Kneecap Brings Political Fire to Reading Festival with Anti-Establishment Stance
The West Belfast trio used their headline slot to demand solidarity with Palestine and denounce British political figures, capping off a high-energy set at the iconic music festival.
The final day of Reading Festival saw the West Belfast rap trio Kneecap deliver one of the most politically charged performances of the weekend. Known for their uncompromising lyrics and defiance of authority, the group—comprising Mo Chara, Moglai Bap, and a guest DJ filling in for the newborn-parenting DJ Provai—turned the Gallery stage into a platform for vocal political dissent.
With a Palestinian flag draped prominently over their DJ booth, the rappers drew from a catalog spanning their 2018 EP 3CAG to their recent album Fine Art. Throughout the set, the music was punctuated by pointed rhetoric, most notably a direct attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It’s important to us that we use this platform for what we believe to be right,” the band told the crowd. “As Irish people, we understand displacement, colonialism, and forced starvation of a population that we see right now in Palestine.”
The group urged the audience to maintain perspective despite the festive atmosphere, adding: “Let’s be thinking at the same time about our Palestinian brothers and sisters, so f*** Benjamin Netanyahu, and free, free Palestine!”
The band did not reserve their vitriol solely for international affairs. They also set their sights on UK politics, explicitly targeting Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham for his stance on Irish reunification. The crowd was encouraged to join in a chant labeling the politician a “wanker,” further cementing the group’s reputation for courting controversy.
A History of Legal Battles
Kneecap is no stranger to legal and political scrutiny. Last year, member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) faced accusations regarding the display of a flag allegedly in support of the proscribed terror organization Hezbollah during a London performance. However, the case was dismissed in September 2024, with Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ruling that the proceedings were “instituted unlawfully.” An subsequent appeal by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was also rejected by High Court judges earlier this year.
The group addressed this history of backlash directly during their closing track, THE RECAP. Set to a driving drum and bass beat provided by collaborator Mozey, the song confronts the media firestorm and police investigations the band has faced due to their unabashed political activism.
A Day of Diverse Performances
The high-octane set from Kneecap was part of a broader, eclectic lineup on the festival’s final day. Earlier, indie rock icons Florence + The Machine graced the main stage, with frontwoman Florence Welch delivering a sweeping set alongside Idles guitarist Mark Bowen. Drum and bass legends Chase & Status also brought their high-energy production to the festival, while singer Lola Young surprised fans with an unannounced secret set in a standout Vivienne Westwood ensemble.
Despite the intensity of their messaging, Kneecap left the Reading crowd in a frenzy. By the time they exited the stage, the band had once again solidified their position as the current voice of Irish radicalism, proving that their appeal lies as much in their confrontational political identity as it does in their sonic output.
