Kneecap has bashed John Swinney during their Glasgow O2 Academy gig where police and sniffer dogs scoured their dressing room.
Irish-speaking rap trio Kneecap from Belfast, perform their sold out O2 Academy, Glasgow gig which was arranged after a planned appearance at TRNSMT festival was axed (Image: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS)
Kneecap has hit out at First Minister John Swinney during their sold-out performance in Glasgow after being axed from TRNSMT.
Kneecap, formed of Mo Chara – who was recently charged with a terror offence – Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, were originally billed to headline the King Tut’s stage on Friday at the TRNSMT Festival, however they were dropped from the lineup at the end of May over safety concerns by Police Scotland.
Instead, they headlined the city’s O2 Academy tonight – with the show selling out in 80 seconds.
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.”
First Minister John Swinney (Image: Getty Images)
Swinney also said: “It would be unacceptable to perform on such a stage given the fact their comments are so beyond the pale.”
It only took Kneecap 10 minutes into the show to address the issue, reports the BBC.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, asked the crowd “What’s your first minister’s name?” before swearing and saying: “They stopped us playing TRNSMT but they can’t stop us playing Glasgow.”
DF Concerts took the decision to remove the rappers from the TRNSMT line-up after police raised safety concerns.
Police officers outside the 02 Academy in Glasgow before a Kneecap concert(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA )
Kneecap noted that they did not believe the TRNSMT cancellation was the festival’s fault, before leading a chant against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after he called for the band to be dropped from Glastonbury.
Fans came to the gig daunting Celtic tops and waving the Irish Tricolour. Mr Ó hAnnaidh later criticised Israel but noted he meant “the government, not the people.”
Police and sniffer dogs have also been caught scouring Kneecap’s dressing room before the Irish rap trio’s sold-out Glasgow gig.
Sniffer dogs in Kneecap’s dressing room(Image: Kneecap/Instagram)
Prior to the gig, officers and sniffer dogs were recorded and posted on Kneecap’s Instagram story searching their dressing room. The caption of the video said: “Your sniffer dogs are…”
The band arrived at the venue amidst a sea of Palestine flags from Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaigners.
Pictures showed Naoise Ó Cairealláin, also known as Móglaí Bap, entering the building wearing a retro-remake version of Celtic’s iconic 1996 bumblebee shirt.
While being ushered into the venue, Naoise Ó Cairealláin could be seen carrying a leaflet calling for the charges against his bandmate to be dropped and for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be arrested.
Móglaí Bap entered the venue wearing a Celtic shirt(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)
Mo Chara was charged with brandishing a flag backing banned militant group Hezbollah at a gig in November 2024. He appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month as a result and was released on an unconditional bail.
The charge related to an incident after the band’s O2 Forum show in Kentish Town, London. However, the band has branded the case against the musician as a “witch hunt”.
Police also said they are investigating Kneecap’s Sunday performance at Glastonbury, after their set was filled with expletives and calls to “free Palestine” and “f*** Keir Starmer”. However, the band pointed out that they did not call for a riot to take place.
Kneecap previously took legal action against the then UK Conservative government after they blocked them from receiving a £15,000 funding award to support UK-registered artists in global markets.
However, a court hearing sided with the group and awarded them £14,250.
There are three other artists – Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and SZA – who are also set to perform at various locations across Glasgow tonight, and Police Scotland intend to keep everyone safe throughout all three gigs, including Kneecap’s performance.
Superintendent Paul Douglas stated: “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.”
Mo Chara entering Glasgow’s O2 Academy(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)
“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,” he continued.
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