In the pit at Kneecap’s surprise London show

Last night, Belfast rap provocateurs Kneecap announced an intimate show at the legendary 100 Club in central London, just hours before doors opened, with the message ​“We’re back”.

Earlier in the day, one of the group’s members, Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence, after police investigated footage from a show Kneecap performed in November last year, where he allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag on stage. Counter terrorism police are also assessing a video from a 2023 Kneecap show, during which a member of the group said ​“The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” Kneecap have denied supporting Hezbollah, and they’ve apologised for the latter comment.

Kneecap have been feuding with politicians for years (in 2024, they won a legal case against Kemi Badenoch, who had blocked an arts grant because of their ​“anti-British” views). But they’ve been under an increased level of scrutiny following backlash in the American media following their performances in Coachella. As with every Kneecap set, they displayed messages criticising Israel, highlighting the suffering and death toll in Gaza and accusing Western leaders of being complicit.

At the 100 Club, Mo Chara took to the stage with tape across his mouth. ​“The reason that we are being witch-hunted here is because we at Coachella spoke about the genocide,” he said. ​“We’re not the fucking story here, they’re using us as a scapegoat not to talk about the real fucking issues.”

When the band finished their set with their signature anthem H.O.O.D., Mo Chara held up a Palestine flag. Tonight, Kneecap will headline South London’s Wide Awake festival.