Kneecap added to Electric Picnic line-up as investigation launched into Glastonbury performance
Kneecap have been added to the line up at this year's Electric Picnic festival, organisers have announced.
The festival, which is held annually in Stradbally, Co Laois, will host the rap trio as part of the line-up on the main stage. This year's Electric Picnic will run from August 29 until August 31. "This is going to be a special one," said the band in a post on social media.
The six headline acts performing this year include Hozier and US pop sensation Chappell Roan, both of whom will headline the Friday night. English musician Sam Fender will headline on Saturday night, as will Fatboy Slim.
And on Sunday, US rock band Kings Of Leon will top the billing and make their EP debut, alongside Becky Hill. Other acts across the weekend will include Kingfishr, Bell X1 and The Kooks.
This year's Electric Picnic is set to be the biggest one yet after permission was granted for the capacity to increase from 75,000 to 80,000 at Stradbally Estate. Kneecap's addition to the line-up comes after their performance at Glastonbury on Saturday dominated headlines.
A criminal investigation is under way after the performances of the Belfast trio and Bob Vylan. Avon and Somerset Police said officers had reviewed video footage and audio recordings from the sets at the Somerset festival on Saturday.
The force said a criminal investigation is under way with a senior detective appointed to lead the investigation. During Bob Vylan's performance, rapper Bobby Vylan chanted 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)', while a member of Belfast rap group Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance.
A police spokesman said: 'This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage. The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.
'We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognise the strength of public feeling. There is absolutely no place in society for hate.'
The force said neighbourhood policing teams were speaking with people in their local communities and key stakeholders, which it hoped would reassure the public 'how seriously we are treating Saturday's events'. It asked members of the public to stop reporting the matter because an investigation is already taking place.
The BBC has expressed its regret at not pulling the live stream of Bob Vylan's performance, saying the 'antisemitic sentiments' expressed were 'utterly unacceptable'. Christopher Landau, the US deputy secretary of state, said the band had been banned from the US ahead of a tour later this year due to their 'hateful tirade at Glastonbury'.
Bob Vylan played at Coachella in California earlier this year but will be unable to return to the US. They were set to perform in Chicago, Brooklyn and Philadelphia in the autumn.
The duo, formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class. Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports.
In a statement posted to Instagram after the Glastonbury set, Vylan said: 'Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place. As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.'
They are due to perform at Radar Festival in Manchester on Saturday and Boardmasters, a surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August. Kneecap have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.
In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, told Glastonbury they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.'
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