Kneecap suggested as ‘secret set' to replace Bob Vylan at Manchester festival
Speaking on the 2 Promoters, 1 Pod podcast, Radar organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith said the festival was 'forced into a position' they did not want to take in dropping the band from their upcoming headline slot this Saturday.
On acts that could replace Bob Vylan, Ms Jackson-Smith said her colleague Joe had suggested a Kneecap 'secret set' in order to 'make a statement'.
'You can say nothing publicly but if you go and book, and as I did mention, Joe's first response was, 'What if we did Kneecap as a secret set?' because that makes a statement, and it makes a statement without having to make a statement and that is what we wanted to do so we are going through options,' she said.
'We might end up with somebody that has no discernible political opinion in any manner at this point because if they're free and they could play on Saturday, maybe that is the criteria that we're looking for at this stage.'
Irish rap trio Kneecap, whose member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, also known as Mo Chara, appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence, performed on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury after Bob Vylan.
As of Friday afternoon, Radar has not announced a replacement for Bob Vylan and the festival's website lists the Saturday line up as 'headliner TBA (to be announced)'.
Of the conversation Radar organisers had with Bob Vylan, Ms Jackson-Smith said it was 'one of the most horrendous professional discussions' she has ever had.
'I cannot express clearly enough that I wanted Bob Vylan to perform at our festival,' she said.
'Bob Vylan know that we wanted to book them. Why else would we have booked them?' she added.
'And Bob Vylan also know that we didn't want to pull them, because we tried our hardest not to do that… but ultimately, it still ends at the same point the headlines will be 'Radar festival pulled Bob Vylan'.'
Bob Vylan issued a statement on Tuesday claiming they were being 'targeted for speaking up'.
It has emerged that Bob Vylan were already under investigation by police for comments made at a performance one month before Glastonbury.
Video footage appears to show Bobby Vylan at Alexandra Palace telling crowds: 'Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.'
The duo have had their US visas revoked before their tour later this year and have been pulled from an upcoming performance at a German music festival, following their appearance at Glastonbury.
They are currently expected to perform at the Boardmasters surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August.
The group was formed in Ipswich in 2017, and are known for addressing political issues in their albums including racism, masculinity and class.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Sally Rooney will remain ‘committed supporter of Palestine Action', court told
The Irish author said in court documents that the ban would prevent her from speaking at future public events as she 'could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles' if it comes into effect at 12.01am on Saturday as planned. If the ban does come into effect, it would make membership of, or support for, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Rooney has provided support for a legal claim by Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, against the Home Office, over the decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Ms Ammori asked a High Court judge on Friday to temporarily block the move from becoming law over the weekend, ahead of a bid to be given the green light to challenge the Government's decision later this month. But in a ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain refused to block the ban, stating that any harm caused is 'insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force'. Barristers for Ms Ammori are seeking to appeal against the ruling on Friday evening. In her witness statement, cited in Mr Justice Chamberlain's judgment, Rooney said the 'cultural effects' of Palestine Action becoming proscribed 'could not be easily mended'. She said: 'Though I am based in Ireland, my work is published in the UK. My novels regularly appear in bestseller lists, and I often travel to Britain to speak in public about my work. 'I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action. 'If… that support is criminalised, I will effectively be prevented from speaking at any future public events in the UK, since I could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles in public. 'If I continue to voice support for Palestine Action from my home in Ireland, what are the likely consequences? Will I be denounced publicly by the Prime Minister? 'Will bookshops go on stocking the work of an author the Home Secretary has branded a 'terrorist' simply for supporting a protest group? 'The BBC has adapted two of my books for television; both series are presently promoted on the iPlayer service. Normal People, which I co-wrote and produced, was the BBC's most-streamed series in 2020, with over 62 million views. 'My beliefs have not changed since the making of that series, and I have done nothing but continue to express them. 'If the expression of those beliefs becomes a terror offence under UK law, would the BBC continue to screen and promote my work? 'Is it likely that I could ever again collaborate with British public institutions like the BBC as I have done in the past? 'The cultural effects of proscription could not be easily mended, even if the Home Secretary later changed her mind. 'For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences. If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday after the order was signed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (PA) 'It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists. ''Terrorism' is not a trivial word.' In written submissions for Friday's hearing, Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, said that Rooney 'will continue to voice her support from Ireland' for the group. He said: 'Given her public support for Palestine Action… she is concerned that being labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' would have serious impacts on her ability to collaborate and publicise her work.' He continued: 'Ms Rooney notes that 'countless artists, writers and members of the public support direct action against complicity in what Israel is doing in Palestine', including Juliet Stevenson, Paul Weller, Tilda Swinton, Brian Eno, and other signatories to an open letter dated 30 June 2025.' If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday, after the order was signed by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe the direct action group last month, after two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an action claimed by Palestine Action.
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Leader Live
Wet Leg singer says Bob Vylan and Kneecap Glastonbury reaction is ‘messed up'
The 32-year-old indie rocker's band played on Friday afternoon at the festival, where Bob Vylan and Kneecap's Saturday sets are being investigated by Avon and Somerset Police to decide whether any offences were committed. Bobby Vylan, of Bob Vylan, whose real name is reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)', before a member of Irish rap trio Kneecap joked that fans should 'start a riot' outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance, and led the crowd on chants of 'f*** Keir Starmer'. Teasdale said she was concerned by the fallout from their sets, and added she feels it is 'powerful' for artists to speak up. The singer told PA: 'It shouldn't have to be considered brave to call out a genocide — that should be the absolute bare minimum. 'But the fact that people are being punished, silenced, or villainised for doing so shows just how messed up things are. I don't think it's brave to speak out — I think it's necessary. 'What's scary is how dangerous or controversial that's being made to seem. The media has focused so much on bands like Bob Vylan and Kneecap, but they weren't the only ones speaking out. Every other artist showed support for Palestine across the weekend. 'So why are these two being singled out? It feels like a deliberate attempt to create scapegoats, to distract from the actual message – which is simply calling out a genocide. 'Coming out of the Glastonbury bubble and seeing how much of that pro-Palestine messaging was cut from the BBC footage was honestly chilling. It shows how reality can be edited, distorted. 'That level of control over public perception feels dystopian, and it's exactly why speaking out, even imperfectly, is so important right now.' Bob Vylan's set at the festival, which was livestreamed at the time, is not available on iPlayer, and after the festival the BBC said it would no longer livestream acts it deems 'high risk'. Other acts to show their support for Palestine across the weekend included Wolf Alice, CMAT, Gurriers, and Black Country, New Road. The star, who grew up on the Isle Of Wight, says she herself wants to 'do better' at speaking up about important issues, having been inspired by Australian hard rockers Amyl And The Sniffers. She told PA: 'I think what these artists are doing is powerful. I saw Amyl And The Sniffers that weekend, and I really admired how she (Amyl And The Sniffers lead singer Amy Taylor) used her set to speak about Palestine. 'At one point she said, 'I was going to say something more poetic, and it's not perfect, but I think it's better to say something than say nothing at all'. That really stuck with me. 'It was honest and human — not polished, but true, and it reminded me that saying something imperfect is still far more meaningful than staying silent. 'That really resonated with me because speaking about Palestine on stage isn't something I take lightly. It's not about me — and I never want to make it about me — but I do feel a huge responsibility to get it right. 'I don't want to dilute the message or speak over the people whose voices actually need to be heard. That tension can make it hard to know exactly what to say, but the alternative — saying nothing — isn't acceptable either.' Made up of singer and guitarist Teasdale, guitarist Hester Chambers, drummer Henry Holmes, multi-instrumentalist Josh Mobaraki, and bass player Ellis Durand, Wet Leg rose to fame with their viral single Chaise Longue. The band will release their second LP Moisturizer on July 11, having performed songs from it such as Davina McColl, Catch These Fists and CPR during their Glastonbury appearance. Punk duo Bob Vylan issued a statement on Tuesday claiming they were being 'targeted for speaking up'. The pair have also had their US visas revoked before their tour later this year, were pulled from their Saturday headline slot at Radar festival in Manchester, and from an upcoming performance at a German music venue. Bob Vylan are expected to perform at the Boardmasters surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August. It has also emerged that Bob Vylan were already under investigation by police for comments made at a performance one month before Glastonbury. Video footage appears to show Bobby Vylan at Alexandra Palace telling crowds: 'Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.' The BBC has been contacted for comment.
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Leader Live
Sally Rooney will remain ‘committed supporter of Palestine Action', court told
The Irish author said in court documents that the ban would prevent her from speaking at future public events as she 'could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles' if it comes into effect at 12.01am on Saturday as planned. If the ban does come into effect, it would make membership of, or support for, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Rooney has provided support for a legal claim by Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, against the Home Office, over the decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Ms Ammori asked a High Court judge on Friday to temporarily block the move from becoming law over the weekend, ahead of a bid to be given the green light to challenge the Government's decision later this month. But in a ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain refused to block the ban, stating that any harm caused is 'insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force'. Barristers for Ms Ammori are seeking to appeal against the ruling on Friday evening. In her witness statement, cited in Mr Justice Chamberlain's judgment, Rooney said the 'cultural effects' of Palestine Action becoming proscribed 'could not be easily mended'. She said: 'Though I am based in Ireland, my work is published in the UK. My novels regularly appear in bestseller lists, and I often travel to Britain to speak in public about my work. 'I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action. 'If… that support is criminalised, I will effectively be prevented from speaking at any future public events in the UK, since I could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles in public. 'If I continue to voice support for Palestine Action from my home in Ireland, what are the likely consequences? Will I be denounced publicly by the Prime Minister? 'Will bookshops go on stocking the work of an author the Home Secretary has branded a 'terrorist' simply for supporting a protest group? 'The BBC has adapted two of my books for television; both series are presently promoted on the iPlayer service. Normal People, which I co-wrote and produced, was the BBC's most-streamed series in 2020, with over 62 million views. 'My beliefs have not changed since the making of that series, and I have done nothing but continue to express them. 'If the expression of those beliefs becomes a terror offence under UK law, would the BBC continue to screen and promote my work? 'Is it likely that I could ever again collaborate with British public institutions like the BBC as I have done in the past? 'The cultural effects of proscription could not be easily mended, even if the Home Secretary later changed her mind. 'For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences. 'It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists. ''Terrorism' is not a trivial word.' In written submissions for Friday's hearing, Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, said that Rooney 'will continue to voice her support from Ireland' for the group. He said: 'Given her public support for Palestine Action… she is concerned that being labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' would have serious impacts on her ability to collaborate and publicise her work.' He continued: 'Ms Rooney notes that 'countless artists, writers and members of the public support direct action against complicity in what Israel is doing in Palestine', including Juliet Stevenson, Paul Weller, Tilda Swinton, Brian Eno, and other signatories to an open letter dated 30 June 2025.' If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday, after the order was signed by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe the direct action group last month, after two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an action claimed by Palestine Action.
