Next weekend's Forbidden Fruit will serve as the curtain raiser for this summer's festival season, as music fans will descend in their droves to the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham across the June Bank Holiday Weekend (31st May, 1st June). Very much in keeping with tradition, Forbidden Fruit has assembled quite the musical line-up to welcome us to the summer - but who should you go and see? Below are five bands playing on the Saturday that we urge you to check out.
THE FLAMING LIPS
Saturday's main event attraction The Flaming Lips are no strangers to Kilmainham having played this same venue (and indeed festival) back in 2011 and their return to Forbidden Fruit is very welcome indeed. Frontman Wayne Coyne is one of music's more enigmatic figures, as you will testify to if you saw his recent duet with Miley Cyrus, and enjoys a unique relationship with his audience - and vice versa. To borrowed a tired phrase, you can 'expect the unexpected' for this one.
AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR
Ireland's loudest live act are also one of Ireland's best-travelled bands having undertaken extensive tours in what seems like every corner of the globe, from China to Russia to India. And for good reason too, as they're pretty darn great live. The instrumental four-piece were among this year's shortlist for the Choice Music Prize for their third LP, the majestic All Hail Bright Futures and will no doubt be itching to play a Dublin show after spending many a moon on foreign soil. This one is going to get loud.
F**K BUTTONS
F**k Buttons' third and most recent LP Slow Focus has firmly signposted the Bristol band as a powerful force who finally look like they're close to achieving the potential they've been promising since Andrew Hung and Benjamin John Power formed the band in 2004. Admittedly not the owners of a particularly radio-friendly name, their overwhelming electronic sound has been hailed as "masterful" and "effortless" by certain music industry folk and, listening to songs like 'The Red Wing', it's difficult to disagree with that assertion.
FLYING LOTUS 3D SHOW
Los Angeles based producer Steven Ellison, AKA Flying Lotus, has joined forces with visual artists Strangeloop and Timeboy to create a unique live 3D experience known as Layer 3, where Ellison performs in between two completely separate visuals effects - one controlled by Strangeloop and one by Timeboy. The result is a psychedelic effects environment, a very suitable companion to Flying Lotus' brand of irreverent music.
KID KARATE
Dublin duo Kid Karate could be set for a breakout year in 2014. Having already made inroads in Europe (where they supported Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) and in the United States (where SXSW went crazy for them), Kevin Breen and Steven Gannon will be looking to transplant that sense of goodwill to their home crowd - and we have a feeling that it will go down very well indeed!
Forbidden Fruit will take place on the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham on 31st May and 1st June. Tickets are available from usual outlets nationwide.
