Belfast's incendiary rap trio Kneecap transformed the O2 Academy in Birmingham into a cauldron of energy on Thursday night, delivering a sold-out performance that lived up to its explosive reputation.
A Politically Charged Opening
The evening began not with music, but with a message. Before the trio even appeared, a black-and-white statement concerning Israel, Palestine, and the British Government was displayed to the packed crowd of 2,800 people. The political tone was set from the outset.
The atmosphere erupted as the introductory track from their album 'Fine Art' blared through the speakers. The group, comprising Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, burst onto the stage and launched straight into 'It's Been Ages'. From the first beat, Mo Chara's rapping was notably clear and sharp, cutting through the roar of the wild audience.
Banger After Banger for a Frenzied Crowd
The crowd, a sea of tricolours and Celtic tops, was bouncing from the very first track. The connection was immediate. The group acknowledged Birmingham's own working-class history before powering into 'Better Way to Live', a track featuring Fontaines D.C.'s Grian Chatten.
The energy was systematically amplified. They called for a mosh pit to open before dropping 'Sick in the Head', sending waves of movement through the academy. The performance was punctuated by a moment of self-referential drama when flags were thrown on stage. This prompted Mo Chara to quip about his recent legal charges for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a previous London gig, noting he would not be picking any up this time.
This segued into further political commentary on Palestine, which was met with loud cheers and supportive chants from the audience. The musical assault continued with two of their heaviest tracks: the bass-driven collaboration with Sub Focus, 'No Comment', and what many might consider the night's highlight, 'Sayonara'. The combination of devastating bass and wild strobe lights threatened to blow the roof off the venue.
From Belfast Streets to Birmingham Triumph
The trio showed no signs of slowing, pouring fuel on the raging fire with relentless performances of 'Bhfiacha Linne', 'Fine Art', and 'Rhino Ket'. In a poignant moment, they reflected on their journey, reminding everyone that their last Birmingham performance was for a mere 30 people. Just a few years later, they were commanding a sold-out O2 Academy.
The final act of the night saw them play 'CEARTA', encouraging the crowd to get on each other's shoulders, before closing out an unforgettable set with 'Hood' and 'The Recap'. The final image was of Mo Chara waving a Palestine flag, a topless Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvai immersed in the crowd—a perfect snapshot of the night's raw, anti-establishment spirit.
The support act, Australian Aboriginal rapper Miss Kaninna, was also praised for doing a stellar job in warming up the Academy crowd ahead of the main event. For many, this was a first experience seeing Kneecap live, and the unanimous verdict was that they not only meet the hype but surpass it with an explosive, politically charged live show that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
