Going through controversy, censorship threats, and felony fees, Kneecap had a lot stacked towards them heading into Glastonbury 2025 — however once they lastly hit the West Holts Stage on Saturday, they turned the noise into gas for one of many weekend’s most defiant units.
Simply months in the past, the Irish rap trio’s set at Coachella sparked a firestorm: Throughout weekend one, they led chants of “Free Palestine” and “Fuck Margaret Thatcher,” solely to have their efficiency minimize from the official livestream. The second weekend, which wasn’t broadcast, noticed them double down — bringing out streamer Hasan Piker to air their protest reside and displaying “Fuck Israel, free Palestine” in big letters behind them. A number of festivals subsequently dropped Kneecap from their respective payments; all of the whereas, bandmember Mo Chara was charged with a terror offense within the UK tied to allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London live performance in 2024. For his or her half, Kneecap have adamantly denied that they’ve ever supported Hamas or Hezbollah.
Glastonbury resisted calls to cancel Kneecap’s set, and on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. native time, the Irish rap trio took the West Holts Stage in entrance of an energized crowd, with Palestinian flags seen all through the entrance rows. At one level, the band claimed the Glastonbury app had even despatched out a notification warning that the West Holts space could be fenced off as a result of it had reached capability.
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Halfway by the set, Kneecap addressed the worldwide headlines immediately: “The Israeli and US media don’t wish to imagine that younger People agree with us,” they instructed the gang. “Younger folks all over the world know what the fuck is happening.” Later, they led the gang in chants of “Fuck [UK prime minister] Keir Starmer” and “Free, free Palestine.”
Music sensible, the band delivered their hard-hitting sound with a renewed sense of urgency, with driving beats and flows and a kinetic power with the gang. The set was not livestreamed by the BBC, however because of on-line streamers — just like the TikTok account @helenshealingjourney — hundreds have been in a position to watch it reside, and movies turned out there shortly after. Watch a few of these movies under.
Kneecap has described the backlash round Coachella and past as a “coordinated smear marketing campaign,” however they’ve discovered defenders, too. Johnny Marr publicly backed the group within the days main as much as Glastonbury, saying: “Oppression fears inventive expression. I respect all musicians who use their platform to talk out towards injustice, who promote compassion and equality, and provides voice to the unvoiced.”
Certainly, Kneecap additionally weren’t the one performer expressing a pro-Palestine sentiment at Glastonbury. Earlier within the day, Bob Vylan led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and displayed a number of messages of assist for the Palestinian folks. All this comes simply days after a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz alleged that IDF commanders are ordering troopers to fireside immediately into unarmed crowds lining up for meals, like a chillingly horrific real life Squid Game.
Elsewhere on website, the competition delivered lighter moments, together with Lewis Capaldi making an emotional return and Lorde delivering a shock efficiency.
As for Kneecap, they lately launched a brand new single titled “The Recap,” their first new music since all of their current controversy unfolded. Up subsequent, they may hit the highway for his or her 2025 US tour dates in October, stopping in Nashville, Philadelphia, Toronto, Columbus, Chicago, and extra cities. Get tickets here.
For extra, take a look at the Mixtape playlist Kneecap made for Consequence, that includes The Conflict, Doechii, and a double dose of Katy Perry.
Kneecap performs current information protection about them within the intro to their #Glastonbury set. pic.twitter.com/92GHcsFrO1
— Selection (@Selection) June 28, 2025
@patrick.swayze69 Kneecap H.O.O.D Stay at Glastonbury 2025 Stay: @helenwilsonwales #kneecap #glastonbury
The BBC wouldn’t present the Kneecap reside on TV however a lady known as Helen streamed it to hundreds of individuals on TikTok.
“Kneecap shouldn’t be the story. Genocide is the story. Fuck Keir Starmer.” pic.twitter.com/Y07c6NS6JY
— Liam O’Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) June 28, 2025
KNEECAP at Glastonbury 🇮🇪🇵🇸#FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/JHvzKdQiaW
— Laura 🖤🤍 (@lspark_89) June 28, 2025
@theolliewhite What it’s wish to be in a moshpit at Kneecap at Glastonbury! #kneecap
