Irish rap group Kneecap has explained why they chose to perform at last month’s Great Escape festival despite calls for a boycott following the event’s sponsorship by Barclays. Over 100 artists withdrew from the festival citing Barclays’ financial links to companies arming Israel, however, Kneecap, who have protested against Israel’s actions in Gaza, chose to appear. Kneecap’s Móglaí Bap suggested that, for some bands, participating in live events is their only means of income, and that all such events have links to major sponsors, making boycotts difficult to implement.
Kneecap did participate in the boycott of SXSW after the UK government withdrew arts funding that was due to get them there after realizing that the US military was supporting the festival. Eventually, every Irish act pulled out. In an interview with NME’s The Cover, the band’s Mo Chara suggested that those who call for a boycott of events should consider the burden that is placed on artists and whether boycotting is fair to them. “Would you rather be a martyr with no cause? No one’s gonna give a fuck if you pull out of this festival, lose money, and de-platform yourself,” said Chara.
Meanwhile, this week four further acts announced they were dropping out of the Latitude festival, which is also supported by Barclays, due to the same concerns. MUZI, Georgia Ruth, CMAT and Pillow Queens have all withdrawn. Elsewhere in their NME interview, Kneecap discussed their mission to keep Irish-language music alive, the making of their self-titled biopic which stars Michael Fassbender, their new album, and performance plans including an appearance in the Woodsies tent at this year’s Glastonbury festival
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