The Glastonbury 2025 lineup has sparked a heated debate over Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap’s stage placement following political pushback and legal controversy.
Scheduled to perform on Saturday, June 28, 2025, Kneecap continues to polarize fans and officials alike. The band’s politically charged lyrics and recent legal issues—most notably a terrorism-related charge against member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) linked to a Hezbollah flag shown during a 2024 performance—have led to calls for their removal. Key political figures including Labour MP David Taylor and Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister have publicly urged festival founder Michael Eavis to reconsider hosting the group, citing concerns over the festival’s peace-oriented ethos.
Despite this turbulence, Glastonbury organizers have kept Kneecap on the roster but have remained tight-lipped about their precise stage assignment. Reddit discussions on r/glastonbury_festival reflect divided fan opinions—some argue the band deserves a prominent platform like the Pyramid Stage to reach a wider audience, while others speculate the Other Stage, which features expanded crowd capacity in 2025, might be a safer venue to manage the intense interest and scrutiny.
The band’s official statements emphasize condemnation of violence toward civilians and express regret, having issued apologies to the families of murdered UK lawmakers Jo Cox and David Amess. Their ongoing legal proceedings are scheduled just a week before the festival, adding pressure to an already complex situation surrounding artistic freedom, public safety, and political sensitivity.
As Glastonbury approaches, the controversy over Kneecap underscores the festival’s tightrope walk between fostering provocative art and navigating real-world political consequences.
Further Reading and Sources:
- Kneecap terror charge detailed by AP News
- Reuters coverage of Kneecap’s response to terrorism charge
- Apology to families of murdered UK MPs
- Political calls to ban Kneecap from Glastonbury
- Editorial on festival’s artist choices from The Standard
Source: r/glastonbury_festival