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Irish hip-hop group Kneecap made headlines in Glasgow by calling out First Minister John Swinney during a performance, following a wave of controversy surrounding their public statements and concerns about safety from the police. Originally set to headline the King Tut’s stage at TRNSMT, the band was removed from the lineup after a video surfaced showing member Mo Chara holding a Hezbollah flag. Despite this setback, Kneecap quickly sold out their show at the city’s O2 Academy.
During their set, Liam Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, challenged the crowd about the First Minister and expressed their determination to perform in Glasgow despite the TRNSMT cancellation. The group clarified that they harbored no ill will against the festival and then led a provocative chant directed at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, reminiscent of their controversial Glastonbury appearance. This sentiment was echoed at another event where the trio supported Fontaines D.C. at Finsbury Park in London.
The band also addressed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and their support for Palestine, receiving support from pro-Palestine demonstrators outside the O2 Academy. In a performance heavily focused on political commentary, Kneecap critiqued Rangers and Israel, emphasizing their stance against the country’s actions in Gaza. While the group has a history of making political statements, their recent notoriety has escalated, with Mo Chara facing terror charges for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert.
Kneecap faced further backlash for controversial remarks made during a 2023 gig, causing them to issue apologies to the families of slain MPs David Amess and Jo Cox. The group argued that clips of their statements and the flag incident were taken out of context and part of a smear campaign against them due to their political views. Despite receiving death threats and losing their booking agent over their support for Palestine, Kneecap remains resolute in their message, refusing to be silenced by the backlash
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