Kneecap land biggest show yet in London after terror offence charge
The Belfast rap group – which consists of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – were formed in 2017 and have risen to prominence with songs including C.E.A.R.T.A, H.O.O.D. and Get Your Brits Out.
Last year a biographical film about them was released and also shortlisted for two Oscar awards.
They've become known for releasing music that includes themes of Irish republicanism and Irish language rights and have vocally supported Palestine for several years now.
However last month one of its members Mo Chara (Liam O'Hanna) was charged with a terror offence over an incident at a gig in the O2 in north London.
Although they were immediately met with calls to be banned from some festivals – and had some of their headline shows cancelled – Kneecap have now announced a massive show in London at the OVO – a venue with a capacity of 12,500. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKbtANXsbRI/?utm_source=ig_embed
Posting a poster of their upcoming gig on social media, the band wrote: 'All London heads – our biggest headline show outside of Ireland will take place on September 18th at the OVO Wembley Arena.
'Pre-sale is tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10am in our WhatsApp channel. General sale is 10am this Friday. The belly of the beast – let's go.'
The news was met with a wave of support from fans, who said they would be snapping up tickets, with others begging the group to play shows in their home cities too.
Late last month Mo Chara, 27, was accused of displaying a flag in support of the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK.
He is alleged to have displayed it 'in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.'
The incident is alleged to have happened at a concert last November – but the Metropolitan Police said it was only made aware of video evidence in April.
He due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the force added.
A few days ago, the band released a t-shirt that reads 'Free Mo Chara' and re-shared a poster that encourages fans to attend his hearing.
It reads: 'Let's all show solidarity with Liam Óg and stand against political policing and the attempts to silence and restrict Kneecap. We will fight them in their court. We will win.'
Following the charge being made public, several shows in Germany were cancelled, and Kneecap were removed from the Eden Session lineup in Cornwall and TRNSMT in Glasgow.
Soon after they announced make-up gigs in nearby cities which quickly sold out.
Other acts including Massive Attack, Brian Eno and CMAT have backed the band in an open letter too.
The trio have a string of huge shows this summer – including at Glastonbury Festival and shows at Green Man, 2000 Trees and with Fontaines D.C. They also headlined Wide Awake Festival in London last month.
Kneecap have repeatedly denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah.
In response to the charge, they shared a statement which said that 'while 14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza…British establishment is focused on us'. More Trending
'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is. As they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage.
'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries.
'We stand proudly with the people. You stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win. Free Palestine.'
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