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The Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Kneecap release new song ahead of headline performance at London's Wide Awake
Irish rap trio Kneecap have released a new song ahead of their headline performance at London's Wide Awake festival, just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. The band, made up of Liam O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, thanked the '25,000 legends' who will be attending Friday night's performance, in a post on Instagram, before releasing the track. The band's post read: 'Well well London heads. Some day coming up. 'We've a brand new track landing in our WhatsApp channel at 1pm. ' Kemi Badenoch you might wanna sit down for this one, if you've any seats left. 'Then we're at Wide Awake in Brockwell Park London for a headline show to 25,000 legends tonight.' Conservative Party leader Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned and suggested they should be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. A number of other politicians have made the same demand. Last year, Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after former business secretary Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. The new song, The Recap, opens with a sample of a news report about the counter terrorism police investigation into the group, and mocks Badenoch's attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss. The song also features DJ Mozey. In another post, the band showed a short clip of their soundcheck at the Brockwell Park festival. It comes after O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday, where O hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful about what he said, adding that he wanted to thank his lawyer. The rapper said: 'I need to thank my lawyer he's here tonight as well.' In video footage posted to YouTube, the band led the audience in a chant of 'free Mo Chara' and joked about the police presence at the venue. Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a High Court ruling over planning permission. Last week Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authority's decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was 'irrational'. Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to 'confirm that the event has been cancelled' and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the event's organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. '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. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, 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. '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.' Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event, police said. An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. Kneecap also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film, starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender, a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together, and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag.
BreakingNews.ie
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Kneecap announce new song ahead of headline performance at London's Wide Awake
Irish rap trio Kneecap have announced they will release a new song ahead of their headline performance at London's Wide Awake festival, just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. The band, made up of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, thanked the '25,000 legends' who will be attending Friday night's performance in a post on Instagram, while revealing the new song will be released at 1pm. Advertisement The band's post read: 'Well well London heads. Some day coming up. 'We've a brand new track landing in our WhatsApp channel at 1pm. 'Kemi Badenoch you might wanna sit down for this one, if you've any seats left. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32) 'Then we're at Wide Awake in Brockwell Park London for a headline show to 25,000 legends tonight.' Advertisement Conservative Party leader Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned and suggested they should be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. A number of other politicians have made the same demand. Last year, Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after former business secretary Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. In another post, the band showed a short clip of their soundcheck at the Brockwell Park festival. It comes after Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. Advertisement The band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday, where Ó hAnnaidh could be seen in videos on social media arriving on stage with tape covering his mouth. He then joked about being careful what he said before adding he wanted to thank his lawyer. The rapper said: 'I need to thank my lawyer he's here tonight as well.' Police said they were at the central London venue on Thursday evening to manage visitors to the sold-out event. Advertisement The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh arrives at the 100 Club for the rap trio's surprise gig (PA) On Monday, a spokesperson for several planned music festivals due to take place in Brockwell Park in Lambeth said none will be cancelled following a High Court ruling over planning permission. Last week, Rebekah Shaman, a resident in the area and a member of the Protect Brockwell Park group, successfully brought legal action against Lambeth Council over the use of parts of the park for the festivals. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Mould said that the authority's decision to certify the planned use of the land as lawful was 'irrational'. Advertisement Lawyers for Ms Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council following the ruling, asking it to 'confirm that the event has been cancelled' and to clear any fencing or infrastructure, and stating that Brockwell Live did not have planning permission. But on Monday, a spokesperson for Brockwell Live said no events would be cancelled, with Lambeth Council confirming that the event's organisers, Summer Events Limited, had reapplied for planning permission. Ó hAnnaidh, 27, was charged by postal requisition and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18th, the Metropolitan Police said. In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. '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. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, 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. '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.' Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command were made aware on April 22nd of an online video from the event, police said. An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. The rap trio have had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged but are still listed to headline Wide Awake. Kneecap are due to perform at Wide Awake on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. Kneecap also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film, starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender, a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and follows the Belfast group on their mission to save their mother tongue through music. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English languages, and merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag.
Sky News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Kneecap star arrives at surprise gig with tape over his mouth after terror charge
Irish-language rap group Kneecap have performed a surprise London show, with one of its members showing up with tape over his mouth after he was charged with a terror offence. Liam O'Hanna, or Liam Og O Hannaidh, was charged with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, at a concert in London last November, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. Just hours later, Kneecap announced on their Instagram account "we're back", adding they would perform at the 100 Club on Oxford Street, London, on Thursday night. The post also included a quote by former Sex Pistols vocalist John Lydon, who told ITV's Good Morning Britain the rap trio "maybe (...) need a bloody good kneecapping" after footage of the band allegedly calling for the deaths of MPs emerged. O'Hanna arrived at the 100 Club ahead of the gig and was later seen going on stage with tape covering his mouth. He also joked about being careful with what he said before thanking his lawyer. It came after at least three police officers were seen walking into the venue at around 7.35pm on Thursday evening. A short queue had formed outside before the doors opened five minutes earlier, including one man in a band T-shirt. The band said on X that the event sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs last month, but said footage of the incident at their concert had been "exploited and weaponised", adding that they "never supported" Hamas or Hezbollah. The rappers had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged and politicians pushed for Kneecap to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch calling for Kneecap to be banned. The group from Belfast in Northern Ireland is still set to headline Wide Awake Festival in south London on Friday. In response to the charge, the group said in a social media statement: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. "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. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective?" The charge came after counter-terror police assessed a video said to be from a Kneecap concert. In the footage, O'Hanna is allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, on 21 November last year. Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command were made aware of a video circulating online on 22 April and an investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge, the force said. O'Hanna - who performs under the stage name Mo Chara - is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 18 June.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Irish band Kneecap say terrorism charge seeks to silence artists
Rich Peppiatt, Naoise ó Cairealláin, DJ Provaí and Mo Chara of Kneecap pose on arrival at the Britain Independent Film Awards on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in London. (Photo by Thomas Krych/Invision/AP, File) LONDON — Irish-language rap band Kneecap said on Thursday that a charge of a terrorism offense against one of its members for displaying a flag of banned militant group Hezbollah represented an attempt to prosecute artists who speak out. London's Metropolitan Police charged Liam O'Hanna, one of the three members of the Belfast-based band, on Wednesday saying he displayed a flag in support of the Iran-backed group during a show in November. In a statement on X, the band said the charge represented 'political policing' and sought 'to prosecute artists who dare speak out.' The trio said O'Hanna displayed a flag that had been thrown on stage. They did not mention Hezbollah. O'Hanna, 27, is due to appear in court on June 18. Kneecap, who rap about Irish identity and support the republican cause of uniting Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, with the Republic of Ireland, faced backlash over pro-Palestinian messages projected during their set last month at the annual music festival Coachella in California. 'Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,' they said on X last month about two groups banned in Britain. 'We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history.' The trio apologized in April to the families of two murdered British members of the parliament after footage emerged of them appearing to say 'kill your local MP' during a 2023 performance. Kneecap is due to play at the Glastonbury Festival in England in June. Some lawmakers have called on the festival organizers to cancel their appearance. Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Andrew Heavens.
ABC News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Who are Kneecap and why has a member been charged with terrorism?
British police have charged Liam O'Hanna, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap, with a terrorism offence for allegedly waving a flag in support of Hezbollah at a concert in London. Earlier this month, counter-terrorism police said they would investigate online videos allegedly showing the hip-hop trio calling for the death of British MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". The band has denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah — designated terror groups in the UK — or inciting violence against UK politicians. They've also won backing from some fellow artists and claim to be the target of a "coordinated smear campaign" for their significant and ongoing support of Palestine and Gaza. Who exactly are Kneecap, and how did we get here? Comprising of friends Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, Kneecap is known for its use of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement and its members present themselves as underdogs who give their voice to the oppressed through outspoken political displays. The band has been praised for invigorating the Irish-language cultural scene in Northern Ireland and exploded in popularity after the release of 'Kneecap', a feature film loosely based on the band's origins. Their name is a reference to the practice of "kneecapping," a form of paramilitary punishment during the Northern Ireland Troubles, where people were shot or hit in the legs. It is just one of the ways in which the group has courted controversy since forming in 2017. When they appeared at Melbourne's 170 Russell in March, on stage with them was the head of a statue of King George V, which had been missing from the city's Kings Domain since June 2024. "Some madman dropped by with a huge King George's head so he could hear a few tunes for our last Melbourne show!" the band posted on Instagram. O'Hanna has been charged over a gig that took place in November last year, but Metropolitan Police were not made aware of the incident until April when a video surfaced online. Police said in a statement that the 27-year-old displayed the Hezbollah flag "in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation". O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. The trio, known for their longstanding support of Palestine and their Pro-Palestinian messaging during their concerts, drew international attention when they performed at Coachella Music Festival in April. During their set, the group displayed a screen that read "F*** Israel. Free Palestine" and "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people" while leading the audience in chants of "Free Palestine". Despite support on social media, the performance faced widespread criticism, including from Sharon Osbourne, who accused the band of "hate speech", saying they "turned Coachella into a Hamas fan club". But Kneecap shot back: "(Our) statements aren't aggressive. Murdering 20,000 children is though." The rappers were reported to police over footage from a 2024 concert in which a band member appeared to say: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." Footage from another concert, in 2023, appears to show a member of the trio shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" — both designated terror groups in the UK. Police are still investigating footage from the 2023 concert. London's Metropolitan Police force said officers had concluded "there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos. Last month, the band was the subject of a heated debate in Britain's House of Commons, where government and opposition MPs criticised the band's comments, noting two members of UK parliament had been murdered since 2016. The UK said the comments were "completely unacceptable", with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying he did not think "individuals expressing those views should be receiving government funding". Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled the alleged comments "disgusting" and called for prosecution, saying the band "should not be glorifying terrorism". Meanwhile, First Minister of Scotland John Swinney has backed calls for Kneecap to be dumped from Glasgow's TRNSMT music festival in July, and two British MPs called for the group to be axed from the Glastonbury Festival line-up in June. In a statement on Instagram last month, Kneecap said it had "never supported Hamas or Hezbollah," and accused "establishment figures" of taking comments out of context to "manufacture moral hysteria" because of the band's criticism of Israel's attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. "Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah," they said. "We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never OK. They also apologised to the families of Labour Party MP Jo Cox, who was killed in by a far-right attacker in 2016, and Conservative legislator David Amess, murdered in 2021 by an Islamic State supporter. The group said, "we never intended to cause you hurt." The trio claimed an extract of footage had been "deliberately taken out of all context". "[It] is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action," they said. "Kneecap's message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope." Dozens of groups and artists, including Pulp, Primal Scream and Fontaines DC have rallied around the band, in an escalating row about political messaging at its concerts. They said there had been a "clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform" Kneecap for their criticism of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, as well as of British colonialism in Ireland and beyond. Other artists offering their support are The Pogues, Paul Weller, Massive Attack, Dexys and Thin Lizzy. "As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom," the group said in a joint statement. Since the row erupted, Kneecap has had several concerts cancelled, including one in south-west England and three in Germany. The war in Gaza was caused by an attack in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel's military response in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis and killed at least 52,243 people, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian territory's health ministry. ABC with wires
