Forbidden Fruit 2018: International Acts To Watch

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Earl Sweatshirt
SUNDAY
Earl Sweatshirt first came to prominence on the LA scene after joining superstar hip hop collective Odd Future. Since releasing his critically acclaimed first album, Earl, at the tender age of 17, he’s managed to strike a chord with rap aficionados thanks to his imaginative soundscapes and provocative lyrics. Having released two further acclaimed LPs in Doris and I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside, fans can expect an intense performance, with cult hits like ‘Drop’ sure to go down a storm.

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Grizzly Bear
MONDAY
Boasting a potent mix of cult indie hits and atmospheric psych-pop, the Brooklynites are a seriously powerful live outfit. With stunning vocal harmonies and a cocktail of instruments including xylophone, flute and auto-harp, their unique sound has all the majesty of Arcade Fire or Radiohead in their pomp. Indeed, the latter’s Jonny Greenwood once declared Ed Droste and co. to be “my favourite band in the world” – and their Forbidden Fruit performance will no doubt show exactly why.

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Thundercat
MONDAY
Celebrated for his contribution to Kendrick Lamar’s landmark classic To Pimp A Butterfly, the LA bass maestro is one of the most in-demand musicians around. Releasing his first solo record in 2011, he’s continued to pump out his fusions of funk, R&B, soul, jazz, electro and whatever you’re having yourself, with routinely excellent results. Having given us the soberingly brilliant Drunk last year, Thundercat – whose glittering CV also includes work with the likes of Pharrell, Childish Gambino and Flying Lotus – can be expected to deliver a typically dazzling live set in Dublin.

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Vince Staples
SUNDAY
A close friend of the aforementioned Earl Sweatshirt, the Californian rapper cut his teeth collaborating with the likes of Odd Future and Mac Miller. Having released a string of EPs featuring underground hits like ‘Blue Suede’, Staples’ gangsta flow and retro aesthetic made him one of rap’s hottest properties. Last year saw him feature on Gorillaz’ hit album Humanz and release his superb second album, Big Fish Theory. Further confirming his elevation to hip hop’s elite, he was part of the superstar line-up assembled by Kendrick Lamar for the soundtrack to 2018 blockbuster Black Panther.

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Richie Hawtin
SATURDAY
After forming his own PULSE label in 1989, the influential Canadian spent the following years playing clubs in Detroit, becoming a key figure in US house and techno. In ’96, Hawtin released a series of monthly singles entitled Concept 1, which is considered to have pioneered the minimal techno style. Still a regular in the festival game, recent years have seen him treat fans to mesmerising sets everywhere from Ibiza and Miami Music Week to Buenos Aires and Belgium’s Tomorrowland.

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Bonobo
SUNDAY
Bonobo, aka Simon Green, was initially known for his trip-hop aesthetic, experimenting with a world music sound featuring mellow piano fills, sitar samples and his signature electronica. The producer has since moved into different territory with a more upbeat approach, especially on his 2017 track ‘Kerala’, which offers a beautiful blend of atmospheric synth and infectious beats.

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Ibibio Sound Machine
SATURDAY
Led by mesmerising vocalist Eno Williams, the English outfit conjure up a dazzling fusion of Afro-funk and electronica. With heavy drum ‘n’ bass influences, the band have released two full-length albums, with Williams incorporating the Ibibio language into many of the tracks. With thumping Brazilian and Ghanaian beats and a distinctly ‘80s swathe of synths, these guys will make you want to drop everything and dance (case in point: the pulsating ‘Give Me A Reason’).

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Justice
SATURDAY
The cult French dance maestros have achieved international stardom on the back of smash singles like ‘Civilisation’ and the aptly named ‘D.A.N.C.E.’. Their most recent album, 2016’s Woman, was another collection of pounding dancefloor fillers, with Xavier de Rosnay descring it as being “like if you’re in the car with your best friend and your lover and your kids.”