Latest news with #KemiBadenoch
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Hip-hop trio Kneecap to play Glastonbury despite calls for ban
GLASTONBURY, England, June 28 (Reuters) - Irish hip-hop group Kneecap will perform at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday despite criticism by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and pressure from some in the music industry to pull the gig. Frontman Liam O'Hanna, whose stage name is Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He was mobbed by supporters chanting "Free Palestine" and "Free Mo Chara" when he appeared at court in London. He was released on unconditional bail until another hearing in August. Footage has also emerged of the band saying on stage: "Kill your local MP" and "The only good Tory is a dead Tory." They have apologised for the comments about killing an MP. Starmer told the Sun newspaper earlier in June it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English, to appear at Glastonbury. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has also commented, saying the BBC, which broadcasts the festival, should not show them. Some 30 music industry bosses asked organisers to pull Kneecap from the line-up, according to a letter leaked by the DJ Toddla T, cited by the Guardian. In response, more than 100 musicians have signed a public letter in support of the group. Kneecap's manager Dan Lambert said the group had expected calls for the group's performance to be cancelled. "We knew that the biggest pressure would come on Glastonbury because Glastonbury's an institution," he told Reuters. But it had not been an issue for organisers. "We didn't bring it up and they didn't bring it up," he said on site at Worthy Farm. "They treated us professionally." Organiser Emily Eavis said on Wednesday the festival was a platform for artists from all over the world, adding that "everyone is welcome here". The footage of O'Hanna displaying the flag came to light after the Northern Irish trio projected pro-Palestinian messages on stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April, ending with: "Fuck Israel. Free Palestine." Kneecap, whose other members have the stage names Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, have said they do not support Hamas or Hezbollah. O'Hanna said on Friday the group were "playing characters" on stage, and it was up to the audience to interpret their messages. "Take what you want from it, but we're not going to change in that way," he told the Guardian newspaper.
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Irish acts fly the flag at Glastonbury
Inhaler, Ash and CMAT and were among the Irish acts who took to the stage at Glastonbury in Somerset in England on Friday. In what is a record year for Irish performers, over thirty DJs, bands and solo artists from Ireland will perform at the world famous festival over the weekend. Kneecap are due to take to the West Holts stage on Saturday at 4pm amid calls for a ban from UK politicians including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. Dublin band The Script will also play the main stage at 3pm, while Dublin-born DJ Annie Mac will appear on the Arcadia stage at 1pm on Saturday. Dublin-based punk band Sprints are due on the Woodsies stage at 2pm, while singer Orla Gartland will play the Avalon stage. Lorraine Nash, Oisin Leech, Liam O'Maonlai, The Coronas, Dea Matrona, The Henry Girls, The Riptide Movement, For Those I Love, and Orla Gartland are all due to play Glastonbury over the remainder of the weekend.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Kneecap to take to Glastonbury stage today despite Keir Starmer calling for them to be axed after terror charge
KNEECAP are set to perform at Glastonbury today despite calls for the Irish hip hop trio to be banned. Frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged under the Terrorism Act after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a gig in November. 5 5 Last week the rapper - who performs under the name Mo Chara - and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh were mobbed by hundreds of fans outside Westminster Magistrates' Court. He was released on unconditional bail - and is due at the same court on August 20 for the next hearing. Kneecap are due on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it is "not appropriate" for the group to perform at the festival, which started on Thursday. Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thinks Kneecap should play, the PM said: 'No I don't. 'I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the band's set in a post on social media. Her post said: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. "One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. "As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism." Lead singer from the group Kneecap arriving at Westminster magistrates court in London The band are not currently listed for live broadcast. Avon and Somerset Police said: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." In response to the charge, Kneecap said in a post: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us... 'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. 'The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.' Hezbollah - founded in 1982 - is an Iran-backed Shiite militia. The Lebanese terrorist organisation voiced support for the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023 before launching guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli-occupied positions. Israel has retaliated with strikes on Gaza - and the conflict remains ongoing, with thousands of people, including civilian children, killed. Kneecap has said they "do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah", condemned all attacks on civilians, and alleged footage was "deliberately taken out of all context" as part of a "coordinated smear campaign" over their criticism of "the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people". 5 5
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury amid calls for them to be banned
Irish rap trio Kneecap are to perform at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday after a number of politicians called for them to be banned from the event. It comes after one of the band's members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. Last week the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20. Last week Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would not be 'appropriate' for them to perform in the slot, which is due to go ahead on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC 'should not be showing' the trio's set in a post on social media last week. Badenoch said in an X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times which said the BBC had not banned the group: 'The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. 'One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. 'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.' Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Ahead of the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: 'Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby.' Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set will not be broadcast live 'at the artist's request'. Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's 'best songwriter'. After performing Part Of The Band he sat on a stool while smoking and sipping his drink, Healy said: 'What this moment is making me realise is that I probably am the best songwriter of my generation. 'The best what they say, a poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am. 'Generational words and I just wanted to remind you, over the next couple of minutes, these lyrics are poetry, I believe.' The band then launched into Chocolate from their 2013 self-titled debut, before Healy remarked 'I was only joking about being a poet' at its conclusion. Made up of four school friends, the group comprised of singer Healy, bassist Ross MacDonald, guitarist Adam Hann and drummer George Daniel were headlining the festival for the first time. Friday also saw a performance from Scottish music star Lewis Capaldi who told the Glastonbury crowds 'I'm back baby' as he played a surprise set, two years after a performance at the festival during which he struggled to manage his Tourette syndrome symptoms. The musician, who announced a break from touring shortly after his performance at the festival in 2023, has just released a new song called Survive. He told fans: 'It's so good to be back. I'm not going to say much up here today, because if I do, I think I will probably start crying.' He ended his performance with Somebody You Loved, the track that Glastonbury crowds helped him to sing when he struggled with the condition which can cause physical and verbal tics in 2023. Earlier on Friday, alternative pop star Lorde surprised fans with a secret set at Worthy Farm, performing her latest album Virgin, which was released on Friday, in full. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand brought out former Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi during their Other Stage set while they were playing Take Me Out, one of their best-known songs. Celebrities who have been spotted at the festival include singer Harry Styles, Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne and Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn. Friday saw hot dry weather which hardened the Worthy Farm surface after rain in the early hours of the morning, with festival goers expected to see temperatures in the mid-20s on Saturday. The Met Office's Grahame Madge said: 'We anticipate highs of 26C on Saturday, with high levels of humidity. By Monday temperatures can be anticipated to be over 30C. 'There is always the chance of a light shower, but there is nothing in the forecast that suggests anything heavier for Saturday for Somerset.' Avon and Somerset Police said there had been 38 crimes reported at the festival and 14 arrests made. Performing in the coveted Sunday legends slot this year is Sir Rod Stewart, who previously said he will be joined by his former Faces band member Ronnie Wood, as well as other guests. Sir Rod's performance will come after he postponed a string of concerts in the US, due to take place this month, while he recovered from flu. The BBC is providing livestreams of the five main stages: Pyramid, Other, West Holts, Woodsies and The Park.
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Badenoch channels Thatcher (and Truss) atop military machine
It was a tradition started by Margaret Thatcher and subsequently imitated by Liz Truss. Now Kemi Badenoch has become the latest female Conservative leader to pose atop a British Army vehicle. Mrs Badenoch sat in the turret of the Mastiff armoured patrol car as she visited a British Army base in her constituency. The Tory leader smiled as she was driven around Carver Barracks near Debden, Essex. Her choice of vehicle came with less firepower than Ms Truss and Thatcher. In 1986, the then-prime minister rode atop a Challenger tank at a Nato training ground near Fallingbostel, West Germany. Wearing a mac, scarf and goggles, Thatcher used a laser-guided weapons system to fire a 6lb practice shell from the tank. She later declared she 'loved it'. The next day's edition of The Daily Telegraph described her outfit as a 'cross between Isadora Duncan and Lawrence of Arabia'. As foreign secretary, Ms Truss imitated the Iron Lady 35 years later in 2021 when she posed riding a Challenger 2 tank in Tapa, Estonia. Other pictures from Mrs Badenoch's visit to the barracks showed her pointing an assault rifle directly at the chest of a soldier. Labour seized on the image and said the Tory leader had broken cadet rules that say 'a weapon must never be pointed at anyone in any circumstances'. The regulations add: 'A weapon must always be handled so that it points in such a direction that there is no danger if a round is accidentally fired.' A Labour source said: 'The reference to 'faulty or careless handling' in the guidance probably best describes her tenure as Tory leader.' A Conservative spokesman hit back by asking: 'What fun-hating, pettifogging grouch seriously thinks this is worth complaining about?'
