Kneecap slate John Swinney at Glasgow gig ahead of TRNSMT

Glasgow Times

09-07-2025

The group were due to headline the King Tut's stage on Friday at Glasgow Green but were axed from the line-up amid a row over an investigation by counter-terror police into Liam Og O hAnnaidh.
The member, who performs as Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence over the display of a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig in November last year. He was released on unconditional bail last month.
On Tuesday, Kneecap performed a sold-out show at the city's O2 Academy.
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(Image: (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire))
In May, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney called for TRNSMT to cancel the performance on July 11, saying that 'organisers of TRNSMT have got to consider that issue'.
Around 10 minutes into their performance, the group asked the crowd: "What's your first minister's name?".
They then swore before adding: "They stopped us playing TRNSMT but they can't stop us playing Glasgow."
The band – consisting of Ó hAnnaidh, DJ Provai, and Moglai Bap – said they did not believe the TRNSMT cancellation was the festival's fault.
(Image: Andrew Milligan) The group later said the festival row had suggested their gigs were "hate-fests" but that they were about inclusion and tolerance.
Kneecap also led a chant against Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the performance after he also called for the band to be cut from Glastonbury.
At the Worthy Farm festival, the band thanked Glastonbury for keeping them on the bill and told the crowd the "prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play".
The biggest reaction all night came when Ó hAnnaidh said the British government had "done nothing for Ireland and nothing for Glasgow".
The gig concluded with their track The Recap about their victorious court battle with the UK Government over a funding grant.
Ahead of the Glasgow performance, a group of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered near the O2 Academy, welcoming the band when they arrived.
Kneecap posted a "hats off" to the activists on X, saying they were "buzzing to play one of our favourite cities".
A number of fans and demonstrators spoke to The National outside the venue about their support for Kneecap.
One woman from Lanark said: "I'm here for the music, but I'm also here for support. I'm here for Palestine. I'm here for a united Ireland. I'm here for a better future and for free speech."
During the show, Ó hAnnaidh issued an expletive-laden critique of Israel, though added he meant "the government, not the people".
The band also faced criticism after footage emerged from a 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
Although the Metropolitan Police initially investigated the video, the force declined to take further action due to the offences being beyond the statutory time limit for prosecution.
Kneecap said footage of their comments and of them holding the Hezbollah flag had been taken out of context.