Kneecap have launched a brand new single forward of their headline efficiency at London’s Extensive Awake pageant, simply days after one in all their members was charged with a terror offence.
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Kneecap performing in Belfast final yr. Pic: PA
Bandmembers Liam O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, additionally thanked the 25,000 followers who had purchased tickets for Friday night time’s pageant.
Additionally they reference Conservative Get together chief Kemi Badenoch, with whom they’ve had earlier run-ins, writing: “Kemi Badenoch you might wanna sit down for this one, if you’ve any seats left.”
Final yr, Kneecap gained a discrimination case in opposition to the UK authorities in Belfast Excessive Court docket after former enterprise secretary Ms Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister.
Ms Badenoch has known as for Kneecap to be banned and prompt they need to be dropped from the Glastonbury Competition line-up. Another politicians have made the identical demand.
The observe mocks Badenoch’s makes an attempt to dam their arts funding and the Conservative Get together’s election loss. It options DJ Mozey.
It comes after O hAnnaidh, who performs below the stage identify Mo Chara, was charged over the alleged show of a Hezbollah flag at a gig on the O2 Discussion board in Kentish City, north London, in November final yr, the Metropolitan Police mentioned on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the band held a shock gig on the 100 Membership on Oxford Avenue, the place O hAnnaidh could possibly be seen in movies on social media arriving on stage with tape protecting his mouth.
He then joked about being cautious about what he mentioned, including that he needed to thank his lawyer, saying: “I need to thank my lawyer, he’s here tonight as well.”
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Stars speak about dangers of talking out
In video footage posted to YouTube, the band led the viewers in a chant of “free Mo Chara” and joked in regards to the police presence on the venue.
Police mentioned they attended to handle guests to the sold-out occasion.
The band mentioned on X that the central London occasion offered out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 folks on the ready listing.
O hAnnaidh, 27, is because of seem at Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on 18 June.
Shaped in 2017, the group are identified for his or her provocative lyrics in each Irish and English and proved a important hit within the 2024 semi-fictionalised band origin story film Kneecap, starring actor Michael Fassbender.
Their best-known tracks embrace Get Your Brits Out, Higher Method To Dwell, that includes Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag.
