8 hours ago
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- The National
Arab Strap on Kneecap, free speech and gigging in Glasgow
Just last month, it was announced that TRNSMT – Scotland's biggest festival – had axed Irish rap trio Kneecap from its line-up, citing "police concerns".
It came after fury from politicians over a member of the group allegedly calling for the death of Tory MPs, with First Minister John Swinney weighing in that the band had "crossed the line".
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Plenty of musicians – including Pulp, Massive Attack, Fontaines DC and Primal Scream – rallied behind the group, arguing there had been a "clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' them.
So with Arab Strap performing just days before TRNSMT kicks off, I was keen to hear where the duo stood on the issue: and frontman Aidan Moffat and instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton didn't shy away.
"It's a shame they're not playing," Middleton tells me, as Moffat adds that "no one should be axed for their beliefs."
Malcolm Middleton (left) and Aidan Moffat (right) (Image: Kat Gollock) He pondered: "It's funny how the people who bang on constantly about free speech are the people who are trying to take bands like Kneecap off."
Moffat went on to say that the festival's organisers were "under a lot of pressure" to axe Kneecap, and that "they've bowed to it".
"The irony is that by doing so they've simply amplified Kneecap's voice," he said.
Moffat makes a point. After news broke that Kneecap had been axed from TRNSMT, the group announced another gig in Glasgow, three days before their scheduled appearance. It sold out within minutes.
And when the trio appeared at the Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig, they were met with hundreds of people chanting "Free Palestine".
"It always happens," Moffat reflects. "They try and silence someone and they just end up with a louder voice."
'I was shitting myself'
As I was preparing to sit down with the duo ahead of their Queen's Park Arena gig on July 4, I was reminiscing on the last time I saw them live, at Edinburgh's Connect festival in 2023.
Talking about that gig brings up some fond memories for Moffat, as he tells me: "I spent the first few songs looking at the back between singing and trying to work out where everybody was.
"I spotted my daughter, who was nine or 10 at the time, right at the front with her hands over the barrier."
He was "shitting himself", he said, "mainly because she does that thing where she demands that you pay her £1 every time you swear".
"She'll make a lot of money out of an Arab Strap set," he adds with a laugh.
(Image: Kat Gollock) The "added pressure" – as Moffat calls it – of having family and friends come to a gig happens more often in Glasgow than anywhere else.
"They're usually our biggest gigs and we have a long history with the city," he says, adding that there's always "a bit more commotion and hassle" with the rush of organising the guest list.
Middleton agrees that there's an extra layer to playing in Glasgow, as he points out that "there's more chance of family and friends being there".
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"You're a wee bit – not on edge – but you want it to be good, you want it to be special," he adds.
Arab Strap are taking to the stage in Leeds the night before they play at the Queen's Park Arena. But will they treat their Glasgow gig any differently?
"Leeds will be really enjoyable and laid back, in Glasgow we've got to try harder," Middleton says.
"Not that we won't try hard in Leeds – there's just more chance of being criticised by people you know."
In a moment of panic, he tries to rescue himself: "That sounds terrible, I should shut up. I've not done an interview in ages."
Arab Strap are performing at Queen's Park Arena in Glasgow on July 4.
