There's just under a month to go until Forbidden Fruit kicks off, and as the festival which traditionally kicks off the summer festival season, 2019 is set to be another juicy affair that'll keep us busy over the June Bank Holiday weekend.

Below, you'll find 10 reasons why you definitely shouldn't miss Forbidden fruit this year...

(1) THE SETTING

First things first – the setting. It goes without saying that the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham is one of the nicest outdoor venues in Ireland. That makes a bigger difference that you might imagine if you're a festival veteran; you're not just trudging from one mucky anonymous field to another.

(2) THE SHEER CONVENIENCE OF IT ALL

We don't know about you, but we've been to a lot of festivals that are an absolute pain in the arse to get to. By the time you've arrived, all you're able for is a nice sit down. Situated just outside the city centre, Forbidden Fruit is hugely convenient, with various transport links (bus, Luas) nearby so you don't have to worry about getting there or getting home, and can focus on the important stuff: having the craic.

 

(3) THE HEADLINERS

It goes without saying that the line-up of any festival is a big draw. Forbidden Fruit haven't let us down on that front, with its usual eclectic array of headliners. What other Irish festival could see Grime god Skepta headlining its first night, electronica whiz Mura Masa on its second, and loveable Mancunian indie types Elbow on day three? That's what you call ticking every box.

 

(4) THE OTHER ACTS

Naturally, there's plenty more on offer further down the bill, too – including some of the hottest names in music right now. The likes of Jon Hopkins, Earl Sweatshirt, Peggy Gou and Julien Baker will rub shoulders with titans of their respective genres, Laurent Garnier, Spiritualized, Paul Kalkbrenner and more.

(5) THE FOOD

It may be low on your list of priorities when it comes to a festival, but don't underestimate the positive power of choice. Gone are the days when soggy chips and sad burgers were the only festival nourishment on offer; last year at Forbidden Fruit, we made time for a delicious Thai curry, an artisan donut (g'wan with your artisan donuts) and a freshly made juice in-between sets. And it set us up very nicely for the day, too.

(6) THE NEW FOURTH STAGE

This year will see Forbidden Fruit expanding to yet another stage. Curated by District Magazine, the Someplace Else stage “will focus on left of field electronica, indie, weirdo pop and hip hop.” It's primed to be the place you can catch future festival headliners in an intimate setting.

(7) THE AFTERPARTIES

The fun don't stop when things wind down in Kilmainham. Although the curfew means that music must end by 11pm, the party continues in various venues around the city centre until the wee hours. It's here that you'll catch intimate performances and DJ sets by big names in small venues. Stay tuned to these pages for more info on them soon.

(8) THE LOCAL TALENT

One of the best things about Forbidden Fruit is that there's always an abundance of Irish talent on the line-up amidst the big international names. This year, acts like I Have A Tribe, Kojaque, Saint Sister and Pillow Queens will ply their wares – and if you like what you hear, the good news is that they're probably playing a venue near you in the near future. There's nothing like a festival to get a taster of what an act's all about.

(9) THE OTHER STUFF

It's unlikely that you'll have much free time on your hands, but should you feel like taking a break and gathering your thoughts at any point, there's other non-musical stuff to do, too. Catch your favourite band being interviewed in the Chat Room; have a whirl on the Chairoplanes; get married in the Inflatable Church. Sure, why not.

(10) THE GENERAL VIBE

This one is more difficult to explain. Maybe it's the setting; it could be it's the quality line-up; perhaps it's just a combination of all of the above. The vibe is always spot-on any time we've been to Forbidden Fruit – just a load of music-loving folk in a field intent on having fun for three days. With any luck, it'll continue for 2019.