South London is set to see a controversial performance tonight as Belfast rap trio Kneecap take the main stage at the Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park—only two days after one of their members was charged with a terror offence.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, has been formally charged in relation to the alleged display of a Hezbollah-supporting flag at a Kentish Town concert last November. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the charge was issued on Wednesday.
Despite the looming court date, Ó hAnnaidh, 27, remains active with the band and is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 June. The charge follows an investigation sparked by online footage from the event.
On Thursday night, Kneecap delivered an impromptu gig at the 100 Club on Oxford Street. Ó hAnnaidh took the stage with black tape over his mouth, prompting speculation online. In a moment of irony, he quipped: “I need to thank my lawyer, he’s here tonight as well.”
The surprise show drew massive attention, with the band later revealing that tickets sold out in just 90 seconds. According to a post on X, more than 2,000 fans ended up on the waiting list.
Police were present at the venue to manage crowds attending the sold-out event, but no incidents were reported.
The Wide Awake Festival will go ahead as planned, despite legal challenges surrounding the use of Brockwell Park for music events.
Last week, campaigner Rebekah Shaman successfully challenged Lambeth Council’s approval process for the festivals. Mr Justice Mould criticised the council’s actions, calling the land-use certification “irrational.”
In response, legal representatives for Shaman demanded that the council confirm cancellations and remove any temporary infrastructure from the park. However, organisers Brockwell Live and Lambeth Council insisted the festivals would proceed, citing a fresh planning application by Summer Events Limited.
The band issued a defiant statement on social media in response to the terror charge: “14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction.”
They argued the charge is politically motivated and designed to limit their freedom of movement and speech. They criticised the lack of a jury trial and claimed the action is part of a broader campaign to silence artists who raise uncomfortable issues.
Earlier this year, Kneecap were placed under investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command following videos purportedly showing them making incendiary statements at previous gigs.
The footage led to some of their shows being cancelled. However, they remain scheduled to headline Wide Awake. The band later apologised to the families of murdered MPs but insisted the recordings had been “exploited and weaponised.”
Kneecap also clarified that they “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are proscribed in the UK.
Meanwhile, Tory MP Kemi Badenoch has called for a ban on the group’s performances, with others lobbying for their removal from the upcoming Glastonbury Festival.
Formed in 2017, Kneecap—comprised of Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh—have built a reputation for controversial lyrics, Irish language advocacy, and rebellious merchandise.
Their latest project, a self-titled film featuring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender, dramatizes the band’s early days and their mission to preserve the Irish language through music.
Tonight’s performance in Brockwell Park will mark a defining moment—not just for Kneecap, but for the line between political expression and legal boundaries in the UK’s live music scene.
