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Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
The Swell Season in Dublin review: Not a dry eye on the balcony for Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
The Swell Season – Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová National Concert Hall, Dublin ★★★★☆ Many European tours by international bands conclude with at least one show in Dublin . When the gig is more a homecoming than a visit, there is always more reason to celebrate the end of living out of a suitcase. Saturday's show was more than just another performance for Dubliner Glen Hansard and his one-time partner, Markéta Irglová . It was a means by which to remember old times and reclaim lost ground, a time to dedicate songs to friends ( Damien Dempsey , John Carney ), family (Hansard's young son, Christy), and other musicians ( Billie Eilish , Van Morrison ). It was also, perhaps, recognition of relationships started in flurries of optimism and finished in squalls of despair. This is best exemplified by the delicate ballad People We Used to Be, one of several tracks from the Swell Season's forthcoming album, Forward, receiving its first live airing in Ireland. Irglová, who sits at her piano throughout, takes the lead vocal on a wise, semi-autobiographical song that outlines how, over time, the heart's heavy bruising can disappear. 'Things were easier once, when our hearts were light, we'd stay up talking late and put all the world to right,' she sings. 'How I miss the people we used to be and all those things that you brought out in me.' Was there a dry eye in the house? Not on the balcony, there wasn't. It was surely written in the stars that the pair would reunite for another outing. Hansard is a relentless seeker of collaborations, always on the mooch for a session or a singsong with like-minded musicians, and always true to his humane intentions. Irglová (the youngest ever recipient of an Academy Award in a non-acting capacity for her co-written Best Original Song, Falling Slowly, from 2007's lo-fi indie movie, Once) is on a hiatus from her solo career. Of the two, Hansard is by far the most successful, but based on Saturday's show, we should never underestimate Irglová's abilities to occasionally put a halt to her friend's unbridled gallop. READ MORE There are marked differences between the older and newer songs. Those from the Once years, notably When Your Mind's Made Up and the still untainted Falling Slowly, embody young love in all its naivety, insecurity, and commitment. The songs from Forward represent tension, doubt, and a world in disarray. [ Glen Hansard on fatherhood at 52: 'I can't believe I didn't do it before now' Opens in new window ] Factory Street Bells talks of leaving loved ones behind, the Nick Cave/Bob Dylan hybrid A Great Weight Has Lifted obliquely references Gaza, while Irglová's sublime I Leave Everything To You could be a lost tune from the Wicked soundtrack. The pacing throughout the 140-minute set is deftly handled, from tender ballads to string-breaking guitar shredders, with covers (Van Morrison's Into the Mystic and Gloria, Fergus O'Farrell's Gold, a snippet of Leonard Cohen's Bird On a Wire) as well as spoken word (Stephen James Smith performing his potent new poem, Talk to Me). The show ends, unsurprisingly, with a bunch of flowers for Irglová and a collective thumbs-up for Hansard.
Irish Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Kneecap videos to be investigated by UK's counter-terrorism police
Kneecap is being investigated by counter-terrorism police in the UK following videos allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of British MPs and shouting 'Up Hamas, up Hizbullah'. The Belfast rap trio have had several gigs cancelled after video footage appeared to show one of them shouting 'Up Hamas, up Hizbullah' in November last year. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: 'On April 22nd, we were made aware of an online video believed to be from a music event in London in November 2024. Following this, we were made aware of a further video, believed to be from another music event in London in November 2023. 'Both videos were referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos. READ MORE 'The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time.' Earlier, dozens of artists, including Irish musicians The Pogues, Fontaines DC, Lankum, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey and Thin Lizzy, have defended Kneecap, saying politicians should have no place in deciding who can or cannot play musical festivals. The Irish-language group have received heavy criticism from across the Commons benches in Britain over claims they called for MPs to be killed. British ministers have put pressure on the organisers of the Glastonbury festival over the group's inclusion, while a gig at the Eden Project has been cancelled . A spokesperson for the Eden Sessions, which are scheduled to be held at the Cornwall botanical gardens in July, confirmed the band will not be performing and ticket purchasers will be refunded. Britain's Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded the trio be banned from Glastonbury, with politicians from the governing and opposition parties underlining as evidence of the danger already faced by MPs the murders of their colleagues Jo Cox and David Amess . [ Westminster never forgets its murdered MPs - which is why Kneecap's comments could not be overlooked Opens in new window ] Criticism of the band came after video emerged of a member who had appeared to say at a 2023 gig: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Footage from another date last year appeared to show one of the band shouting: 'Up Hamas, up Hizbullah' – groups banned in the UK as terrorist organisations. However, in a joint statement also signed by other artists including Dubliner Annie Macmanus , the former BBC Radio 1 DJ also known as Annie Mac, and the bands Massive Attack, Pulp and Primal Scream, the group said the following: 'This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap. 'In Westminster and the British media, senior political figures have been openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye, with veiled threats being made over their scheduled performances at gigs, outdoor events, and music festivals, including Glastonbury. 'Chillingly, it is also clear to us that influential figures and personalities within the wider music industry are attempting to influence this campaign of intimidation. 'As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom. 'In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people. 'The question of agreeing with Kneecap's political views is irrelevant: it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture, and that this interference campaign is condemned and ridiculed. [ Kneecap say they have received 'hundreds of violent threats' over Coachella performance Opens in new window ] 'Furthermore it is also the duty of key leadership figures in the music industry to actively defend artistic freedom of expression – rather than seek to silence views which oppose their own.' The statement was signed by Annie Mac, Beoga, Bicep, Biig Piig, Blindboy Boatclub, Bob Vylan, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Delivery, Dexys, English Teacher, Enter Shikari, Fontaines DC, Gemma Dunleavy, Gurriers, Idles, Iona Zajac, Jelani Blackman, John Francis Flynn, Joshua Idehen, Katy J Pearson, Kojaque, Lankum, Lisa O'Neill, Lowkey, Massive Attack, Martyn Ware, Paul Weller, Peter Perrett, Poor Creature, Primal Scream, Pulp, Roisin El Cherif, Shirley Manson, Sleaford Mods, Soft Play, The Mary Wallopers, The Pogues, Thin Lizzy, and Toddla T. Massive Attack also put out their own statement, adding: 'Language matters, of course. The hideous murders of elected politicians Jo Cox and David Amess means there's no scope for flippancy or recklessness.' It said politicians were 'strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band', adding: 'Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story. And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British government is the real story.' Kneecap have been outspoken on political issues, including British colonialism in Ireland and the Gaza war, throughout their history. The band have sought to defend themselves; apologising to the families of David Amess, the Conservative MP murdered in 2021, and Jo Cox, the Labour MP killed in 2016. Kneecap: will 'moral outrage' over controversial comments halt the rappers' rise? Listen | 26:25 They said they 'never intended to cause you hurt', and that they 'reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual'. The group said: 'Kneecap's message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that.' They added they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hizbullah. Families of both MPs have suggested the band's apology was less genuine than they had hoped. Katie Amess, the daughter of the MP for Southend West, said it would be 'very dangerous' for Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury. Brendan Cox, the husband of Jo, called the statement 'half an apology'. – with The Guardian
Sunday World
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Forty music acts, including Primal Scream and Paul Weller, sign letter in support of Kneecap
sound support | The list of Irish artists who have signed the letter includes Blindboy Boatclub, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, and Fontaines DC Kneecap The Irish rap trio, whose manager has said they've had a 'hard few days' after a video emerged allegedly showing a member shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' during a gig in England, have been backed by fellow artists. Another video emerged of the band at a November 2023 gig, appearing to show one person from Kneecap saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' In the days before the videos surfaced, the group faced controversy after they displayed a message reading 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. 'It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F**k Israel, Free Palestine,' on stage following their set at the Coachella music festival. This has led to the band being dropped from Cornwall's Eden Project festival this summer, while there have also been numerous calls for them to be dropped from Glastonbury. However, Kneecap's record label, Heavenly Recordings, has now released an open letter highlighting a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' the group. 'As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom,' the letter reads. 'In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people. 'Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story. And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British Government is the real story. 'Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people." Kneecap Today's News in 90 seconds - Thursday, May 1 The list of Irish artists who have signed the letter includes Blindboy Boatclub, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, and Fontaines DC. They have joined the likes of Paul Weller, Peter Perrett, Poor Creature, Primal Scream and Pulp. Other groups have also taken to social media asking to be added to the list of signatories including Mercury Prize nominees Yard Act, while Massive Attack released their own statement in support. After Taoiseach Micheál Martin urged the band to 'urgently clarify' their stances on the actions being investigated in the UK, Kneecap released a statement saying they 'unequivocally' do not support Hamas or Hezbollah. The statement on social media reads: 'They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide. Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria. Read more 'Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history. 'We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action. This distortion is not only absurd — it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation. 'All two million Palestinian people in Gaza are currently being starved to death by Israel. At least 20,000 children in Gaza have been killed. The British government continues to supply arms to Israel, even after scores of NHS doctors warned Keir Starmer in August that children were being systematically executed with sniper shots to the head. 'Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of international law, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine. This is where real anger and outrage should be directed towards. 'To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt. Kneecap's message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope.' During his appearance on Prime Time about the recent controversy, the band's manager Daniel Lambert said the group 'have the absolute conviction that they're doing the right thing.' 'The last few days have been very challenging, and to the massive credit of the three lads, and it's something that hasn't been said, at no point have they had any concern for their own income, for their own careers, for their own futures.' Lambert said that the group which comprises Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí are subject of a 'concerted campaign from the US' to analyse 'every single thing that Kneecap had ever said. 'You said a video emerged, a video didn't emerge, there was a concerted campaign emanating from the US to analyse every single thing that Kneecap had ever said. 'In seven years of performances, they've gigged [in front of] hundreds of thousands of people in about 20 countries, hundreds of gigs. 'And why this happened, as you mentioned that the intro is around what they said at Coachella and what they said at Coachella was the right thing to say,' he continued, adding that it's something that the band have said at festivals such as Leeds and Redding and Glastonbury, as well as at gigs in Dublin and Belfast. 'What it is, is a message aimed at governments who are enabling the genocide in Gaza. 'And what really, really scared the state of Israel, and what led to this campaign, is the reaction of young people in America, young people who aren't willing to support the genocide and young people who have empathy and sympathy towards the Palestinian people.'
