Irish rap group Kneecap plays for a big Glastonbury crowd despite
criticism
[June 30, 2025]
By LOUISE DIXON
PILTON, England (AP) — Irish-language rap group Kneecap gave an
impassioned performance for tens of thousands of fans on Saturday at the
Glastonbury Festival despite criticism by British politicians and a
terror charge for one of the trio.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been
charged under the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed
organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in
London in November. The rapper, who was charged under the anglicized
version of his name, Liam O'Hanna, is on unconditional bail before a
further court hearing in August.
"Glastonbury, I'm a free man!" Ó hAnnaidh shouted as Kneecap took the
stage at Glastonbury’s West Holts field, which holds about 30,000
people. Dozens of Palestinian flags flew in the capacity crowd as the
show opened with an audio montage of news clips referring to the band's
critics and legal woes.
Between high-energy numbers that had fans forming a large mosh pit, the
band members led the audience in chants of “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo
Chara." They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at U.K. Prime Minister
Keir Starmer, who has said he didn't think it was "appropriate" for
Kneecap to play Glastonbury.
The trio thanked festival organizers Michael and Emily Eavis for
resisting pressure to cancel Kneecap's gig and gave a shoutout to
Palestine Action, a protest group that the British government plans to
ban under terrorism laws after its members vandalized planes on a Royal
Air Force base.
The Belfast trio is known for anarchic energy, satirical lyrics and use
of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement, which seeks
to unite Northern Ireland, currently part of the U.K., with the Republic
of Ireland.
More than 3,600 people were killed during three decades of violence in
Northern Ireland involving Irish republican militants, pro-British
Loyalist militias and the U.K. security forces. Kneecap takes its name
from a brutal punishment — shooting in the leg — that was dealt out by
paramilitary groups to informers and drug dealers.
The group has faced criticism for lyrics laden with expletives and drug
references, and for political statements, especially since videos
emerged allegedly showing the band shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and
calling on people to kill lawmakers.
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Liam Og, left, and Naoise O Caireallain of the hip hop trio Kneecap
perform during the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset,
England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
 Members of the group say they don’t
support Hezbollah or Hamas, nor condone violence, and Ó hAnnaidh
says he picked up a flag that was thrown onto the stage without
knowing what it represented. Kneecap has accused critics of trying
to silence the band because of its support for the Palestinian cause
throughout the war in Gaza.
A performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in
California in April, where the band accused Israel of committing
genocide against the Palestinians, enabled by the U.S. government,
sparked calls for the rappers' U.S. visas to be revoked.
Several Kneecap gigs have since been canceled as a result of the
controversy.
But fan Gemma Gibson, from Newcastle in northeast England, said not
allowing the group to play "would be completely against everything
that Glastonbury stands for.
“I think it's so important these days to be able to speak freely, to
be able to speak your mind and stand up for what's right,” she said.
"This is where they should be.”
The BBC, which broadcasts dozens of Glastonbury performances, didn't
show Kneecap’s set live, but said it planned to make it available
online later.
About 200,000 ticket holders have gathered at Worthy Farm in
southwest England for Britain’s most prestigious summer music
festival, which features almost 4,000 performers on 120 stages.
Headline acts performing over three days ending Sunday include Neil
Young, Charli XCX, Rod Stewart, Busta Rhymes, Olivia Rodrigo and
Doechii.
On Saturday, a surprise act listed in the program as “Patchwork”
turned out to be Britpop titans Pulp, performing 30 years after
their first Glastonbury appearance.
Other highlights have included an unannounced set by New Zealand
singer Lorde, a raucous reception for Gen X icon Alanis Morissette
and an emotional return for Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi, two years
after he took a break from touring to adjust to the impact of the
neurological condition Tourette syndrome.
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