Kneecap has won the support of some of the biggest names in Irish music amidst the continued controversy following the Irish language hip hop trio's "F--k Israel" display at Coachella on Friday, April 18.

Beoga, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Lankum, The Pogues, and Thin Lizzy have all put their names to the artist statement shared by the record label Heavenly Recordings that says: "We stand for freedom of expression."

Kneecap is among the artists signed to the independent record label Heavenly Recordings, which is based in London.

The statement was issued the same day that Eden Sessions, a music festival in Cornwall, announced that Kneecap had been dropped from its lineup this July. This comes among calls, including from British politicians, for Kneecap to be dropped from other music festivals, including Glastonbury and TRNSMT.

"Opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom"

The artists' statement, shared on Instagram on Wednesday, April 30, says: "This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap.

"In Westminster and the British media, senior political figures have been openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye, with veiled threats being made over their scheduled performances at gigs, outdoor events and music festivals, including Glastonbury.

"Chillingly, it is also clear to us that influential figures and personalities within the wider music industry are attempting to influence this campaign of intimidation.

"As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.

"In a 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 question of agreeing with Kneecap's political views is irrelevant: it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture, and that this interference campaign is condemned and ridiculed.

"Furthermore, it is also the duty of key leadership figures in the music industry to
actively defend artistic freedom of expression - rather than seek to silence views which oppose their own."

The original statement is signed by 40 artists: Annie Mac, Beoga, Bicep, Biig Piig, Blindboyboatclub, 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 Lizzy, and Toddla T.

Heavenly Recordings said the list of supporters is "ever-expanding," and invited artists to message them if they want to be added.

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"F--k Israel. Free Palestine."

The statement was issued on Wednesday amidst the continued controversy following Kneecap's messaging at Coachella nearly two weeks ago.

At the close of their set - the group's second at Coachella, having also performed a week earlier - they projected a message on the stage that said: "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

"It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.

"F--k Israel. Free Palestine."

Also during the set, band member Mo Chara told the huge crowd: "The Irish not so long ago were persecuted at the hands of the Brits, but we were never bombed from the f--king skies with nowhere to go.

"The Palestinians have nowhere to go. It's their f--king home and they're bombing them from the skies.

"If you're not calling it a genocide, what the f--k are you calling it?"

Amidst cheers from the crowd, Mo Chara then led the audience in chants of "Free, free Palestine."

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Threats

Kneecap - Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap), and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí) - was reportedly dropped by their booking agent in between the first and second weekend of Coachella, which is understood to have threatened their work visas.

The Belfast-based Irish language hip hop trio said they received "hundreds of violent Zionist threats" following their Coachella gig, with their manager Daniel Lambert later telling RTÉ that the group received death threats.

As the controversy bubbled, a video from November 2024 re-emerged of the group saying on stage, "up Hamas, up Hezbollah," while a separate video from April 2023 shows the band saying, "the only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP!” 

Both instances were during gigs in the UK.

Smear campaign

In a statement on April 25, Kneecap said they were "taking action" after what they described as a "smear campaign" following their Coachella gig.

In another statement issued on Monday, Kneecap said they 'unequivocally' do not support Hamas or Hezbollah and never have.

They also apologized to the families of Conservative MP Andrew Amess, who was murdered in 2021, and Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016.

Monday's statement concluded: "Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain.

"The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power.

"Shame on them."

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Investigation

On Thursday, the day after the 'freedom of expression' artists' statement began to be circulated, the UK's Metropolitan Police said: “On April 22, we were made aware of an online video believed to be from a music event in London in November 2024.

"Following this, we were made aware of a further video, believed to be from another music event in London in November 2023.

“Both videos were referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos.

“The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time.”