Irish electro rap trio Kneecap have arrived in Glasgow to play a sold-out show at the O2 Academy venue, weeks after being axed from the city’s music festival lineup.
The group’s show sold out in just 80 seconds after TRANSMT festival dropped the act from Friday’s lineup at the annual weekender held on Glasgow Green.
Event organisers said the decision was made “due to concerns expressed by the Police about safety at the event.”
Police Scotland had warned that “a significant policing operation” would be required to manage the headline show on the King Tut’s stage on Friday.
Police Scotland confirmed they have a “proportionate and considered policing plan” for the Glasgow O2 Academy show.
Superintendent Paul Douglas told The Scotsman: “We are aware of a number of events and concerts due to take place in the Greater Glasgow area in the week beginning Monday, July 7, 2025.
“A proportionate and considered policing plan is in place within the city and we are working with a number of stakeholders to ensure the safety of all those attending these events and, where possible, minimise disruption to the people of Glasgow.”
The Belfast trio: Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara); Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap); and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí) have been at the centre of a string of controversies over the past year.
Kneecap will play to a sold-out show at the O2 Academy venue
PA
Mo Chara - real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh - is scheduled to appear in court in August on a terror charge after displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London show in November 2024, while reportedly leading chants in support of the proscribed terror group and Hamas.
Ó hAnnaidh denied the charges and says the surfaced footage was “taken out of context”.
In April, the group was forced to issue an apology to the families of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox and husband David, after telling a crowd, “the only good Tory MP is a dead Tory MP”.
The band received death threats and were dropped by their booking agent after showing messages about Gaza at Coachella Festival in the USA last summer.
(left to right) JJ O'Dochartaigh (DJ Provai), Liam Og O Hannaidh (Mo Chara), and Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap)
PA
Before being axed from the TRANSMT lineup, First Minister John Swinney spoke out against Kneecap’s festival performance, saying the group “crossed a line”.
Though the band sold out the Glasgow Academy show in under two minutes, not everyone is enthused by their replacement concert.
Workers were seen painting over graffiti outside the O2 venue this week, which read: “Kneecap not welcome” on the 2,500 capacity venue.
Taking to the streets of Glasgow, the public has mixed opinions on the band’s performance in the wake of so much controversy.
Where do the people of Glasgow say is the line in the sand when it comes to politically active musicians making controversial statements?
'Everything these days is pretty woke,' said one Glasgow resident
GB NEWS
“Everything these days is pretty woke,” said one passer-by, “and everything is about freedom of speech, so basically that’s not for me to decide - that’s for the Government to decide that”.
Two women visiting from Belfast tried to see Kneecap’s past controversies from both sides.
“I too think that freedom of speech is something that everyone should have,” said one, “but… I don’t believe that comments of death threats to politicians is appropriate for anybody to make”.
A couple enjoying their morning stroll through the sunny city streets thought Kneecap should be permitted to make their comments under the freedom of speech.
The woman said, “They should be able to express themselves however they want and especially when they’re on the right side of history.”
The public had strong views on protecting the freedom of speech, but the general consensus is that calling for the death of someone was crossing the line.
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