Music artist Kneecap withdraws from TRNSMT festival due to safety issues raised by the police
Kneecap Removed from TRNSMT Music Festival due to Safety Concerns Raised by Police
The Irish language hip-hop trio Kneecap has been removed from performing at the TRNSMT music festival in Scotland this July. The festival organizers made this decision following safety concerns expressed by the police.
Last Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police charged Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara), 27, with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed terror organization in the UK. This incident in London raises potential security issues, contributing to the concerns about Kneecap's presence at the festival.
The band, composed of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh, had been scheduled to perform at the Glasgow festival on Friday, 11 July. However, due to the safety concerns, Kneecap will no longer be part of the TRNSMT lineup.
The rappers expressed their apologies to the thousands of ticket-holders and fans, saying that the decision was out of their hands. They also announced that they will host their own solo headline show at the 02 Academy in Glasgow on Tuesday, 8 July, three days before TRNSMT, as a way to compensate for their removal from the festival.
TRNSMT organizers released a statement confirming the news, expressing understanding from fans regarding the decision. Police Scotland clarified that any lineup decisions for the festival were the responsibility of the organizers themselves, and there was “no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked.”
Kneecap's performances have attracted attention for their pro-Palestine and anti-Israel messages, which may have intensified the safety concerns about their appearance at the TRNSMT festival. Previous cancellations of Kneecap at other European festivals following their political activism suggest a heightened need for security at their events.
The band's latest single, The Recap, was recently shared on Instagram, featuring DJ Mozey and containing satirical references to recent controversies and political events, including their funding dispute with the UK government and the Conservative Party's election loss.
- The recent removal of the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap from performing at the TRNSMT music festival in Scotland this July, due to safety concerns expressed by the police, has been linked to the charge against one of its members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, for displaying a flag in support of a proscribed terror organization in the UK.
- As Kneecap's performances have gained attention for their pro-Palestine and anti-Israel messages, these political views may have contributed to the heightened security concerns about their appearance at the TRNSMT festival, a trend that has been observed in previous cancellations of the band at other European festivals.
- Following their removal from the TRNSMIT lineup, Kneecap rappers apologized to their fans and announced a solo headline show at the 02 Academy in Glasgow on Tuesday, 8 July, as a way to compensate and continue engaging with their audience, given the ongoing involvement of celebrities, crime-and-justice issues, and general-news events in their music and activism.
