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The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Police, protests and Celtic tops - inside Kneecap's Glasgow gig
No, as of now the takeaway is always going to be political. And if that is what you came for on Tuesday night, well, you could fill your boots. Demonstrators outside the 02 Academy in Glasgow during the Kneecap concert (Image: PA) A member of Kneecap arrives at the 02 Academy in Glasgow (Image: Andrew Milligan) In Kneecap's sights this evening were Keir Starmer ('you're just a s*** Jeremy Corbyn'), Kemi Badenoch, the First Minister John Swinney (one of those who had suggested Kneecap shouldn't play TRNSMT), the DUP and, most of all, Benjamin Netanyahu (though it's worth noting that it was the crowd, not the band, who instigated chants of 'Death to the IDF'). 'Free Palestine' was the main message of the evening, flashed up on the screen in huge letters. Tonight, though, and perhaps inevitably, was also something of a Celtic FC love-in. Chants of 'Glasgow's Green and White' went around the venue at regular intervals and Henrik Larsson even got a mention from the stage. (I think it's reasonable to assume that - lapsed or not - I was the only Ulster Protestant in the room.) Fans outside the 02 Academy in Glasgow (Image: PA) A protester outside the 02 Academy in Glasgow (Image: PA) There was huge approval when the band announced that they remained unapologetically Republican and believers in a United Ireland, though their line that they had more in common with a poor Rangers fan than a rich Celtic fan didn't meet with universal approval in the corner of the room where I was standing. None of which can come as a surprise. The trio Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai (wearing his ubiquitous green, white and gold balaclava) emerged from West Belfast and Derry (not Londonderry, never Londonderry) into a post-Troubles Northern Ireland still blighted by poverty and sectarianism, and that background is writ large in their songs and attitude. Oh, yes, the music. It's all bowel-juddering bass and 60-mile-a-minute raps, which veer between the crowd-pleasing if banal (the line 'your sniffer dogs are s****' is mildly amusing; the repetition of it less so) and sly, amusing celebrations of their underdog/lowlife status (as on Sick in the Head and their best-known song Hood, both performed tonight with a mixture of impressive venom and glee). There is no question they put on a show. People arrive at the 02 Academy in Glasgow for a Kneecap concert (Image: Andrew Milligan) A member of the band arrives (Image: PA) But the bigger question for the trio now is where do they go from here? There's no doubt that their public recognition has been helped by the controversy (and there's still a court case hanging over Mo Chara's head, remember). But will that enable them or limit them? Because despite the fact that they are able and potent performers the only thing that anyone will be talking about tonight is the politics. Is that a good thing for Kneecap? Time will tell.
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Police, protests and Celtic tops - I watched Kneecap play Glasgow
Four stars Teddy Jamieson It can be easy amidst everything else - the court case, the cancellations (the bans, if you prefer), the politicians taking verbal pot shots, the social media furore, the police presence outside the 02 Academy last night - to forget that Kneecap, as well as being enemies of the state/speakers of the truth (delete as you feel appropriate), are a rap band. In the furious noise surrounding their appearance at Glastonbury (and their upcoming non-appearance at TRNSMT), it seems almost perverse to come to their Glasgow gig and try to gauge their musical merits and award a star rating; to point out the obvious Beastie Boys influence, to suggest that their songs - all short, sharp shocks of things - are an amalgamation of basic, brutal beats and at times astutely comic lyrics (in both English and Irish). No, as of now the takeaway is always going to be political. And if that is what you came for on Tuesday night, well, you could fill your boots. Demonstrators outside the 02 Academy in Glasgow during the Kneecap concert (Image: PA) A member of Kneecap arrives at the 02 Academy in Glasgow (Image: Andrew Milligan) In Kneecap's sights this evening were Keir Starmer ('you're just a s*** Jeremy Corbyn'), Kemi Badenoch, the First Minister John Swinney (one of those who had suggested Kneecap shouldn't play TRNSMT), the DUP and, most of all, Benjamin Netanyahu (though it's worth noting that it was the crowd, not the band, who instigated chants of 'Death to the IDF'). 'Free Palestine' was the main message of the evening, flashed up on the screen in huge letters. Tonight, though, and perhaps inevitably, was also something of a Celtic FC love-in. Chants of 'Glasgow's Green and White' went around the venue at regular intervals and Henrik Larsson even got a mention from the stage. (I think it's reasonable to assume that - lapsed or not - I was the only Ulster Protestant in the room.) Fans outside the 02 Academy in Glasgow (Image: PA) A protester outside the 02 Academy in Glasgow (Image: PA) There was huge approval when the band announced that they remained unapologetically Republican and believers in a United Ireland, though their line that they had more in common with a poor Rangers fan than a rich Celtic fan didn't meet with universal approval in the corner of the room where I was standing. None of which can come as a surprise. The trio Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai (wearing his ubiquitous green, white and gold balaclava) emerged from West Belfast and Derry (not Londonderry, never Londonderry) into a post-Troubles Northern Ireland still blighted by poverty and sectarianism, and that background is writ large in their songs and attitude. Oh, yes, the music. It's all bowel-juddering bass and 60-mile-a-minute raps, which veer between the crowd-pleasing if banal (the line 'your sniffer dogs are s****' is mildly amusing; the repetition of it less so) and sly, amusing celebrations of their underdog/lowlife status (as on Sick in the Head and their best-known song Hood, both performed tonight with a mixture of impressive venom and glee). There is no question they put on a show. People arrive at the 02 Academy in Glasgow for a Kneecap concert (Image: Andrew Milligan) A member of the band arrives (Image: PA) But the bigger question for the trio now is where do they go from here? There's no doubt that their public recognition has been helped by the controversy (and there's still a court case hanging over Mo Chara's head, remember). But will that enable them or limit them? Because despite the fact that they are able and potent performers the only thing that anyone will be talking about tonight is the politics. Is that a good thing for Kneecap? Time will tell.
Daily Record
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Cops announce 'police plan' for Kneecap gig in Glasgow
The Irish rappers will be performing at the 02 Academy in the city tomorrow night. Police Scotland has announced that they have a plan in place to ensure the safety of anyone attending the Kneecap concert in Glasgow this week. The controversial rap group are due to perform at the Glasgow O2 Academy tomorrow night, July 7. Cops had previously expressed concern about Kneecap playing at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow Green this weekend and they were taken taken off the bill. In response to this decision the Irish trio decided to organise a gig at the O2 to make sure their fans got to see them play in the city. They said: "To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights, and hotels to see us play, we are sorry ... it is out of our hands. "Glasgow has always been a huge city for us. We've played there many, many times, with no issues – ever. "Make of that what you will. To try to make up for it, we will be at your O2 Academy on Tuesday, July 8." Police confirmed they have launched a probe following Kneecap's set at Glastonbury was filled with expletives and calls to "free Palestine" and "f*** Keir Starmer." Police Scotland say there are a number of artists playing in the city this week and confirmed they have a plan in place for them all. Superintendent Paul Douglas said: 'We are aware of a number of events and concerts due to take place in the Greater Glasgow area in the week beginning Monday, 7 July, 2025. 'A proportionate and considered policing plan is in place within the city and we are working with a number of stakeholders to ensure the safety of all those attending these events and where possible minimise disruption to the people of Glasgow.' Billie Eilish's "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour at the Hydro comes to Glasgow for the next two nights, while Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Grand National Tour" at Hampden will be on at the same time as the Kneecap gig tomorrow.
Glasgow Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Gary Numan coming to O2 Academy in Glasgow Southside
Gary Numan, known for his famous tune Cars, will be performing at the 02 Academy in the Southside of Glasgow. READ NEXT: I Kissed A Boy stars talk Dannii Minogue, favourite Glasgow spots and representation The city gig, which is part of Numan's Telekon 45th Anniversary Tour - will take place on Tuesday, November 11. The tour will celebrate Telekon - Numan's second studio album - as well as his greatest hits. READ NEXT: Stars of 'iconic' TV show coming to Glasgow for exciting concert Tickets for the gig are available to purchase HERE Tickets will go on sale at 9am on June 20.
The Herald Scotland
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
'A head-scratching evening': Review: Morrissey, 02 Academy, Glasgow
Three stars 'There's so much destruction all over the world and all you can do is complain about me …'. Wednesday night in Glasgow and Morrissey - Narcissus with a quiff - is reminding us that we are all still obsessed with him. Is that the case? I guess we all know where we stand on where Morrissey stands these days. But behind all the sturm und drang, behind all the vexing, contentious statements, the more apposite question tonight might be, is there still an artist behind the provocateur? Wednesday night's show - the first of two sold-out gigs at Glasgow's 02 Academy - emphatically suggested there was. But who is that artist for? This was a head-scratching evening. On the up side the former Smiths front man still sounds amazing; that voice remains a thrilling instrument, even if he doesn't break out his falsetto on The Smiths' classic Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me during the encore. And it helped that he has a largely American band around him who are more than up to the task; lean, tight, urgent. For the most part, they rattled through songs like they were trying to catch a bus, only to slow things down now and then, stretching songs out as far as they would go (and sometimes beyond as on Life Is a Pigsty, though it's possible I was the only one in the audience who thought so). Read more Some of the song choices did seem tailored to the band's strengths. The Smiths songbook was ransacked for the noisier, brawnier cuts; Shoplifters of the World Unite and How Soon is Now, notably. Other inclusions just seemed eccentric. Solo single You're The One For Me, Fatty hardly felt essential when it was first released back in 1992, never mind now. As for Morrissey himself, he was on his best behaviour this evening. In fact, he didn't talk that much between songs, though there was the odd mention of long-gone Scottish soap Take the High Road. And he seemed to be enjoying himself, playing maracas or wiping the sweat from his bare chest. The moments where he did that 'old man hoicking up his trousers' movement (it happened more than once) were sweetly human. It comes to all of us. But I can't deny that I found much of the evening slightly dull. The first half of the show in particular saw him essay songs from the 21st century - I Wish You Lonely, One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell - and obscure cuts from his back catalogue, like 1995's Best Friend on the Payroll, most of which felt like placeholders for better songs. When he did sing Everyday is like Sunday - that still exquisite slice of Britannia Moribunda - I did wonder if maybe when he moved away from the UK he left his muse behind him. But the song choices did answer the question, who this show was for? His fans, obviously, those ardent true believers who have remained faithful to him all these years, despite everything. And maybe they do know something. Because the highlight of the evening was not a Smiths throwback, but Bonfire of Teenagers, the title track of the album he can't find a label for and which Morrissey himself has called 'the best album of my life'. It's a torch song and he sang it beautifully.
