Kneecap are easily one of the most exciting bands to break through in 2024. Debut album Fine Art sounds like a giddy mix of Beastie Boys, Eminem, Idles and The Prodigy while their rapid-fire but easily chanted lyrics cover everything from debaucherous parties to wanting to free their native Belfast from the lingering trappings of British rule. Both have got the trio in plenty of trouble over the years. Then there’s their semi-truthful self-titled sweary biopic, which has been selected as Ireland’s entry for the 2025 Best International Feature Film Oscar.
As Michael Fassbender’s character reminds the band’s Móglaí Bap at the end of the film, “every word of Irish spoken is a bullet fired for Irish freedom,” which should explain their politics – though the band preach bigger, more universal messages of rebellion and liberation too. “If you haven’t seen it yet, watch it on some dodgy site,” co-vocalist Mo Chara told the crowd at London’s Kentish Town Forum, which should tell you exactly how precious they’re being with their newfound celebrity.
The secret to Kneecap’s rapid rise is their live show. They’ve already delivered headline-grabbing performances at Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds and next year, they head to America to bring carnage and catharsis to Coachella. On Thursday, the Irish rap group showed London exactly why they’ve built up such a loyal following with a sweaty, swaggering 90-minute set.
From the warped opening of 3CAG and the hammering flex of It’s Been Ages, Kneecap clearly came here to party. “Are you ready for a mad one?” asked Bap before the rumbling Amach Anocht. “Holy F***, you’re rowdy,” he said shortly afterwards. The crowd turned the standing area of Kentish Town Forum into a mass mosh pit for the menacing Sick In The Head and the celebratory I’m Flush while Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite was a laser strewn rave that wouldn’t seem out of place in Ibiza.
There’s a polished, well-rehearsed band inside of Kneecap. Performing in front of slick visuals and backed by a vibe-shifting light show, their scrappy protest anthems filled the 2,300-capacity venue with ease but the trio also fed off of the excitable energy in the room. After an impromptu singalong to Tom Jones’ karaoke classic Sex Bomb, Kneecap were joined by Kurupt FM for a hectic run through of their hit Heart Monitor Riddem as Noel Gallagher watched on.
Things got a touch more sincere ahead of debut single C.E.A.R.T.A (which is Irish for “Rights”) as the band admitted they didn’t know what they were doing back then, or if anyone outside of their mates would care about Irish language hip-hop. “We’re grateful to you sexy bastards,” said Chara as fans, including those on the balcony, climbed on friends shoulders for the shouty slab of rebellion.
Bookending the show were reminders about the ongoing tragedy that’s unfolding in Palestine. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed watching the news but it’s important to do something,” said Bap, who’s been running 10k every day during their two-week headline tour to raise money for families in Gaza (current tally £38k). “We’ve got a platform, so we’re going to use it.”
Vicious, vital and delivering a whole lot of communal joy, Kneecap are going to own 2025 as well.
