- Thursday 2 July
With a mix of linguistic inventiveness, social indignation and razor-sharp satire, Kneecap have taken a poetic aim at those in power. At the same time, the rap trio have created an expression that is both quintessentially Irish – blending Gaelic phrases with Belfast street slang – and globally oriented in their unyielding struggle against the spectres of imperialism and colonialism. A struggle that has often made them a beacon for fans across the world.
Kneecap’s music and identity are deeply rooted in the political and cultural heritage of Belfast’s nationalist and republican communities – particularly in the Catholic working-class neighbourhoods of West Belfast, where the members grew up. The group, consisting of rappers Mo Chara and Móglai Bap and producer DJ Próvaí, challenged the establishment from the very beginning. Their debut single “C.E.A.R.T.A.” was banned from the Irish radio station RTÉ for its biting lyrics, but it also marked them out as standout voices at home.
Their 2024 album Fine Art and the mockumentary film Kneecap from the same year earned them international recognition and cemented their status as an unmissable phenomenon. That same year, they made their Danish debut at Roskilde Festival, where one of the festival’s smaller stages turned into a massive celebration.
Since then, the trio’s popularity, boldness and reputation for artistic provocation have grown exponentially, and in 2026 they will release new music. One thing is certain: things will be anything but quiet when Kneecap return to Roskilde Festival this summer.
