Kneecap Cancel 15 US Tour Dates Due to UK Court Hearing

Irish rap group Kneecap have cancelled 15 scheduled concerts in the United States this October after one of their members was ordered to return to court in London in connection with a terrorism-related charge.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known on stage as Mo Chara, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 26 September. His legal team have argued that the case should be dismissed on the grounds of a technical error in the way the charge was brought against him.

Prosecutors allege the 27-year-old displayed a flag supporting the proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah during a performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, in November 2023.

At the September hearing, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring will determine whether he has jurisdiction to try the case.

In a statement on social media on Monday, Kneecap announced:
“To all our US-based fans, we have some bad news. Due to the proximity of our next court hearing in London to the first date of the tour, as the British government continues its witch-hunt, we will have to cancel all 15 US tour dates in October.

“With every show fully sold out to tens of thousands of fans, this is news we are sad to deliver. But once we win our court case — which we will — we promise to embark on an even bigger tour to all you great heads.”

The group confirmed that refunds will be available from the point of purchase and said they would be “sharing something very special” with their US fans next week, allowing them to “still link in” with them in October.

While the US dates are cancelled, Kneecap confirmed their four sold-out October shows in Canada, in Vancouver and Toronto, will proceed as planned.

Formed in Belfast, the trio — Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh — released their debut single in 2017 and have built a reputation for provocative lyrics in both Irish and English.

The band courted controversy in April when footage emerged appearing to show a member urging audiences to “Kill your local MP” at one concert and shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at another. Kneecap later apologised to the families of murdered MPs and insisted they had “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah.

They were also investigated over their Glastonbury Festival performance in June, but Avon and Somerset Police confirmed in July that no further action would be taken.

Among their best-known tracks are Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live featuring Fontaines DC frontman Grian Chatten, and The Recap.