J. J. O Dochartaigh from the hip hop trio Kneecap performs throughout the Glastonbury Pageant in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
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PILTON, England — Irish-language rap group Kneecap gave an impassioned efficiency for tens of 1000’s of followers on Saturday on the Glastonbury Pageant regardless of criticism by British politicians and a terror cost for one of many trio.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs below the stage identify Mo Chara, has been charged below the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed group for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a live performance in London in November. The rapper, who was charged below the anglicized model of his identify, Liam O’Hanna, is on unconditional bail earlier than an additional courtroom listening to in August.
“Glastonbury, I am a free man!” Ó hAnnaidh shouted as Kneecap took the stage at Glastonbury’s West Holts discipline, which holds about 30,000 folks. Dozens of Palestinian flags flew within the capability crowd because the present opened with an audio montage of stories clips referring to the band’s critics and authorized woes.
Between high-energy numbers that had followers forming a big mosh pit, the band members led the viewers in chants of “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo Chara.” Additionally they aimed an expletive-laden chant at U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has mentioned he did not assume it was “applicable” for Kneecap to play Glastonbury.
Liam Og, left, and Naoise O Caireallain of the hip hop trio Kneecap carry out throughout the Glastonbury Pageant in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
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The trio thanked pageant organizers Michael and Emily Eavis for resisting stress to cancel Kneecap’s gig and gave a shoutout to Palestine Motion, a protest group that the British authorities plans to ban below terrorism legal guidelines after its members vandalized planes on a Royal Air Drive base.
The Belfast trio is understood for anarchic power, satirical lyrics and use of symbolism related to the Irish republican motion, which seeks to unite Northern Eire, at the moment a part of the U.Okay., with the Republic of Eire.
Greater than 3,600 folks have been killed throughout three a long time of violence in Northern Eire involving Irish republican militants, pro-British Loyalist militias and the U.Okay. safety forces. Kneecap takes its identify from a brutal punishment — taking pictures within the leg — that was dealt out by paramilitary teams to informers and drug sellers.
The flag of Palestine is waved in a crowd of festivalgoers on the hip hop trio Kneecap’s efficiency throughout the Glastonbury Pageant in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
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The group has confronted criticism for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references, and for political statements, particularly since movies emerged allegedly displaying the band shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and calling on folks to kill lawmakers.
Members of the group say they do not assist Hezbollah or Hamas, nor condone violence, and Ó hAnnaidh says he picked up a flag that was thrown onto the stage with out figuring out what it represented. Kneecap has accused critics of making an attempt to silence the band due to its assist for the Palestinian trigger all through the warfare in Gaza.
A efficiency on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Pageant in California in April, the place the band accused Israel of committing genocide towards the Palestinians, enabled by the U.S. authorities, sparked requires the rappers’ U.S. visas to be revoked.
Charli xcx performs throughout the Glastonbury Pageant in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025.
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A number of Kneecap gigs have since been canceled on account of the controversy.
However fan Gemma Gibson, from Newcastle in northeast England, mentioned not permitting the group to play “could be fully towards all the things that Glastonbury stands for.
“I believe it is so essential as of late to have the ability to communicate freely, to have the ability to communicate your thoughts and arise for what’s proper,” she mentioned. “That is the place they need to be.”
The BBC, which broadcasts dozens of Glastonbury performances, did not present Kneecap’s set dwell, however mentioned it deliberate to make it obtainable on-line later.
About 200,000 ticket holders have gathered at Worthy Farm in southwest England for Britain’s most prestigious summer time music pageant, which options virtually 4,000 performers on 120 phases. Headline acts performing over three days ending Sunday embrace Neil Younger, Charli XCX, Rod Stewart, Busta Rhymes, Olivia Rodrigo and Doechii.
Lorde performs throughout the Glastonbury Pageant in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Friday, June 27, 2025.
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On Saturday, a shock act listed in this system as “Patchwork” turned out to be Britpop titans Pulp, performing 30 years after their first Glastonbury look.
Different 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 regulate to the affect of the neurological situation Tourette syndrome.
