Kneecap cancel US tour due to ‘close proximity of next court hearing’

Irish rap group Kneecap have cancelled their upcoming sold-out US tour, due to band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh’s next court hearing in London.   

The band, who have been at the centre of several controversies this summer due to their outspoken support for Palestine during their live shows, were due to hit the road in the US on 1 October.  

In a statement, they said: “To all our US-based fans, we have some bad news. Due to the close proximity of our next court hearing in London on September 26 – as the British government continues its witch-hunt – with the start of the US tour, we will have to cancel all 15 US tour dates in October. With every show fully sold out, this is news we are sad to deliver. But once we win our court case, which we will, we promise to embark on an even bigger tour to all you great heads.” 

The trio, who performed in Paris on Sunday night despite pro-Israel supporters attempting to disrupt their performance, did confirm that their planned Canadian shows in Vancouver and Toronto will still go ahead, and that they have a surprise in store for the US.  

“We will be sharing something very special for US fans next week so that we can still link in with you all in October,” they added. “It’s top secret for now but all will be revealed next week – stay tuned. And remember… ‘The revolution will be no re-run, brothers. The revolution will be live’.” 

Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May after allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig.

He denies any wrongdoing and the case was adjourned last week at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, with Mo Chara released on unconditional bail for the second time. His next court appearance will be on 26 September.

The band have repeatedly said that its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah and denied accusations of anti-Semitism, claiming that those attacking the band “weaponize” the false accusation to “distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.” 

They have continued to use their platform at various music festivals to speak out not against the Jewish people but against Israel's war in Gaza.

“This is political policing,” they wrote in May. “This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.”

Speaking outside the court following last week’s hearing, Mo Chara thanked supporters: “We know this story is more than just about me. It’s more than Kneecap; this is a story about Palestine and us as a distraction from the real story.”

He added: “We know, unfortunately, this story will end up in the media today, while Israel commits genocide at the same time. So, everybody, continue to speak about Palestine, free Palestine.”

Kneecap will continue to tour in Europe and have added extra dates to the French leg of their tour, with two dates in September at Paris’ Le Trianon (8 & 9 September) and two dates at l’Élysée Montmartre on 10 & 11 November.