By Holly Nicholson, Third Year, English
Formed in 2017 by Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Próvaí, the Belfast group has created a distinctively unique space in contemporary rap and hip-hop. Their European tour began in Paris at the start of the month, and by the time it reached Bristol, the momentum and energy surrounding the group felt palpably unstoppable.
Australian artist Miss Kaninna opened the night, with her blend of punk, neo-soul and rap electrifying the space and captivating the audience. Despite being unknown to much of the crowd, her rhetoric and style commanded the stage with a fury that made it impossible to look away. Miss Kaninna was the ideal precursor for Kneecap: bold and energetic and deeply charismatic.
The Prospect Building, sold out long before the doors opened, was alive with anticipation. Flags, t-shirts, signs, and balaclavas made up the audience, supporting both Irish and Palestinian heritage, giving the space a shared political consciousness that dominates Kneecap’s identity and music.
Kneecap (and the amassed crowd) refuses to silence the voice of the Irish, or the dismiss the language as dying, blending both the English and Irish language together in their lyrics. Even for listeners who don’t understand the words, the message rings unmistakably clear.
DJ Próvaí stepped on stage to a beautiful introductory track ‘3CAG’, and the crowd surged. Their discography may comprise of only two albums - 3CAG (2018) and Fine Art (2024) - but the range across their singles and EPs gave the set a depth that surprised even longtime fans.
The crowd dissolved into mosh pits within minutes, with DJ Próvaí launching himself into the audience mid-set, moving across waiting hands. The crowd control was strong, with Mo Chara and Moglai Bap interacting with the crowd whilst making sure everyone was safe, referring to the building as a ‘family’ for the night. Impressively, security ensured the crowd had water throughout the night, keeping people safe without slowing the show’s momentum- an understated detail that kept concert-goers safe in an intense, but well-managed environment.
Visually, the concert was stunning: sharp graphics, bold colours and lyrics that reinforce the group’s deeply anti-establishment message. Before the group took the stage, the surrounding screens read: ‘ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE; THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS COMPLICIT’.
Unflinching in their message, the trio do something rare in the modern music industry: they speak out in a political climate that seeks to silence them, a brutal and honest reminder that the personal is always political.
The set peaked with Kneecap’s hit songs ‘Guilty Conscience’, ‘Get Your Brits Out’ and ‘H.O.O.D’ before returning for an encore of their iconic ‘The Recap’. One of the night’s most musically exciting moments was the debut performance of their new single ‘No Comment’, featuring Sub-Focus- a track that will no doubt amplify their success as their popularity continues to rise.
Orla Ruane
Bristol was captivated as Kneecap proved, once again, that there truly is no one else like them: witty, vulgar and unapologetically themselves. Kneecap’s music brings people from all backgrounds, nationalities and ages together, creating a rhetoric that rings true long after the set ends: ignorance is complicity.
Featured image: Epigram / Holly NicholsonDid you manage to catch Kneecap’s Prospect show?
