Latest news with #WideAwakefestival
Spectator
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Kneecap are not rebels
Better rebels than Kneecap would've begun their headline set at Wide Awake festival in south London on Friday night with a show of defiance against the British state, a swipe at the occupier in its fortress capital. Perhaps they would've unfurled a great big yellow Hezbollah banner. As it was, Kneecap flashed the message 'FREE PALESTINE' on a screen, showed a montage of criticism the band had received from Sharon Osborne and some Fox News pundits and the shadow home secretary Chris Philp, and walked on stage to 'It's been ages,' one of their less popular songs. The moment demanded more. Kneecap had done a small set at the 100 Club on Oxford Street on Thursday evening, but Wide Awake was their first real show since one of the group's members, Mo Chara, was charged on Wednesday with terrorism offences by the Metropolitan Police.
Metro
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Kneecap declare 'they are trying to silence us' as rapper faces terror charge
Kneecap received a wildly positive reception as they arrived on stage at the Wide Awake festival at Brockwell Park in south London tonight. Ahead of their entrance, videos of the Irish rap trio being condemned were shown on a screen. The message 'Free Palestine' was also displayed and was met with cheers from the crowd. It comes as member Liam O'Hanna, who performs in the band along with Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, faces charges of a terror offence over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag. Stepping out tonight, the performer declared that he is being 'silenced'. He told the audience: '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.' We've teamed up with SXSW London to give away two pairs of Music Festival Wristbands valid for 2-7 June 2025. Headliners include Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems, Brit Award-winning artist Mabel, Crystal Castles's Alice Glass, and East London-based R&B artist NAO, plus emerging talent set to perform at showcase acts around Shoreditch. Click here to find out more about SXSW London's incredible events and how to enter to be in with a chance to win, or simply enter your details using the form below. *T&Cs apply. You have until midnight on Sunday 25th May 2025 to enter. Good luck! * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 06:01 BST on 13 May 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 25 May 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions (by ticking the relevant checkbox) is necessary to enter the promotion. 1 entry per person. 1 prize available per person. There will be two (2) winners. Each winner will win two (2) Full Week (6 days) Music Festival Wristbands (each such wristband worth £99) granting secondary access to Official SXSW London Music Festival showcases valid from 2 until 7 June 2025. Proof of age and photographic ID is required for entry (18+). The prize, including entry and attendance at SXSW, is subject to and governed by the SXSW's full ticket terms and conditions here. Full T&Cs apply, see here. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch recently called for Kneecap to be banned and suggested they should be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival bill this June, with a number of other politicians making the same demand. The 27-year-old rap star, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, said he believes the group are 'being made an example of'. O'Hanna continued: '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're 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.' Echoing his remarks, another member of the group said: 'Thank you very much. They tried to stop this gig.' Another was heard saying: 'Honestly, lads, you have no idea how close we were to being pulled off this gig.' Members of the trio later urged their fans to gather outside court for the first hearing of their bandmate. 'If anybody's about on June 18… we're all going to gather outside the Westminster court to show support. 'Anybody who's free on June 18, get a big bag of Ket, and we'll go on the steps of Westminster.' The incident that led to O'Hanna's charges is alleged to have happened at a concert last November. However, the Metropolitan Police said it was only made aware of video footage the following April. He is alleged to have displayed the flag of Lebanese Shia Islamist political party Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, 'in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation.' O'Hanna will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Police crash Kneecap's surprise gig after rapper is charged with terror offence over 'Hezbollah flag' MORE: Kneecap vow to 'fight back' after rapper is charged with terror offence over 'Hezbollah flag' MORE: Kneecap axed from festival after footage calling for deaths of MPs resurfaces
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Kneecap to play in London music festival
Rap trio Kneecap are set to headline the Wide Awake festival in London, just two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged over the alleged display of a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November last year, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday. The group from Belfast, who rap in the Irish language, have a headline slot at Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday night. It comes after they 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 what he said before saying he wanted to thank his lawyer. He 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. 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 that 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". They also said they have "never supported" Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up. In 2024, the band released an eponymous film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is 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 – made up of O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh – are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise as well as their championing of the Irish language. The London festival has said: "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." Kneecap posted on X: "This one is gonna be very special". The bands best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. The band last performed in Ireland in February with a concert in Cork City Hall.
The Journal
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Kneecap's headline set at a London festival to go ahead despite other 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. The group has seen several gigs in the UK cancelled, including a performance at the Eden Project in Cornwall on 4 July, after footage from old concerts 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. Advertisement 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' and ignoring a genocide in Gaza.
RTÉ News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Kneecap's London gig to go ahead after cancellations
Irish rap trio Kneecap's headline set at London's Wide Awake festival is to go ahead as planned after organisers cancelled a number of the band's concerts. The group has seen gigs including a performance at the Eden Project in Cornwall in the UK on 4 July 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 Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, the stage names of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh, respectively, 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.
