Forbidden Fruit | Comedy Tent Review

Words: Caroline Foran

Meeting the needs of those of us who are big comedy fans, those of us that also enjoy live music and some mud thrown in for good measure, (not to mention those of us who couldn't really afford to splash out on a weekend at Kilkenny, what with our holliers around the corner) on this June Bank Holiday weekend, there was Forbidden Fruit.

Following suit with Electric Picnic, this year marked a first for Dublin's most exciting festival as they ventured into thus far unknown territory: comedy. Taking place in the picturesque surrounds of The Royal Hospital Kilmainham, our John Balfe was there to bring you all the latest from the festival, from Saturday through Monday. There had been rain, there had been a less-than-ideal portaloo situation but most of all there was good music. (For John's full coverage you'd be best off heading here.) Meanwhile, I, being too good for the rain, waited until Monday when that elusive thing we call "summer" decided to grace us with it's presence. Having been warned of the previous days' effects on the festival grounds, donned in my wellies and rain jacket it was off to Kilmainham I went, expecting cloud breakouts, swirling mud vortex's and upturned toilets among other staples of an Irish festival. Needless to say I was one of about three people there sporting a pair of wellington boots. There was no mud, the toilets were FINE and with the sun shining all day long, I could even sit down on the grass as I munched on the tastiest burger to have ever crossed my lips.

Admittedly, I wasn't expecting much from Forbidden Fruit's comedy tent. With the best of Irish comedians - not to mention some of the world's greatest - heading down to please the masses at Kilkenny, I feared we'd be left with the dregs up in Dublin. Had Kilkenny not fallen on the same weekend, the comedy tent could well have been one of the most exciting draws of the weekend. Still though, with Jarlath Regan, Colm McDonnell, one of my favourites John Colleary, sketch group Foil Arms and Hog and the vocal stylings of headliners Dead Cat Bounce, the crowds soon came.

A welcome respite when the rain came down (John tells me), and the perfect antidote to that between gig what-to-do dilemma, there was scarce a seat to be had in this tent, even as the sun shone on Monday. Special kudos to MC Steve Cummins who kept things ticking over nicely, Sue Collins who provided lots of laughs as her ah-jaysis-howiya alter ego Carmel, the hilarious lads that make up Foil Arms and Hog and perhaps the most suitable comedy act to grace a music festival's stage - the crowd pleasing Dead Cat Bounce.

Having gone off without a hitch (or none that I'm aware of) here's hoping next year's tent will be even bigger and better, featuring more top class comedy acts and if we're lucky, a few from across the pond.

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Wednesday 6th June 2012 | Comedy

294

Comments

• No comments have been posted for this article yet. Be the first!

Log in to leave a comment

Login or register to leave a comment

Enter your email:

Enter Password: Lost Your Password?