What a 12 months for Belfast’s Kneecap, the hip-hop trio who have done so much for the Irish language, rapping in both Irish and English. Their second album Fine Art was released in the summer on Heavenly Recordings and the movie of their story starring Michael Fassbender is now in the running for an Oscar. The touring of the album and the promotion of the film have been relentless over the last few months but they arrived in Glasgow for the first of two nights at the iconic Barrowlands Ballroom. This was always going to be an emotionally charged night, such is the shared sectarian challenges of the two cities. Add to this the fact that the venue is located on Gallowgate, the main thoroughfare from the city centre to Parkhead and Celtic Park. The surrounding area has a large concentration of pub houses and shops devoted to fans of Celtic Football Club. Outside the venue bootleggers were selling balaclavas. Kneecap have taken so much of the iconography of the violence associated with the Troubles and turned it on its head. DJ Próvaí only started wearing a balaclava onstage because he was a school teacher and didn’t want to be recognised when Kneecap began performing locally.
The chanting started before the support artist Gemma Dunleavy had even taken to the stage. “Up the Ra” and “Free Palestine” echoed around Barrowlands, as well as other Celtic songs. It really was an electrifying atmosphere. I had decided to be on the barrier to one side as I knew the crowd would be utter mayhem. What a good decision this was as I held on and simply went along on this wild ride. By the way it is a sign of the times that there was a QR code on the stage backdrop for tickets for the after party – oh times have changed!
As it got nearer showtime the crowd reached fever pitch. And then it was time. The show opened with a trad introduction, as with the album Fine Art, and then all of a sudden they were there, onstage in front of us. There was uproar in the room. You have to respect a band who has remained true to themselves through this meteoric rise. The humour and banter is there, as is their continued devotion to the case of Palestine and the people of Gaza.
DJ Próvaí did not stay behind the decks for long and in fact the trio, including Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap were hard to keep track of during the gig – pacing the stage and never standing still. The crowd simply got more and more frenzied and in fact there was a call out to remember to look after each other. The pit must have been a sight to see behind me, and Kneecap looked genuinely shocked by the rapturous response. Of course Buckfast was the drink of choice onstage. There really was something unforgettable to hear the whole of Barrlowlands chanting “You Fenian C*nts”
Their first single “C.E.A.R.T.A.” was loosely based on Móglaí Bap’s experience. On the day before the Irish Language Act the march in Belfast, Móglaí Bap went out with a friend of and spray-painted the word “Cearta” on a bus stop. Discovered by the Police Service of Northern Ireland his friend was arrested. The friend only spoke Irish at the police station, and spent a night there, refusing to speak English. “C.E.A.R.T.A.” was written as a result of this incident.
Tracks from Fine Art were played throughout the set including ‘I bhFiacha Linne’, ‘I’m Flush’, ”3CAG’ and the title track. But it was ‘Better Way to Live’ which was recorded with Fontaines D.C. lead singer Grian Chatten that was proceeded with “we think you’ll know all the words to this one.” Kneecap might have a serious messages to convey that not everyone would agree with but there is no doubting their humour. “We’ve a message from security. If you could empty all your pockets of drugs and throw them on the stage for quality control. That’d be great.” And to write a track called “Your Sniffer Dogs are Shite” is simply hilarious. Of course not all of Northern Ireland’s problems are solved and “Parful” references how raves bring people together from all sides, with no divisions obvious when dance music is the focus. At the end of the day so it was in Glasgow.
When Kneecap said they wanted to see as many people as possible on shoulders security must have had heart failure as they’d spent the whole gig up to this point telling people to get down. This was followed by DJ Próvaí crowd-surfing on both sides of the crowd! The night finished with 2019’s “H.O.O.D.” and wild mayhem saw out the night. And just like that – it was all over. What energy this b and produce. Whether you agree with their politics or not, you have to respect the raw honesty. They say what they think and have, in fact, broken down barriers using their platform which has grown exponentially over the last 12 months. And one more detail you need to know. Móglaí Bap is running a 10km at each city visited on this tour, raising money for food and medicine for Gaza. He has so far run 90kms and raised approximately £20k, and he was inviting anyone to join him outside the venue for his Glasgow run the following day. Class.
Now lads, go on and win that Oscar.
For more information on Kneecap please check their facebook and instagram.
