the addition of rap group Kneecap to this year’s Electric Picnic line-up is an significant statement given “what’s going on in the world”,the director of the music and arts festival has said.
The Belfast rap trio, known for their support of the Palestinian cause, will be among the scores of acts performing at the festival in Stradbally, Co Laois, this weekend.
A record crowd of 80,000 is expected to attend the festival, which is being headlined by Wicklow singer Hozier, Chappell Roan, Sam Fender, Fatboy slim, Becky hill and Kings of Leon.
Construction work on the electric Picnic main stage. Photograph: dan Dennison
Speaking to reporters in Stradbally on Tuesday, festival director Melvin Benn said Kneecap’s microphones “won’t be switched off” this weekend.
He was responding to questions about previous controversies surrounding the group’s live performances.
“I think adding Kneecap [to the line-up] was really, really important for us; it was a really important statement. Musically,fantastic,but in terms of what’s going on in the world it’s really important that they’re here,adding their voice,” Mr Benn said.
“They’re great kids, they’re great lads, they’ve got really important songs, they’re brilliant live, but they’ve also got a really important message.”
He added: “They didn’t do anything wrong at glastonbury, its yet to be proved whether they’ve done anything wrong anywhere else, anywhere in the world.”
A week with Kneecap: ‘Liam Óg doesn’t like much attention. This is quite a lot of heat for him’
Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is before the British courts charged with displaying the flag of Lebanese political and militant group Hizbullah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a performance in London in November 2024. Mr Ó hAnnaidh is contesting the charge.
Electric Picnic Organizer Condemns Festival Ban of Palestinian Flag, Aims for 80,000 Attendees in 2025
Electric Picnic festival organizer Paul Benn has condemned the incident at the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth, England, where Irish band The Mary Wallopers were reportedly cut short during their set for displaying a Palestinian flag. Benn stated that such a policy “definately won’t be” his approach at Electric Picnic.According to a report in The Irish Times, Benn described the situation as “shocking” and expressed support for the artists who withdrew from the Victorious Festival in protest, including The Last Dinner Party, Cliffords, and The Academic.
Benn aims to maintain attendance levels at 80,000 for the 2025 festival and plans to assess the event’s future direction after next year. Electric picnic, which is already sold out, will continue to offer a diverse range of entertainment beyond music, including comedy, live podcasts, theatre, and food events.
The incident at Victorious Festival sparked widespread criticism. NME reported that The Mary Wallopers were stopped mid-song after unfurling the flag, with festival organizers citing concerns over potential breaches of the peace. https://www.nme.com/news/music-news/mary-wallopers-victorious-festival-palestine-flag-3486341
Benn’s comments signal a clear stance in support of artistic freedom and expression at Electric Picnic.