It’s going to be a cracking weekend.

Summer in Ireland does not bring with it a guarantee of good weather (though the signs have been, intermittently, promising so far) but what you can guarantee are good gigs and plenty of them. Bulmers Forbidden Fruit festival, taking place at one of the most idyllic venues in the country – the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham – is just around the corner and it’s shaping up to be an amazing three days. Here are just a few reasons why it’s going to be one of the events of the summer.

The headliners

Dizzee Rascal, Tame Impala and Underworld in 2016, Orbital, Aphex Twin and Bon Iver in 2017; the organisers continue to deliver the big guns for Bulmers Forbidden Fruit fans year after year. As far as dance music is concerned, you couldn’t ask for two more mammoth acts than Orbital and Aphex Twin, while after two nights of dancing their hearts out, fans will no doubt welcome the change of pace with which Bon Iver will bring the festival to a close on the Bank Holiday Monday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcyIpul8OE Clip via boniver A festival, in many cases, is only as good as its headliners and Forbidden Fruit certainly doesn’t disappoint in that regard.

The good vibes

We’ll have to wait and see what the weather brings (a repeat of the conditions of last year’s June Bank Holiday weekend will do very nicely), but the setting in Kilmainham just lends itself to having a good time. Add in the good tunes and the giddiness that always accompanies a Bank Holiday weekend and you have the recipe for a perfect few days.

The laughs

We’re sure you’ll have plenty with your mates, but why not let the professionals provide you with a few giggles in between the brilliant musical performances. Once again, there’s an excellent comedy line-up for this year’s festival, with our own Eric Lalor amongst those on hand to leave audiences in stitches.

The all-Irish stage

It’s important that home-based festivals support homegrown talent and Forbidden Fruit is doing that in a big way in 2017. As well as the likes of Lisa Hannigan featuring on the main bill, the sixth stage on the roster at the festival, Bulmers "Live Stage – One Hundred Percent Irish Artists" will feature performances from a whole host of Irish performers over the course of the three days. Artists confirmed for the new stage so far include Rusangano Family, Talos, Tara Lee, Ryan Vail, Soule, Le Boom, Bad Bones, LAOISE, Ships, The Innocent Bystander, Wastefellow, Barq, Ocho, Super Silly, Mango, Aik J, Heroes in Hiding, Handsome Paddy and Tara Stewart.

The after-parties

The fun doesn’t stop when the music does in Kilmainham and as is the case every year, official after parties will be taking place all over Dublin.