Kneecap Joined by Massive Attack at Huge Wembley Arena Gig: ‘What a Year We’ve Had’

Occasionally the philharmonic beingness conjures astonishing occurrence stories that we mightiness ne'er person thought to inquire for and had nary close to expect. Depending connected who you’re talking to, Kneecap, a fiery, crisp and dexterous rap trio from West Belfast who person seen a chaotic ascent implicit the past year, mightiness autumn into that bracket.

It’s a sentiment intelligibly shared among the thousands that descended upon London’s OVO Wembley Arena connected Thursday nighttime (Sept. 18), an assemblage that skewed crossed aggregate generations. Since they released their debut task 3CAG in 2018 (their archetypal full-length record, Fine Art, followed past year), it’s been argued that the entreaty of Kneecap has been centered arsenic overmuch – if not much – astir the corporate giddiness they animate arsenic overmuch arsenic the euphony itself.

Whichever it is, the concourse felt bulging astatine the seams with an unending oversea of shot shirts successful varying greenish hues, keffiyehs draped crossed shoulders, and Irish accents of each lilt. Everything from Abbey Road-aping poster prints and Kneecap-branded unit socks to sweat bands and tricolour balaclavas could beryllium recovered astatine the merch stand. Such was the size of the assemblage adjacent the bar, that arena unit were near to nonstop punters done the jubilant mob with the absorption and movements of a squad of craft marshals.

The build-up to this header amusement had been dizzying. Less than a twelvemonth ago, Kneecap were playing London venues that were simply a 5th of the size compared to OVO Wembley’s 12,500 capacity, but astir 12 months connected and they are 1 of the astir hotly debated acts of 2025, continually garnering headlines (and caller fans) the satellite over.

Over the summer, rapper Mo Chara attended 2 tribunal hearings implicit what his bandmate Móglaí Bap has called a “trumped up” terrorism-related offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah emblem – a proscribed panic radical by U.K. instrumentality – successful resurfaced footage from a past concert, a complaint helium denies. Mo Chara is connected unconditional bail and volition instrumentality to the Westminster Magistrates’ Court adjacent week (Sept. 26); the proximity of the upcoming proceeding means the set had to cancel their planned U.S. circuit this fall.

Kneecap’s vocal and longstanding absorption to Israel’s attraction of Palestinians successful Gaza archetypal brought them planetary attraction backmost successful the spring, aft they ended their Coachella acceptable by describing Israel’s subject enactment arsenic a US-funded genocide. In pursuing months, the...