PILTON, England — The Irish-language rap group Kneecap electrified the Glastonbury Festival crowd on Saturday, captivating tens of thousands despite ongoing controversy surrounding one member’s legal issues and wider political criticism.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, performing as Mo Chara, currently faces serious charges under the Terrorism Act related to an incident involving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last November. The rapper, who is out on unconditional bail pending a court hearing in August, seized the moment during the performance, declaring, “Glastonbury, I’m a free man!” As the trio took the stage in the West Holts field, where the crowd capacity is around 30,000, many attendees waved Palestinian flags in solidarity.
Kneecap’s show opened with a powerful audio montage highlighting their critics, intertwining their music with their message. The group invigorated the audience with chants of “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo Chara,” while also directing an explicit chant toward U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer has publicly questioned the appropriateness of Kneecap’s participation in the festival, underscoring the contentious climate surrounding the performance.
In their set, the trio expressed gratitude toward festival organizers Michael and Emily Eavis for resisting calls to cancel their appearance. They also paid tribute to Palestine Action, a protest group facing government scrutiny for its activism against military actions. Known for their provocative energy and politically charged lyrics, Kneecap draws from themes associated with the Irish republican movement, which historically seeks to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. Their name itself references a brutal form of punishment used by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland’s troubled past.
Despite facing backlash for their provocative content, which includes explicit language and drug references, the group maintains they do not endorse violence and instead aim to raise awareness about political struggles. Ó hAnnaidh contends that he unwittingly picked up the Hezbollah flag and insists the group’s main focus remains the plight of the Palestinian people. Previous performances, including their controversial show at Coachella, have drawn renewed scrutiny, prompting calls for them to face consequences over their political remarks.
Several of Kneecap’s scheduled shows have been canceled following these criticisms. Nevertheless, fan Gemma Gibson from Newcastle voiced her conviction that excluding the group from Glastonbury would contradict the festival’s core values of free expression. “It’s crucial these days to voice your opinions and advocate for what’s right,” she stated, reinforcing the festival’s ethos of artistic freedom.
While the BBC opted not to air Kneecap’s performance live, they plan to make the set available online after the festival wraps. Glastonbury continues to draw around 200,000 attendees each year, showcasing nearly 4,000 acts across over 120 stages. This year’s lineup features big names such as Neil Young, Charli XCX, and Olivia Rodrigo, among others.
On Saturday, festival-goers were pleasantly surprised when the enigmatic “Patchwork” act turned out to be the Britpop band Pulp, performing for the first time at Glastonbury in 30 years. Other notable moments included a surprise appearance by singer Lorde and heartfelt performances from Lewis Capaldi and Alanis Morissette, further solidifying Glastonbury’s reputation as a premier destination for music lovers.