Kneecap Controversy: Music Festival Axies Lineup Over Police Safety Concerns

Kneecap
has announced that they have been forced to cancel a performance at a
music festival
due to ‘police safety concerns.’

TRNSMT will ‘no longer’ have them perform at the festival in
Scotland
due to the police force’s worries about the safety of the crowd.

The controversial Belfast rap trio have scheduled a replacement gig at an
O2
Academy in July.

They posted on X: ‘To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry … it is out of our hands.

‘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. To try to make up for it, we will be at your O2 Academy on Tuesday July 8th.’

They also quoted a statement from TRNSMT: ‘Due to concerns expressed by the Police about safety at the event, Kneecap will no longer perform at TRNSMT on Friday, July 11.

‘We thank fans for their understanding.’

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney previously called for Kneecap to be removed from the TRNSMT lineup.

He told BBC Scotland: ‘I think that makes it incredibly difficult for a band like Kneecap to perform at TRNSMT because I think they have crossed a line to be honest.

‘It would be unacceptable to perform on such a stage given the fact their comments are so beyond the pale.’

A police spokesperson told
the BBC
of the lineup change: ‘There was no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked.

‘Officers have highlighted the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation in order to support the delivery of a safe event.

‘We have also passed on information from the public around safety concerns to allow organisers to make an informed decision on the running of the festival.’

The news comes after the group has faced backlash for footage from a 2023 gig that appeared to show a band member saying: ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.’

The musicians have since apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.

A member of the group, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27, has been recently charged with a terror offence by the clipartclipart newspolitan Police after an incident on 21 November 2024 at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London.

Ó hAnnaidh was charged after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London show.

In a statement posted on social media, Kneecap said: ‘We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves.’

‘This is political policing,’ it continued. ‘This is a carnival of distraction.

‘14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us.’

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