'Anti-British' rappers Kneecap will headline London festival next week - despite flood of gig cancellations and 'terror probe'

Irish rap trio Kneecap's header acceptable astatine London's Wide Awake festival is to spell up arsenic planned aft a fig of the band's concerts were cancelled by organisers.

The radical has seen gigs including a show astatine the Eden Project successful Cornwall connected July 4 cancelled aft historical performance footage appeared to amusement a subordinate of the radical shouting 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah', and different video allegedly showing 1 calling for Conservative MPs to beryllium killed.

In a statement, confirming their show successful Brixton's Brockwell Park would spell up arsenic planned, Wide Awake said: 'After affirmative discussions with cardinal stakeholders, Wide Awake festival tin corroborate that, arsenic planned, Kneecap volition beryllium performing astatine this year's festival connected Friday, May 23 astatine Brockwell Park.

'Wide Awake Festival has a arrogant past of supporting the alternate euphony country and we look guardant to staging different unforgettable lawsuit showcasing the precise champion emerging and established talent.'

Made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, the radical has faced an probe by counter-terrorism constabulary aft the videos, filmed successful 2023 and 2024, became public.

The Wide Awake show volition beryllium the band's archetypal UK gig since the probe was launched.

Kneecap shows astatine Plymouth Pavilions and a fig of German events, including Hurricane and Southside festivals, person besides been cancelled.

In a station connected X pursuing the announcement, the radical said: 'Well good London, we'll beryllium seeing you for a header amusement successful Brockwell Park adjacent Friday.

'Some tickets stay - this 1 is going to beryllium precise special.'

Kneecap person apologised to the families of murdered MPs, but claimed footage of the incidental had been 'exploited and weaponised', portion they besides said they person 'never supported' Hamas oregon Hezbollah, which are some banned organisations successful the UK.

Conservative person Kemi Badenoch has called for Kneecap to beryllium banned portion different politicians person pushed for the radical to beryllium dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up.

Last week, Self Esteem, existent sanction Rebecca Lucy Taylor, told Times Radio she would beryllium 'comfortable' sharing a signifier with the trio astatine Glastonbury and added she felt it would beryllium 'a occupation (for) culture, art, state of speech' if they did not perform.

Artists including CMAT, Massive Attack, The Pogues, Brian Eno, Pulp, Paul Weller, erstwhile BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac and Primal Scream person defended the set pursuing the furore.

They signed a connection saying determination is simply a 'clear, concerted effort to censor and yet deplatform' Kneecap portion claiming that politicians are 'strategically concocting motivation outrage implicit the signifier utterings of a young punk band' portion ignoring a 'genocide' successful Gaza.

Formed successful 2017, the radical are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise arsenic good arsenic their championing of the Irish language, their champion known tracks see Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live and 3Cag.

Alongside Kneecap, the Wide Awake one-day festival volition besides spot performances from the likes of CMAT, English Teacher and Peaches.