Kneecap

Photo Credit: Jacob Flannery

Hip-hop Irish trio Kneecap, who have become internationally recognised over the past year, played The Octagon this week, and there truly is no other group so devoted to their fans.

As I walked into the venue, it was packed from back to front, with people decked out in Irish-coloured scarves, balaclavas, and flags. Looking at the crowd, it was clear there was a wide range of ages, which is impressive for a group working within this genre, and everyone looked energised for Kneecap’s arrival.

The lights lowered and a noise blasted out of the speakers, sending the band exploding onto the stage, full of energy and immediately hyping up the crowd, who began chanting, “Free, Free Palestine!”

Kneecap kicked off their Sheffield set with ‘3CAG’, and as the track finished, the trio urged the audience to go even crazier, shouting, “I know it’s a Monday, but let’s go!” followed by “Prove you’re better than tomorrow’s show!” before transitioning into their second track, ‘It’s Been Ages’.

One of the most striking things about this group is their ability to move seamlessly between the Irish language and English. There aren’t many musicians who perform so prominently in their native language, and it’s obvious that Kneecap are deeply connected to Ireland and its culture. It’s also fascinating to see fans who may not speak Irish still rapping along and enjoying every second of the show.

A highlight of the evening came during ‘Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite’, where the crowd was completely immersed in the moment. Another explosive point in the night was the eruptive performance of ‘Rhino Ket’, which sent the room into a frenzy.

Kneecap closed their Sheffield set with two of their biggest and most recognisable tracks, ‘H.O.O.D.’ and ‘THE RECAP’, with everyone in sight singing along.

Kneecap are truly one of the most passionate groups of musicians I’ve seen, committed to their political message, their fan base, and their culture.