The hip hop band Kneecap is no longer performing at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow, following “concerns expressed by the Police about the safety at the event”.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI)  had raised concerns about the forthcoming performance to the police, the local council and the venue in Scotland regarding potential breaches of the Terrorism Act 2000 and of the Public Order Act 1986.

Kneecap has posted news about the cancellation on X, but they have also said that they are going to play at O2 Academy instead of at the TRNSMT festival.   Kneecap wrote in their message:   “Due to concerns expressed by the Police about safety at the event, Kneecap can no longer perform at TRNSMT.”

Credit: Kneecap on X

Kneecap were scheduled to perform at  TRNSMIT on 11 July 2025. Police Scotland are quoted in the London Standard as saying “any decision on the line-up is for TRNSMT organisers, and that no prior consultation with the force was made before acts were booked.”

UKLFI wrote to all the venues where Kneecap is set to play this summer, warning them about the likelihood that Kneecap would repeat this kind of behaviour. UKLFI pointed out a long list of offensive and arguably illegal incidents involving the band.

Both Eden Sessions (at the Eden Project) in Cornwall and Plymouth Pavilions in Devon have cancelled shows by the group that were due to take place this summer, following UKLFI’s letters.

One member of Kneecap was recently arrested and charged with a terrorism offence. This was for waving a Hezbollah flag on stage at the O2 forum in Kentish Town on 21 November 2024, as well as dancing around with the flag wrapped around him.   See our report HERE