Scottish festival exit sparked new trouble for Kneecap

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The Irish hip-hop group, Kneecap, has no qualms about openly advocating for issues they care about, and this is not a casual stance; it’s their usual approach. They aim to provoke thought and action on these matters.

It’s astounding they manage to produce outstanding hip-hop music, all while promoting the preservation of the Irish language. One might wonder if three lads from Northern Ireland could excel in this genre, but their commitment to keeping the Irish tongue vibrant is almost extraordinary.

The three-piece group has found themselves in a predicament recently. The problem originated from a performance video dated November 2024, where they displayed a flag advocating for Hezbollah during a concert. Since Hezbollah and Hamas are illegal in the UK, any reference to the Gaza conflict is bound to provoke both approval and dissent.

Kneecap faces further issues after being dropped from Scottish festival

As a result of repeatedly displaying a specific flag during their performances, Kneecap’s Mo Chara has been accused of a terror-related offense by the London Metropolitan Police. On June 18, he is scheduled to appear before a magistrate. However, this isn’t the end of the band’s controversy surrounding the flag.

The multiple instances of Kneecap displaying a certain flag during their shows have led to Mo Chara being charged with a terror offense by London Metropolitan Police. On June 18, he will face a magistrate. But this issue with the flag doesn’t stop here for the band.

This week, it was announced that Kneecap will not be performing at the TRNSMT Scottish music festival due to safety concerns raised by the Glasgow police regarding the event.

As reported by Pitchfork, Police Scotland clarified that they shouldn’t influence the selection of performers for the festival, yet they communicated to the organizers about a possible security concern.

Regarding Kneecap, the question arises about potential future impacts. For instance, if they miss out on a single event like TRNSMT, it could be an isolated incident without any recurring issues. However, other venues may take note of how the festival handled the Irish hip-hop trio and decide to emulate that approach. This could potentially make it harder for Kneecap to perform at different locations in the future.

Should Mo Chara wind up in prison, there’s a chance the group could disband. Fingers crossed that such an outcome is avoided. Leaving politics out of it, the world of music thrives on musicians who aren’t shy about expressing themselves.

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2025-05-29 19:00