'Well well London': Kneecap confirm headline set at Brixton festival to go ahead next week

The rap trio has seen a number of performances cancelled in the UK recently.

KNEECAP’S HEADLINE SET at London’s Wide Awake festival is to go ahead as planned next week after a number of the band’s other concerts were cancelled.

The group has seen several gigs in the UK cancelled, including a performance at the Eden Project in Cornwall on 4 July, after footage from old concerts appeared to show a member of the group shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, and another video in which a band member said, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

In a statement, confirming their performance in Brixton’s Brockwell Park would go ahead as planned, Wide Awake said: “After positive discussions with key stakeholders, Wide Awake festival can confirm that, as planned, Kneecap will be performing at this year’s festival on Friday, May 23 at Brockwell Park.

“Wide Awake Festival has a proud history of supporting the alternative music scene and we look forward to staging another unforgettable event showcasing the very best emerging and established talent.”

Kneecap also confirmed the gig on their social media, saying: “Well well London. We’ll be seeing you for a headline show in Brockwell Park next Friday.”

Kneecap are headlining the day-long festival with Irish artist CMAT listed as the second headliner.

CMAT was one of the signatories of a recent petition backing Kneecap’s “freedom of expression”.

Other signatories included Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Primal Scream.

Well well London 🔥

We'll be seeing you for a headline show in Brockwell Park next Friday🌳

Some tickets remain - this one is gonna be very special ❤️

🎟️https://t.co/NdlJEEb7eD pic.twitter.com/X6HVvgAXOW
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) May 12, 2025

Made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, Kneecap has faced an investigation by counter-terrorism police after the videos, filmed in 2023 and 2024, became public.

The Wide Awake performance will be the band’s first UK gig since the investigation was launched.

Kneecap shows at Plymouth Pavilions and a number of German events, including Hurricane and Southside festivals, have also been cancelled.

Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs, but claimed footage of the incident had been “exploited and weaponised”, while they also said they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah, which are both banned organisations in the UK.

Last week, Self Esteem, real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor, told Times Radio she would be “comfortable” sharing a stage with the trio at Glastonbury and added she felt it would be “a problem (for) culture, art, freedom of speech” if they did not perform.