Passionate, unapologetic chaos is a pretty accurate way to sum up the ethos of Irish rap trio Kneecap. Their rise to stardom had been exponential this year, and despite controversies and court cases, they’ve come out the other side unscathed and more fired up than ever. It really feels like they’re at the heart of something big – a social and political movement that can even put the most volatile of punk scenes to shame. It’s clear that they understand the immense power of their voice and their reluctance to stay silent on current issues is a poignant reminder for us all to support those less fortunate and speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.
Front man Mo Chara’s terrorism’s charge was laughed out of Woolwich Crown Court on the 26th of September as the lead magistrate deemed the charge as “unlawful” and “null”, ending the four-month smear campaign against the group. What better way to celebrate than with a sold-out winter tour across the UK?
They brought their electric energy and flair to Manchester over the weekend as they played their penultimate shows to adoring crowds at Manchester Academy on Friday and Saturday night. With just a single night to follow in Glasgow, it was vital to end the tour with a bang.
But before getting into that, it’s important to mention the support act. The crowd were treated to a powerful performance from Tasmanian hip-hop artist Miss Kaninna. Her power and confidence were awe-inspiring but for as much as she entertained, she also educated, taking the opportunity to share her rich heritage as an aboriginal Australian. She explained the injustices and hardship that her people, and indigenous people worldwide, continue to deal with due to a history of oppression and colonialism. The perfect message and performance to hype up the crowd for Kneecap.
The trio emerged to their regular walkout ‘3CAG’ as the roaring crowd welcomed them. The first few songs were a bit easy going, only by their own heavy standards, but once Móglai Bap indicated that it was time to bring it up a notch the crowd happily obliged. Hits from their well-received second album ‘Fine Art’ such as ‘Better Way to Live’ and ‘Sick in the Head’ got things moving followed by their recent drum and bass inspired releases ‘No Comment’ and ‘Sayonara’ which maintained the energy. As we’ve come to expect at Kneecap gigs, the lads took a moment out of their set to call out what they say is the complicity of the UK government and show their support for those suffering in Palestine, before continuing the party with more of their ‘Fine Art’.
Towards the end of the set, the crowd could’ve been forgiven for tapping out after an hour of non-stop bouncing, moshing and shouting. But as the intro for ‘H.O.O.D’ rolled out, they somehow turned up another notch, creating quite the spectacle. Finally for the last song ‘THE RECAP’, DJ Próvaí launched himself into the middle of the pit, joining the punters for an exceptional send off. Kneecap’s vigorously energetic music and live performances are exceptional and matched with the unique sound and character, the sky is the limit. Expect to hear more from these boisterous West Belfast boys.
Content warning – Explicit Language