Kneecap have been removed from the line-up of this year’s TRSNMT Festival, the trio have said.
Following an earlier report published yesterday (May 28) by the BBC that stated Kneecap had pulled from the festival line-up, the Irish rap trio took to social media to explain: “Kneecap didn’t “pull out” of TRNSMT – Kneecap were removed.”
Last week, Police Scotland said that a “significant policing operation” would be needed for the trio to perform at the Glasgow festival, which is set to take place from July 11 – 13.
In a statement issued to the BBC, TRNSMT promoters DF Concerts said: “Due to concerns expressed by the police about safety at the event, Kneecap will no longer perform at TRNSMT on Friday, 11 July.”
Kneecap revealed in a follow-up post on Instagram that they would perform a replacement show at Glasgow’s O2 Academy on July 8. Pre-sale tickets sold out in just 80 seconds.
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“To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry…it is out of our hands,” they said. “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.”
Kneecap’s removal from the line-up follows calls from UK government leaders for the group to be removed from festival bills this summer, including TRNSMT, after a clip resurfaced of a group member allegedly saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Scottish First Minister John Swinney previously called on TRNSMT to remove Kneecap from its 2025 line-up, telling BBC Scotland News: “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.”
Last week, Kneecap member Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged under the UK Terrorism Act for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, last November.
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Kneecap have denied the offence, calling it a “carnival of distraction”. They said: “This is political policing. We are not the story. Genocide is.”
A new statement issued by Police Scotland yesterday (via NME) said that “any decision” to change TRNSMT’s line-up would have been made by festival organisers.
“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,” they added.
“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.”
Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
