‘Expect energy’ as Kneecap play home gig after year of controversy

Eimear Flanagan and Nalina EggertBBC Information NI Andy Rain/EPA/ShutterstockKneecap’s Mo Chara (left) and Móglaí Bap make up two thirds of the rap trio South Belfast ought to “count on loads of vitality” and a “fairly intense” environment when Kneecap help Fontaines DC at Boucher Highway Enjoying Fields on Friday night time, one fan has mentioned.Jamie Jamison shall be seeing each acts for the third time and says the best way they “problem the institution” provides to their enchantment.It’s a homecoming for the rap trio, eight months since they final performed Belfast. In that point they’ve been the centre of political controversy and the topic of police investigations.The present is going down days after one in every of Kneecap’s members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, appeared in courtroom in London accused of a terrorism offence, a cost he denies. Fontaines DC, a five-piece punk band who shaped in Dublin, have voiced help for the Palestinian trigger and criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza.HandoutJamie, from Belfast, noticed Fontaines DC at Primavera Sound pageant in Barcelona earlier this yearFan Jamie says each teams have been within the information “extra for his or her views on the likes of Palestine or their political stance than the music”.He says folks worth the message that “you do not have to simply accept the established order”.”We have moved on from generic X Issue teams.”A eager gig-goer, Jamie says “persons are as excited to see Kneecap as to see Fontaines” and believes Kneecap will enchantment to the youthful folks within the viewers with their excessive vitality, whereas Fontaines DC may be “extra mellow”.His favorite songs by each?Kneecap – ParfulFontaines DC – Boys within the Higher LandInternational success and criticism Leon Neal/Getty ImagesFormer trainer DJ Próvaí (centre) swapped the classrooom for the massive stage when he joined KneecapKneecap, shaped in Belfast in 2017, consists of Mo Chara and his bandmates Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin) and DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh).Kneecap rap in a mix of England and Irish, and have damaged new floor by bringing the Irish language to world viewers of music and movie followers, together with via an Oscar-nominated and Bafta-winning movie.However by April this yr, Kneecap’s vocal opposition to Israel’s remedy of Palestinians in Gaza introduced them consideration of a really totally different form.The previous X-Issue decide Sharon Osbourne referred to as for his or her US work visas to be revoked after they ended their Coachella pageant set with pro-Palestinian messages describing Israel’s army motion in Gaza as a US-funded genocide.’Kill your native MP’ investigationDuring the fall-out from that row, movies of a few of their earlier performances started to be re-circulated, which led to 2 police investigations within the UK. These included a November 2023 gig through which a band member was filmed saying: “The one good Tory is a useless Tory. Kill your native MP.”The band shortly apologised for the remark and for the damage prompted to the households of MP Jo Cox and Sir David Amess who had been murdered in earlier assaults. In an announcement, they mentioned they rejected “any suggestion that we might search to incite violence in opposition to any MP or particular person”.Additionally they claimed the comment was “taken out of all context” and that they had been victims of a smear marketing campaign as a result of their stance on Gaza. However the story prompted widespread furore and plenty of pageant organisers started to cancel Kneecap slots.By Could, a listing of about 40 artists together with Fontaines DC signed an open letter expressing help for Kneecap, saying there was a concerted try to censor and “deplatform” them.Hezbollah flag courtroom caseMetropolitan Police counter-terror officers assessed the “kill your MP” footage however mentioned the group would face no additional motion, partly as a result of the time restrict for prosecution had elapsed. However in addition they assessed a second present in November 2024 in Kentish City, throughout which Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh allegedly displayed a flag in help of Hezbollah.Hezbollah, a political and army group primarily based in Lebanon, is a proscribed organisation within the UK and it’s a crime to specific help for them.Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket in June and he’s at the moment on bail ready to search out out if he’ll stand trial. He denies the offence and the band mentioned its members don’t help Hamas or Hezbollah.The courtroom case has been adjourned till 26 September, which was near the beginning of the band’s deliberate US tour. Earlier this week, Kneecap introduced they had been cancelling all 15 of their sold-out US tour dates in October because of the proximity of the upcoming courtroom listening to. Who’re Fontaines DC?Shirlaine Forrest/Getty ImagesFontaines DC is fronted by their lead singer Grian Chatten Fontaines DC shaped in 2014. Its members are initially from totally different elements of the Republic of Eire, England and Spain however they received collectively after assembly at music school in Dublin. Lead singer Grian Chatten as soon as mentioned he and his bandmates Carlos O’Connell, Tom Coll, Conor Curley and Conor Deegan had been drawn to at least one one other “due to our appreciation of poetry”.The group launched their debut single Liberty Bell in 2017, a monitor which makes reference to a working class space of interior metropolis Dublin often called the Liberties.Two years later their first album, Dogrel, impressed by on a regular basis life within the metropolis, was nominated for the Mercury Prize. They’ve since launched three extra studio albums, the most recent of which was final yr’s Romance, whereas Chatten launched his first solo album in 2023. Very important journey informationFriday’s Belfast Very important present is the second night time of two again to again pageant nights at Boucher Enjoying Fields within the south of the town.The gates open at 17:00 BST and the music begins at 18:00 with help acts Lifeless Dads Membership and Chalk, adopted by Kneecap after which headliners Fontaines DC.The organisers have warned followers to not queue exterior the venue too early and issued a public data discover for ticket holders attending the gig.