The controversial Belfast rap band Kneecap will nonetheless seem on the 2025 Glastonbury music pageant within the U.Okay., organizers introduced Tuesday.
Kneecap retaining its Glastonbury billing by acting on the West Holts Stage on June 28 follows political strain to drop the band after one in all its members, Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, was charged with a terror offense within the U.Okay. after an incident on Nov. 21 at a venue in north London.
The group, whose members embody Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, has drawn widespread criticism and the eye of the Metropolitan Police after on-line movies confirmed the band allegedly calling for the demise of British parliament ministers, in addition to chanting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”
It’s unlawful within the U.Okay. to precise assist for Hezbollah as it’s thought-about a terrorist group in Britain. And in April, Kneecap displayed political messages concerning the ongoing struggle in Gaza through the group’s Coachella set, after which quite a lot of Kneecap concert events in Germany have been canceled.
Kneecap, responding to the criticism, apologized to the households of murdered members of Parliament and claimed they’ve confronted “deliberate distortions and falsehoods.” The band additionally denied they’ve ever supported Hamas or Hezbollah.
Whereas Glastonbury has retained Kneecap on their billing, the band was dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT pageant for a July 11 live performance over police issues for security. “Because of issues expressed by the Police about security on the occasion, Kneecap can not carry out at TRNSMT,” the rap group mentioned on X.
Kneecap additionally introduced a substitute live performance on the O2 Academy in Glasgow for July 8, which has already bought out. Glastonbury, set to run June 25 to 29 at Worthy Farm, Somerset, will get in depth play on the BBC’s radio and TV providers.
