Huge London festival thrown into chaos AGAIN as headliner charged with terror offence
The event also faced a legal challenge from a residents' group
LINEUP CONCERN Huge London festival thrown into chaos AGAIN as headliner charged with terror offence
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A LONDON music festival is facing a second major headache in a matter of days after a member of its headline act was charged with a terror offense.
Wide Awake is taking place tomorrow at Lambeth's Brockwell Park with Northern Irish trio Kneecap topping the bill.
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Kneecap's Liam O'Hanna has been charged with a terror offence
Credit: PA
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The band is due to headline Wide Awake festival tomorrow
Credit: Getty
But the controversial hip hop group's frontman Liam O'Hanna, who performs as Mo Chara, is in hot water after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag.
The 27-year-old, from Belfast, is said to have displayed the banner in support of the Iranian proxy militants in Lebanon during a gig at the O2 Forum, in Kentish Town, London, on November 21 last year.
Hezbollah is a proscribed terror organisation, and it is a criminal offence to "invite support" for the group.
The rapper is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18.
The Sun has contacted a representative for Wide Awake for comment.
Also on the festival bill are indie favourites CMAT, English Teacher, Fat Dog and Peaches.
Kneecap, who are outspoken critics of Israel and its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, released a statement after O'Hanna's charge calling it a "distraction".
They said: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of the wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us.
"We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves."
They added it as 'political policing' and 'a carnival of distraction'.
Kneecap movie sets sights for Hollywood
"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. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their 'crown court' [sic] instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective?
"To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out.'
They continued: '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. Then, like now, they claim justification.
"The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.'
The Kneecap dilemma is the latest issue for Wide Awake, which recently faced calls to be scrapped altogether.
Brockwell Park, which also hosts the Mighty Hoopla, Field Day, Cross The Tracks and City Splash events, was at the heart of a legal battle between a local residents' group and Lambeth council.
Protect Brockwell Park (PBP) took legal action opposing the events, which require a large part of the park to be closed off to the public for 37 days during the summer - nine more than is allowed for a temporary change of use.
It claimed the festival series damages the ecology of the park and doesn't represent community value.
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The hip hop group have denied any wrongdoing and are backing Liam
Credit: Reuters
A High Court judge found in favour of PBP and the group's solicitors said: "As there is no planning permission for the Brockwell Live event, the event has to be cancelled.
"The site now has to be made immediately available to the public and cleared of the fencing and infrastructure.'
However, Brockwell Live, which oversees the events in the park, confirmed the festival series would still go ahead.
It said the ruling was over a "particular point of law" and whether an "administrative process" had been carried out.
It has since applied to the council for a new certificate of lawfulness that will extend the usage of the park by 24 days.
Who are Kneecap?
Kneecap are an Irish hip hop trio from Belfast, Northern Ireland, composed of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh.
Their stage names are Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, respectively.
They rap in a mixture of English and Irish and their first single C.E.A.R.T.A., cearta meaning rights in Irish, was released in 2017.
Their debut studio album 3CAG followed in 2018., while their second Fine Art was released in 2024.
The group also had a biographical film made about them the same year.
It won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025.
The Guardian described Kneecap as "the most controversial band in the UK" earlier this year.
In April, the group faced backlash after sharing messages about the war in Gaza during their set at Coachella.
They were dropped by their sponsor and booking agent Independent Artist Group (IAG).
Footage emerged from their gigs has also been investigated by counter-terrorism officers.
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