Kneecap‘s look at TRNSMT has been axed over “security issues”, main the band to announce a alternative gig in Glasgow.
To make up for the cancellation, the rap trio will carry out at Glasgow’s O2 Academy on July 8.
“As a result of issues expressed by the Police about security on the occasion, Kneecap can now not carry out at TRNSMT” 🚔,” the band stated in an announcement shared to their social media accounts.
“To the 1000’s of people that purchased tickets, flights and lodges to see us play, we’re sorry…it’s out of our fingers.
“Glasgow has all the time been an enormous metropolis for us. We’ve performed there many many occasions, with no points – ever. Make of that what you’ll.
“To attempt to make up for it, we can be at your O2 Academy on Tuesday July eighth.”
NME has contacted TRNSMT’s representatives for remark.
Kneecap headlined Large Awake Competition in London final week, shortly after a heat up present on the 100 Membership in the identical metropolis, with none questions of safety.
In the course of the gig, the band spoke in regards to the controversy following their statements in help of Palestine at Coachella 2025. Following that, counter-terror police started to evaluate footage from a London efficiency final November, which led to Mo Chara being charged by the Metropolitan Police with a terror offence.
The cost pertains to the musician allegedly displaying a flag in help of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig final yr. The band have denied supporting both Hamas or Hezbollah, and said that they might not incite or condone violence in opposition to any people. They’ve additionally argued that the footage of the second had been taken out of context.
Kneecap additionally described the scenario a “carnival of distraction”, and have maintained it was “political policing” and that they weren’t the story, moderately, “Genocide is”.
At Large Awake, Chara took to the stage alongside Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí to say the cost was designed to “silence” them forward of their efficiency at Glastonbury this summer time.
“I went for an interview with the counter-terror police and inside days they got here to a verdict that they had been going to cost me,” he stated on the south London occasion. “By no means has it been that fast.
“And the rationale it was that fast was as a result of Glastonbury is simply across the nook. They’re making an attempt to silence us from talking onstage at Glastonbury the best way we did at Coachella. Fuck them.”
The musician – actual title Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – is because of seem at Westminster Crown Courtroom on June 18. He inspired followers to assemble at Westminster with “an enormous bag of ket” for the listening to.
Kneecap’s look at TRNSMT will not be the one gig they’ve had cancelled not too long ago, which they acknowledged onstage at Large Awake. These embody Germany’s Hurricane Competition and Southside Festivals, Cornwall’s Eden Venture, and a alternative present in Plymouth.
Additionally they referenced how MPs have known as to have them faraway from the line-ups of different festivals, together with TRNSMT, Glastonbury and extra.
“They tried to cease this gig,” Kneecap instructed followers at Large Awake. “Truthfully, lads, you haven’t any thought how shut we had been to being pulled off this gig.”
As well as, the DUP additionally inspired the cancellation of Kneecap’s forthcoming gig with Fontaines D.C. in Belfast, which bought out in 35 minutes.
In the meantime, Billy Bragg has defined why he helps Kneecap, saying that the authorized motion in opposition to them displays a “disturbing and broader pattern” that appears to limit artists in rap.
At first, Bragg divided opinions by sharing his ideas on Kneecap earlier this yr by not signing an open letter in help of them because the “wording lack[ed] any sense of nuance or understanding of why this complete furore kicked off”.
“I caught some flak on right here every week or two in the past after explaining why I didn’t really feel in a position to signal the artist’s letter defending Kneecap’s freedom of expression,” he started. “Some took it to imply that I didn’t help the band’s name for an finish to the genocide in Gaza. That’s not the case – my drawback was with the wording of the letter.
“I perceive that it could have appeared to some that I used to be arguing semantics whereas atrocities had been being dedicated, however my real concern is that the artists had been taking a place that would undermine future efforts to carry the Israeli authorities to account, which is definitely not their intent.”
Highlighting how he finds the “demand without spending a dime speech absolutism to be counter-productive”, he additionally famous how reveals by Nick Cave and Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood have beforehand been scrapped resulting from public strain, and that the wording of the letter could possibly be seen as contradictory.
Including why he backs Kneecap amid the arrest, Bragg stated: “Whereas I consider that being an artist doesn’t absolve you from taking accountability in your actions, I don’t consider that artistic expression ought to be topic to prison fees.”
He continued: “The charging of Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh with a terrorism offence by the Metropolitan Police is the newest improvement of a disturbing and broader pattern over the previous few years throughout which the state has sought to criminalise artistic expression.
“Since 2005, there have been over 100 circumstances through which prosecutors have put lyrics, music movies and audio recordings in entrance of juries to assist safe prison convictions… Particularly, police and prosecutors have used the act of writing, performing, and even partaking with rap music to recommend motive, intention, or propensity for prison behaviour.”
He went on to share how there are obscure, “sweeping definitions of ‘gang’ exercise” that get thrown round in relation to rap music, and that “music, lyrics, and movies are used to pull a number of folks into prison fees”. This, he added, “disproportionately impacts younger Black males and boys from under-resourced, marginalised communities”.
