Annie Mac, BICEP and Primal Scream sign open letter in support of Kneecap
Over 40 musicians have signed an open letter offering solidarity to Kneecap after several senior politicians in the UK have called for the Irish rap trio to be removed from festival line-ups.
Published on Instagram yesterday (April 30) by the band’s label, Heavenly Recordings, the letter reads: “As artists we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.”
Musicians who have signed the letter include Belfast duo BICEP, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, Fontaines D.C, Primal Scream, Kojaque, Pulp, Sleaford Mods, Jelani Blackman, Paul Weller and more.
The letter accuses politicians and the British media of “openly engaging in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye” by threatening to prevent them from performing at gigs and festivals.
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“In democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people,” the statement continues.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and Labour MP David Taylor are among political figures who have called for Kneecap to be removed from festival line-ups, including this year’s Glastonbury, after footage emerged of a member of the band shouting: “Kill your local MP”, during a show in April 2023.
The footage is one of two clips currently being investigated by counter-terrorism police, with another appearing to show a member of Kneecap shouting: “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, during a London show in November 2024.
While Glastonbury has not responded to calls for the trio’s removal, organisers behind Eden Sessions – a concert series at Cornwall’s Eden Project, have cancelled Kneecap’s show as part of its programme — which had been set to go ahead on July 4.
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According to The Independent, Security Minister Dan Jarvis has said it is “not for government ministers” to make decisions on Glastonbury’s line-up.
“But there is, as I have said, an ongoing live police investigation,” he continues. “So the government would urge the organisers at the Glastonbury Festival to think very carefully about who is invited to perform there later this year.”
Kneecap released a statement on Monday (April 28) apologising for “any hurt caused” to the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox and David Amess, and insisted that they “do not support Hamas”.
However, the trio claimed they are being targeted by a “smear campaign” spurred on by pro-Palestine messaging during their performance at Coachella festival in California last month.
The full list of artists who have signed Heavenly Recordings open letter in support of Kneecap are as follows:
Annie Mac, Beoga, Bicep, Biig Piig, Blindboy Boatclub, Bob Vylan, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Delivery, Dexys, English Teacher, Enter Shikari, Fontaines D.C., Gemma Dunleavy, Gurriers, Idles, Iona Zajac, Jelani Blackman, John Francis Flynn, Joshua Idehen, Katy J Pearson, Kojaque, Lankum, Lisa O’Neill, Lowkey, Massive Attack, Martyn Ware, Paul Weller, Peter Perrett, Poor Creature, Primal Scream, Pulp, Roisin El Cherif, Shirley Manson, Sleaford Mods, Soft Play, The Mary Wallopers, The Pogues, Thin Lizz, and Toddla T.
Megan Townsend is Mixmag’s Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter
