Northern Ireland’s Lap Trio Knee Faces Controversy
Northern Ireland’s rap group, Lap Trio Knee, has claimed there is a campaign this summer aimed at preventing their performances at Glastonbury. This announcement came shortly after one member faced charges related to terrorism.
During a surprise gig in central London, attended by about 100 fans, they expressed feeling like “scapegoats” for discussing genocide in Gaza earlier this year at Coachella.
Liam Ógó Hannadi, a 27-year-old member of the group, was charged Wednesday for allegedly performing under the name Mo Chara and displaying a Hezbollah flag during a concert in London last November.
The trio, described as “political police,” feels their music is being targeted in an effort to stifle criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Hours after their announcement, they staged an impromptu concert that reportedly sold out in just 90 seconds, with 2,000 people left waiting for tickets.
ÓHannaidh took the stage at 9 PM, even taping his mouth shut in a statement against censorship. He remarked, “There’s a reason why this is happening to me, especially before Glastonbury. They’re trying to silence me.”
Fellow member Naoiseócaireallain, 30, who goes by Móglaíbap, described their performance at Coachella as their first, emphasizing that they believe authorities want to stifle their protests. “It’s about the over 60,000 deaths in Gaza. That’s the true narrative,” he added.
During Coachella, the band led the crowd in chants of “Free Free Palestine” and showcased messages on stage condemning Israel’s actions.
ÓHannaidh voiced frustration on Thursday, stating, “We’re not here for trivial matters. They use us to divert attention from serious issues.”
The poster for their surprise concert featured a quote from former Sex Pistols frontman John Rydon.
Last month, counter-terrorism police reviewed footage from the band’s November 2023 performance, which contained controversial statements reportedly related to well-known politicians. Family members of murdered MPs criticized the trio for their comments.
In a statement, the group extended apologies to the families affected. Due to the controversy, they have been dropped from several festival lineups, including events in Germany and at the Eden Project in Cornwall.
There have been ongoing calls from lawmakers to remove them from future events like TRNSMT and Glastonbury, but no further cancellations have been announced following ÓHannaidh’s indictment.
The Belfast group, known for performing in Irish, is scheduled to headline the Wide Awake Festival in Brockwell Park, south London, on Friday night. They expressed determination to fight against what they see as politically driven accusations in their pre-concert statement.
“It raises questions about a court that fails to ensure justice and limits our ability to travel and share messages of compassion,” they stated.
