The group were then booked to headline the city’s O2 Academy instead – a show that sold out in 80 seconds.<\/p>\n
The group will arrive in Glasgow fresh from being one of the hottest topics at Glastonbury, where they led expletive-laden chants<\/a> about Sir Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n The prime minister had previously called for the band to be dropped from the festival.<\/p>\n Similar chants occurred again at the weekend when the trio – consisting of Chara, DJ Provai, and Moglai Bap – supported rock band Fontaines D.C at London’s Finsbury Park.<\/p>\n Attention now turns to whether they will react to comments previously made by Scotland’s political leaders.<\/p>\n First Minister John Swinney was among those who said Kneecap should not be allowed to perform<\/a> at TRNSMT earlier this year, when the controversy first began.<\/p>\n Liam \u00d3 hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June [PA Media]<\/p>\n Kneecap are no strangers to political statements<\/a> or clashes with governments. The band’s name is a reference to kneecapping, a punishment deployed by paramilitaries during the Troubles when they would shoot people in the knees.<\/p>\n However, recent months have seen the group’s notoriety dramatically increase.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He was released on unconditional bail<\/a> after appearing in a London court on 18 June.<\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n Those comments were condemned by Katie Amess<\/a>, whose father – Conservative MP Sir David Amess – was murdered in 2021 while holding a constituency surgery.<\/p>\n The group apologised to the families of Sir David and Jo Cox, the Labour MP murdered in 2016<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kneecap said footage of their comments and of them holding the Hezbollah flag had been taken out of context.<\/p>\n The group claim the controversy is part of a smear campaign against them, due to their support for Palestine and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza<\/a>, which they describe as genocide.<\/p>\n The band said they received death threats and were dropped by their booking agent after displaying messages about Gaza during a set at US music festival Coachella in April.<\/p>\n Why were Kneecap dropped from TRNSMT?<\/p>\n The row over Kneecap’s MP comments saw Swinney intervene to say the group had “crossed a line” and should not play TRNSMT, which takes place on Glasgow Green every July.<\/p>\n He said: “It would be unacceptable to perform on such a stage given the fact their comments are so beyond the pale.”<\/p>\n Organisers DF Concerts did not comment at the time but Police Scotland became<\/a> involved<\/a> on 22 May.<\/p>\n The force said a “significant policing operation” would be required if the trio were allowed to play at the festival.<\/p>\n It also insisted any decision on who performs at TRNSMT was for organisers to make.<\/p>\n Six days later, Kneecap posted on social media: “Due to concerns expressed by the police about safety at the event, Kneecap can no longer perform at TRNSMT.<\/p>\n “To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry… it is out of our hands.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n DF Concerts said it had made the decision due to the concerns raised by police.<\/p>\n Kneecap are known for being fiery live performers [PA Media]<\/p>\n The group and their furious electro-rap have attracted praise and criticism in equal measure since they emerged on the music scene.<\/p>\n They became involved in legal action against the UK government after the then Conservative administration blocked them from receiving a \u00a315,000 funding award.<\/p>\n They had successful applied for a grant to support UK-registered artists in global markets in December 2023.<\/p>\n Ministers intervened to stop this, saying the group behind songs such as Get Your Brits Out should not benefit from British taxpayers.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6ab49ef0e99f3d69ca969008568a6275.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Liam](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c4117d9adb702be6de0beae762e1e809.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n