The Irish Rap trio Kneecap has seen a number of gigs cancelled after historic concert footage appeared to show a member of the group shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, and another video were a member allegedly said “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
In a statement, confirming their performance in Brixton’s Brockwell Park would go ahead as planned, Wide Awake said: “After positive discussions with key stakeholders, Wide Awake festival can confirm that, as planned, Kneecap will be performing at this year’s festival on Friday, May 23 at Brockwell Park.
“Wide Awake Festival has a proud history of supporting the alternative music scene and we look forward to staging another unforgettable event showcasing the very best emerging and established talent.”
The Irish Hip-Hop group Made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, the group has faced an investigation by counter-terrorism police after the videos, filmed in 2023 and 2024, became public.
The Wide Awake performance will be the band’s first UK gig since the investigation was launched.
Some of the groups prior gigs were cancelled due to “Safety concerns” such as their gig at Plymouth Pavilions.
In a twitter post following the announcement their gig, the group said: “Well well London, we’ll be seeing you for a headline show in Brockwell Park next Friday.
“Some tickets remain – this one is going to be very special.”
Kneecap have since apologised to the families of murdered MPs, but claimed footage of the incident had been “exploited and weaponised”, while they also said they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK. Counter terror police are currently investigating these videos.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to be banned while other politicians have pushed for the group to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up.
Artists including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, Primal Scream and many more have defended the band following the media backlash.
They signed a statement saying there is a “clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform” Kneecap and that politicians are “strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band” while ignoring a genocide in Gaza and Israel’s illegal apartheid and encroachment in Palestinian land.
Alongside Kneecap, the Wide Awake one-day festival will also see performances from the likes of CMAT, English Teacher and Peaches.
