J. J. O Dochartaigh from the hip hop trio Kneecap performs in the course of the Glastonbury Competition 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 Competition regardless of criticism by British politicians and a terror cost for one of many trio.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs beneath the stage title Mo Chara, has been charged beneath 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 beneath the anglicized model of his title, Liam O’Hanna, is on unconditional bail earlier than an extra court docket 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 individuals. 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 “acceptable” for Kneecap to play Glastonbury.
Liam Og, left, and Naoise O Caireallain of the hip hop trio Kneecap carry out in the course of the Glastonbury Competition in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
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The trio thanked competition 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 beneath terrorism legal guidelines after its members vandalized planes on a Royal Air Drive base.
The Belfast trio is thought for anarchic vitality, satirical lyrics and use of symbolism related to the Irish republican motion, which seeks to unite Northern Eire, presently a part of the U.Okay., with the Republic of Eire.
Greater than 3,600 individuals had been killed throughout three many years of violence in Northern Eire involving Irish republican militants, pro-British Loyalist militias and the U.Okay. safety forces. Kneecap takes its title from a brutal punishment — capturing 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 in the course of the Glastonbury Competition 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 exhibiting the band shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and calling on individuals 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 battle in Gaza.
A efficiency on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Competition in California in April, the place the band accused Israel of committing genocide in opposition to the Palestinians, enabled by the U.S. authorities, sparked requires the rappers’ U.S. visas to be revoked.
Charli xcx performs in the course of the Glastonbury Competition 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 “can be fully in opposition to all the things that Glastonbury stands for.
“I feel it is so essential lately 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 reside, however mentioned it deliberate to make it out there on-line later.
About 200,000 ticket holders have gathered at Worthy Farm in southwest England for Britain’s most prestigious summer time music competition, which options nearly 4,000 performers on 120 levels. Headline acts performing over three days ending Sunday embody Neil Younger, Charli XCX, Rod Stewart, Busta Rhymes, Olivia Rodrigo and Doechii.
Lorde performs in the course of the Glastonbury Competition 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.