Kneecap Eliminated From Scottish Competition Following Security Considerations

Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap will now not be showing at Scotland’s TRNSMT pageant this July following security considerations from regulation enforcement.

The Belfast outfit had been scheduled to look on the Glasgow pageant this July, showing on a lineup that additionally options 50 Cent, Gracie Abrams, Fontaines D.C., and extra. Nonetheless, native regulation enforcement had expressed considerations concerning the band’s look solely final week, claiming that “there was no prior session with Police Scotland earlier than acts had been booked.”

“Officers have highlighted the potential response of such a big viewers to this band would require a big policing operation as a way to help the supply of a secure occasion,” a police spokesperson defined.

Now, it seems as if these considerations have resulted in tangible actions, with Kneecap taking to social media on Wednesday (Could 28) to disclose they’d now not be performing “as a consequence of considerations expressed by the Police about security on the occasion.”

“To the 1000’s of people that purchased tickets, flights and motels to see us play, we’re sorry…it’s out of our palms.” they wrote. “Glasgow has at all times been an enormous metropolis for us. We’ve performed there many many occasions, with no points – ever. Make of that what you’ll.”

Kneecap have since introduced a further efficiency at Glasgow’s O2 Academy for July 8 “to attempt to make up for” their removing. The trio has additionally been fast to set the file straight concerning the specifics of the lineup shift, clarifying on-line reporting by writing “Kneecap didn’t ‘pull out’ of TRNSMT – Kneecap had been eliminated.”

Information of Kneecap’s removing from TRNSMT comes after two German music festivals similarly revised their lineups, and final week’s reporting of member Mo Chara, born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, being charged with a terrorism offense by London’s Metropolitan Police.

Ó hAnnaidh was investigated and subsequently charged for allegedly exhibiting help for militant teams Hamas and Hezbollah in historic movies. Each are proscribed as terror teams in accordance with U.Okay. regulation, and regarded an offense underneath the Terrorism Act 2000.

He is because of seem at Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket on June 18, with the band issuing a statement to notice they “deny this ‘offence’ and can vehemently defend ourselves.”