Kneecap say terror cost is a part of ‘witch-hunt’ to stop Glastonbury gig | UK information

The Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap have claimed a marketing campaign is being mounted to stop their efficiency at Glastonbury this summer time, at a shock gig staged a day after considered one of its members was charged with a terror offence.

The group instructed the gang on the 100 Membership in central London on Thursday evening that they had been getting used as a “scapegoat” as a result of they “spoke in regards to the genocide [in Gaza]” at Coachella in April.

On Wednesday Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27, who performs beneath the stage title Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in help of Hezbollah at a gig in London final November.

The rap trio known as the cost “political policing” which it mentioned was meant to stifle criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Hours after the cost, they introduced an impromptu gig. They mentioned the occasion offered out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 individuals on the ready listing.

Ó hAnnaidh arrived on stage at 9pm with tape over his mouth.

He mentioned: “There’s a purpose the place what’s occurred to me, occurred earlier than Glastonbury. There’s a purpose they’re attempting to fucking cease me talking at Glastonbury in entrance of the UK.”

Naoise Ó Cairealláin, 30, who performs beneath the title Móglaí Bap, mentioned: “That is our first gig again after [Coachella]. They wish to cease what we’re doing, as a result of they need us to cease protesting.”

“There’s 60,000 plus lifeless in Gaza proper now. That’s the actual story, it’s not about us,” he added.

Throughout their Coachella set on 18 April, the band led the gang in chants of “free, free Palestine” and displayed varied messages on the stage’s screens together with: “Israel is committing genocide in opposition to the Palestinian individuals.”

Ó hAnnaidh mentioned on Thursday: “The explanation that we’re being witch-hunted right here is as a result of we at Coachella spoke about this in regards to the genocide.

“We’re not the fucking story right here, they’re utilizing us as a scapegoat to not discuss the actual fucking problem.”

The poster for Thursday’s shock live performance featured a current quote from the previous Intercourse Pistols frontman John Lydon, who mentioned the trio “want a bloody good kneecapping” in response to the controversy round them.

Final month, counter-terrorism police assessed footage of the band from November 2023 which appeared to indicate one individual of them saying: “The one good Tory is a lifeless Tory. Kill your native MP.”

Brendan Cox, the husband of MP Jo Cox, and Katie Amess, the daughter of MP David Amess, who had been each murdered, criticised the trio’s feedback.

In a press release, the band mentioned: “To the Amess and Cox households, we ship our heartfelt apologies, we by no means meant to trigger you damage,” including that the clip had been taking out of context.

The band has been faraway from a number of competition lineups, together with scheduled German appearances at Hurricane competition and Southside competition.

They had been additionally axed from the Eden Venture in Cornwall and Plymouth Pavilions.

MPs have continued to name for them to be faraway from the line-ups of TRNSMT, Glastonbury and different upcoming occasions. Nevertheless, there have been no bulletins of additional cancellations after the information of Ó hAnnaidh being charged.

The group from Belfast, who rap within the Irish language, have a headline slot at Broad Awake Pageant in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday evening.

The band mentioned they’d vehemently contest what they known as a politically motivated cost in a press release earlier than the live performance.

“A cost not critical sufficient to even warrant their crown courtroom, as an alternative a courtroom that doesn’t have a jury. What’s the target? To limit our skill to journey. To stop us talking to younger individuals the world over. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare converse out.”