.45pm
Lighthouse Stage
DART – 9.15pm-10.35pm
Kiliminjaro – 7.45pm-9.15pm
SPRAY (pres) SPRITZZ (live)– 6.45pm-7.45pm
LB AKA LABAT – 5.15pm-6.45pm
Pussy Wrangler – 3.30pm-5.15pm
Menace – 2pm – 3.30pm
RTÉ 2FM Rising Stage
DJ Wax – 9pm-10pm
Fortune Igiebor – 7.45pm-8.45pm
MOIO – 6.15pm-7.30pm
Celaviedmai – 5.15pm-6pm
Bold Love – 4.25pm-5.10pm
Essiray – 3.30pm-4.15pm
Sweetlemondae – 2.30pm-3.15pm
Someplace Else Stage
The Girls Room – 8.15pm-9.30pm
Slippery Slopes – 7pm-8.15pm
Vatican Jail – 5.45pm-6.45pm
Ahmed, with love – 4.15pm-5pm
FYNCH – 3.10pm-3.40pm
Avenue 68 – 2.30pm-3pm
Sunday, June 1st
Main Stage
Underworld – 9.30pm-10.45pm
Peggy Gou – 7.45pm-9.15pm
FCUKERS – 6.30pm-7.30pm
Khakikid – 4.55pm-5.55pm
Zaska – 3.30pm-4.30pm
Lighthouse Stage
X CLUB – 9.10pm-10.35pm
Juicy Romance – 7.40pm-9.10pm
Yaeji (DJ) – 6.15pm-7.40pm
In Parellel – 4.45pm-6.15pm
Jake Fitz – 3.20pm-4.45pm
Acushla – 2pm-3.20pm
Undergrowth Stage
Jazzy – 9.15pm-10.35pm
Bunt – 7.45pm-9pm
Nimino – 6.15pm-7.30pm
Sahana – 5pm-6.15pm
Kayleigh Noble – 3.45pm-4.45pm
RTÉ 2FM Live Stage
Dave Treacy – 9pm-10pm
Pastiche – 8pm-8.45pm
Shiv – 7pm-7.45pm
Cliffords – 5.30pm-6.30pm
F3MIII – 4.30pm-5.15pm
Negro Impacto – 3.30pm-4.15pm
Annie Dog – 2.30pm-3.15pm
Someplace Else Stage
DIEBYVEG – 8.15pm-9.30pm
Jimbo Jones – 7pm-8.15pm
Spooklet – 5.45pm-6.45pm
Cable Boy – 4.15pm-5pm
BBFT – 3.10pm-3.40pm
Smithereens – 2.30pm-3pm
What time should I arrive?
Festival gates open at 2pm, while last entry to the festival is at 9.30pm, and the last act finishes around 10.45pm.
How do I get there?
The event takes place around 15 minutes from Dublin City Centre.
By foot:
Pedestrians can access the grounds via East Gate, Military Road, Dublin 8 and West Gate on James Street.
By car:
There is no parking at the venue. Traffic Restrictions will be in place on Military Road and Kilmainham Lane.
To drive near to the venue:
From the West: Off N4 towards Heuston Station.
From the North: Off M1 towards Heuston Station.
From the South: Off N7 towards Heuston Station.
The nearest public car park is Park Rite Parking Lot at 7 Queen Street, Dublin 7.
By bus:
The venue is well serviced by Dublin Bus.
From city centre: Route No 123, No 13 (every 10-15 min on Saturday, 20-30 min on Sunday) from Upper O’Connell Street/College Green: take bus 40 towards Liffey Valley; bus 123 towards Walkinstown; bus 13 towards Grange Castle and get off at St James’s Hospital bus stop.
You can also get the C1/C2/C3/C4 buses from the city centre, getting off at Heuston Station.
Check your routing at www.dublinbus.ie.
By train:
Heuston station is 5 minutes’ walk to the venue.
If your train gets into Connolly Station, get the red line Luas from Busáras or Connolly and travel towards Tallaght/Saggart to the Heuston Station stop.
Check timetables at www.irishrail.ie.
By Luas:
Take the Red Line from The Point towards Saggart/Tallaght and exit at Heuston Station. It is a five minute walk to the East Gate entrance via Military Road.
Check timetables at www.luas.ie.
By bike:
E-scooters and e-bikes are not permitted at the festival, however public bike racks on the grounds of Royal Hospital Kilmainham are available for attendees to securely lock their e-scooters or e-bikes.
Charging e-scooters or e-bikes at public bike racks or nearby locations is not permitted.
Disabled access:
Vehicles with a mobility impaired badge will be permitted to approach the concerts via Military Road or Bow Lane where they will be directed to the East Gate and from there to the Mobility Impaired Car Park. No special ticket is required. Note, accessible sanitary facilities will be provided as well as mobility impaired seating platform at the main stage.
Can I bring a bag?
No large bags are permitted into the venue. Bags must be A4 size or smaller, and they will all be subject to security checks on entry. No bags ensure faster entry as you will be fast tracked.
What's the story with security?
Travel sized makeup, aftershaves, perfumes, sunscreens and hand sanatisers, under 100ml are allowed. Think carry-on at the airport-sized. No other liquids, or alcohol, are permitted to bring into the festival. They will be confiscated.
However, standard 750ml plastic re-usable water bottles are permitted, but they must be empty on arrival. No metal bottles are permitted.
You should add your ticket to your phone's wallet to keep it handy, be weary of ticket scammers, and ensure your phone is well charged up before the event.
A First Aid Tent/Ambulance Vehicle will be situated at the event.
Organisers encourage festivalgoers to take regular breaks, practise active consent, write down their group’s phone numbers in case some members lose their phone or get lost. Attendees are also encouraged to note and locate the wellness-area icons and visit the medics if feeling unwell.
Forbidden Fruit takes place in a residential area so respect the neighbours, be sound and leave the site quietly.
Smoking is permitted in dedicated areas only.
Prohibited items include: fireworks, flates, high power torches, alcohol, illicit drugs, legal highs, nitrous oxide, glass, gas cylinders, petrol generators, liquefied petroleum gas, bbqs, laser pens, selfie sticks, drones, umbrellas, megaphones, high viz clothing, folding chairs, garden furniture, professional recording and photographic equipment, spray cannisters, and smoke bombs.
Can I use cash?
Forbidden fruit is a cashless event so bring a card or your phone for payments.
Do I have to bring ID?
Yes. Bar and catering facilities are available onsite, but organisers operate the Challenge 25 policy, so anyone that looks 25 years or under will be asked for ID.
Can I leave and come back?
There is no re-entry to the event, so once you're in, you're in. Day tickets are scanned once per day and weekend tickets are scanned once upon arrival each day you attend the festival.
What's the weather giving?
It's mixed. Saturday is expected to start dry but with rain and wind scattered throughout the day, with temperatures around 15 to 20 degrees. It's giving breezy weather again on Sunday, with a mixture of sun and showers, with temperatures expected to be between 13 and 17 degrees.
But, we're in Ireland after all, so definitely prepare for all weather possibilities - with no umbrellas of course. The event takes place outdoors, on the grass lawns of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, so also bear that in mind when choosing your footwear.