Wu Tang Clan and Fat Boy Slim confirmed for Forbidden Fruit

More acts will be announced over the coming months

Fat Boy Slim on the main stage during the Electric Picnic Festival in  Stradbally Co Laois in 2013. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons / The Irish Times
Fat Boy Slim on the main stage during the Electric Picnic Festival in Stradbally Co Laois in 2013. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons / The Irish Times

Forbidden Fruit will return to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in the heart of Dublin for its fifth outing this May brandishing aging but still super popular dance act Fat Boy Slim and the maturing Wu Tang Clan at the head of its eclectic bill.

Dublin fans of their hometown extravaganza, which kicks off the season’s festive partying, are set for a three-day extravaganza with 70 acts set to play across across five stages from Friday May 29th to Sunday May 31st .

Berlin house legends Booka Shade return to the festival. Mr Scruff will make the break from Manchester to bring the beats to the Irish capital.

Joining Wu Tang on the rap bill are lauded hip-hop newcomers Earl Sweatshirt from LA and online sensation Joey Bada$$, whose debut album is out this week. Also announced are Run The Jewels, who crowded out a recent Dublin show.

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It wouldn’t be Forbidden Fruit without some very “permissible” electronic music. Fans of dark pounding tents can look forward to Dutch DJ Bakermat and Belfast’s Ejeca. Matador will keep it homegrown by pressing a few knobs too.

And for the matrimonially inclined, Glastonbury favourite The Inflatable Church Collective will be on hand this year, too. Who know who they will be able to marry by the end of May?

Early bird weekend tickets for Forbidden Fruit go on sale on Thursday, January 29th, priced at €99.50. More acts will be announced over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Irish Grammy nominee Hozier will be teaming up with former Eurythmic Annie Lennox at the 57th Grammy Awards, it has been announced.

Wicklow man Hozier is up for song of the year for his global smash hit Take Me To Church. Four-time Grammy winner Lennox is nominated for best traditional pop vocal album for Nostalgia.

The awards have become known for pairing established acts with new artists. This year, as well as Hozier and Lennox, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga and Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani will also make beautiful music together.

AC/DC, Eric Church, Common with John Legend, Ariana Grande, Madonna, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Usher and Pharrell Williams will also perform on the night which will be hosted by LL Cool J and may last quite a long time.

The ceremony takes place on Sunday, February 8th at Staples Center, Los Angeles.

Anthea McTeirnan

Anthea McTeirnan

Anthea McTeirnan is an Irish Times journalist