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The Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Kneecap declare ‘they are trying to silence us' as rapper faces terror offence charge
A member of Irish rap trio Kneecap said the terror charge he faces is an attempt to 'silence us' as the group appeared on stage for a gig they claimed was nearly 'pulled'. Liam O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, spoke to thousands of people in Brockwell Park, south London, as the group headlined the Wide Awake Festival on Friday. Earlier in the day they released a new song, just two days after O hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offence over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig in November last year. The group have been outspoken on the war in Gaza and before they emerged on stage a screen displayed the message 'Free Palestine', which was met with cheers from the crowd. Performing alongside his bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, O hAnnaidh said he believed the prosecution was designed to 'silence us' and prevent them playing Glastonbury Festival this summer. He said: 'We are being made an example of, the Israeli lobbyists are trying to prove to other artists 'that if you speak out, we're going to hit you where it hurts most'. 'They're trying to cancel gigs, they trying to cancel my freedom of travel. 'And the fact that I'm speaking to this amount of people, and I assume the majority of you will agree, shows that we're on the right side of history.' He also told the crowd at Brockwell Park in south London: 'I went for an interview with the counter-terror police and within days they came to a verdict that they were going to charge me, never has it been that quick. 'And the reason it was that quick was because Glastonbury is just around the corner, they're trying to silence us.' One of the group said: 'Thank you very much. They tried to stop this gig.' And one was heard saying: 'Honestly lads, you have no idea how close we were to being pulled off this gig.' One of the trio thanked their fans for supporting them. Earlier, the group posted on Instagram to thank the '25,000 legends' due to attend the event. The trio have had gigs cancelled after footage emerged allegedly showing the band calling for the deaths of MPs and shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. They apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. But they also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police said Kneecap were being investigated by counter-terrorism police. O hAnnaidh, 27, was then charged by postal requisition over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, the Metropolitan Police said. On Friday night, one member was heard telling the crowd: 'If anybody's about on June 18 … we're all going to gather outside the Westminster court to show support.' One of the trio was also heard saying: 'Anybody who's free on June 18 – get a big bag of ket and we'll go on the steps of Westminster.' Conservative Party leader Kemi 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 Mrs 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 Mrs Badenoch's attempts to block their arts funding, and the Conservative Party's election loss. The song also features DJ Mozey. On Thursday, the band held a surprise gig at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, 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. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag.
Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Irish rap trio Kneecap face backlash and cancellations over pro-Palestinian activism
BELFAST, May 23 — Daring provocateurs to their fans, dangerous extremists to their detractors, Belfast rappers Kneecap court controversy and divide opinion like few contemporary bands. Their combustible turbo-charged music, promotion of the Irish language and championing of the Palestinian cause have powered their popularity in Ireland and gained them legions of fans abroad. But the trio have landed in legal trouble over their alleged support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Iran-backed Lebanese force Hezbollah, as well as calls for the killing of British parliamentarians. Formed in 2017 by Liam Og O Hannaidh, 27, Naoise O Caireallain, 30, and JJ O Dochartaigh, 34, Kneecap burst onto the scene the same year with the single 'CEARTA' (Irish for 'rights'). The song, released soon after a controversy about rights for Irish language speakers in Northern Ireland, was pulled from a radio show playlist by Irish state broadcaster RTE for its references to drug-taking and swearing. All three band members were raised in Irish — a minority language in Ireland where English dominates — and are fluent speakers. Last year the group was catapulted to international fame by a semi-fictionalised film that won multiple awards including at the prestigious Sundance festival. Partly in Irish as well as English, the movie, laced with music, drugs, and biting satire, also made shortlists for Oscar nominations in the best international feature film and best original song categories. The UK's Independent newspaper gave it top marks, calling it 'a sweary, crude, and brilliantly political Irish comedy'. O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, told AFP as they performed at the Coachella festival in April in California that the group had been surprised by the film's success. For Kneecap, rapping in Irish is an act of resistance: the ancient language was long suppressed, and only became officially recognised in Northern Ireland in 2022. 'Storytelling is such a massive part of Irish culture,' Chara said. 'It's always passed down orally, same as any Indigenous language.' History 'is always written by the winner. That's where hip hop stems from — it's the story of the people who never got to tell their story,' he said. Members of Kneecap pose on the red carpet at the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards in Dublin February 14, 2025. — Reuters pic Provocative Controversy has accompanied Kneecap throughout its journey, with critics accusing the band of glamourising drug culture and militant anti-British Irish republicanism. And O'Hanna has now been charged with a terror offence for allegedly brandishing a Hezbollah flag at a London concert. The band's name recalls the widespread practice by paramilitary groups of shooting victims in the kneecaps and legs in so-called 'punishment' attacks, during Northern Ireland's three-decade-long conflict, known as the Troubles. In the British-governed region, violence between pro-Irish unity and pro-UK militants largely ended after a peace agreement in 1998, but inter-community divisions persist and Kneecap's confrontational imagery and lyrics rankle with some. One of their tracks is titled 'Get Your Brits Out' while on stage the band has led anti-British chants. O'Dochartaigh, a former schoolteacher, wears a paramilitary-style balaclava on stage, in the green, white and orange of the Irish tricolour flag. Kneecap's fierce support for the Palestinian cause, with hardline anti-Israel slogans and chants at their gigs, has drawn fire from further afield. Last month, messages displayed on a screen behind the band as it performed in California at Coachella, one of the world's highest-profile music festivals, included: 'F*** Israel. Free Palestine'. Sharon Osborne, a former UK television presenter, called for their US work visas to be revoked and likened the band to a 'Hamas fan club'. Videos then resurfaced from past London gigs showing chants apparently in support of Hamas and Hezbollah — banned organisations in the UK — and a call to kill UK MPs. The furore forced Kneecap onto the defensive, with a public apology issued to the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox, killed in June 2016, and David Amess, stabbed to death in October 2021. The band's members have also repeatedly denied ever having supported Hamas or Hezbollah. The row has raised doubts over a series of European and US concerts the band has scheduled this summer. Several of their gigs have already been cancelled, including three in Germany and one in the UK. The British government called on the organisers of the Glastonbury festival to 'think carefully' about the band's planned appearance there in late June. — AFP
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Anti-British' rappers Kneecap will headline London festival next week - despite flood of gig cancellations and 'terror probe'
Irish rap trio Kneecap's headline set at London 's Wide Awake festival is to go ahead as planned after a number of the band's concerts were cancelled by organisers. The group has seen gigs including a performance at the Eden Project in Cornwall on July 4 cancelled after historic concert footage appeared to show a member of the group shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah', and another video allegedly showing one calling for Conservative MPs to be killed. In a statement, confirming their performance in Brixton 's Brockwell Park would go ahead as planned, Wide Awake said: 'After positive discussions with key stakeholders, Wide Awake festival can confirm that, as planned, Kneecap will be performing at this year's festival on Friday, May 23 at Brockwell Park. 'Wide Awake Festival has a proud history of supporting the alternative music scene and we look forward to staging another unforgettable event showcasing the very best emerging and established talent.' Made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, the group has faced an investigation by counter-terrorism police after the videos, filmed in 2023 and 2024, became public. The Wide Awake performance will be the band's first UK gig since the investigation was launched. Kneecap shows at Plymouth Pavilions and a number of German events, including Hurricane and Southside festivals, have also been cancelled. In a post on X following the announcement, the group said: 'Well well London, we'll be seeing you for a headline show in Brockwell Park next Friday. 'Some tickets remain - this one is going to be very special.' Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs, but claimed footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised', while they also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians have pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. Last week, Self Esteem, real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor, told Times Radio she would be 'comfortable' sharing a stage with the trio at Glastonbury and added she felt it would be 'a problem (for) culture, art, freedom of speech' if they did not perform. Artists including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Primal Scream have defended the band following the furore. They signed a statement saying there is a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' Kneecap while claiming that politicians are 'strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band' while ignoring a 'genocide' in Gaza. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language, their best known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live and 3Cag.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Kneecap's Wide Awake headline set to go ahead as planned after cancellations
Irish rap trio Kneecap's headline set at London's Wide Awake festival is to go ahead as planned after a number of the band's concerts were cancelled by organisers. The group has seen gigs including a performance at the Eden Project in Cornwall on July 4 cancelled after historic concert footage appeared to show a member of the group shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah', and another video allegedly showing one calling for Conservative MPs to be killed. In a statement, confirming their performance in Brixton's Brockwell Park would go ahead as planned, Wide Awake said: 'After positive discussions with key stakeholders, Wide Awake festival can confirm that, as planned, Kneecap will be performing at this year's festival on Friday, May 23 at Brockwell Park. 'Wide Awake Festival has a proud history of supporting the alternative music scene and we look forward to staging another unforgettable event showcasing the very best emerging and established talent.' Made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, the group has faced an investigation by counter-terrorism police after the videos, filmed in 2023 and 2024, became public. The Wide Awake performance will be the band's first UK gig since the investigation was launched. Kneecap shows at Plymouth Pavilions and a number of German events, including Hurricane and Southside festivals, have also been cancelled. In a post on X following the announcement, the group said: 'Well well London, we'll be seeing you for a headline show in Brockwell Park next Friday. 'Some tickets remain – this one is going to be very special.' Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs, but claimed footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised', while they also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians have pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. Last week, Self Esteem, real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor, told Times Radio she would be 'comfortable' sharing a stage with the trio at Glastonbury and added she felt it would be 'a problem (for) culture, art, freedom of speech' if they did not perform. Artists including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Primal Scream have defended the band following the furore. They signed a statement saying there is a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' Kneecap while claiming that politicians are 'strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band' while ignoring a 'genocide' in Gaza. Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language, their best known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live and 3Cag. Alongside Kneecap, the Wide Awake one-day festival will also see performances from the likes of CMAT, English Teacher and Peaches.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Kneecap's London headline set to go ahead as planned after cancellations
Kneecap's headline set at London's Wide Awake festival is to go ahead as planned after a number of the band's concerts were cancelled by organisers. In a statement, confirming their performance in Brixton's Brockwell Park would go ahead as planned, Wide Awake said: 'After positive discussions with key stakeholders, Wide Awake festival can confirm that, as planned, Kneecap will be performing at this year's festival on Friday, May 23 at Brockwell Park. Advertisement 'Wide Awake Festival has a proud history of supporting the alternative music scene and we look forward to staging another unforgettable event showcasing the very best emerging and established talent.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wide Awake (@wideawakeldn) The Wide Awake performance will be the band's first UK gig since the investigation was launched. Kneecap shows at Plymouth Pavilions and a number of German events, including Hurricane and Southside festivals, have also been cancelled. In a post on X following the announcement, the group said: 'Well well London, we'll be seeing you for a headline show in Brockwell Park next Friday. Advertisement 'Some tickets remain – this one is going to be very special.' Made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, the group has faced an investigation by UK counter-terrorism police after videos, filmed in 2023 and 2024, became public which appear to show a member of the group shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah', and another video allegedly showing one calling for Conservative MPs to be killed. Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs, but claimed footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised', while they also said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK. Artists including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Primal Scream have defended the band following the furore. Advertisement They signed a statement saying there is a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform' Kneecap while claiming that politicians are 'strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band' while ignoring a 'genocide' in Gaza. Alongside Kneecap, the Wide Awake one-day festival will also see performances from the likes of CMAT, English Teacher and Peaches.
