Live Review: Rap trio Kneecap deliver explosive sold-out set at O2 Academy in Birmingham

The trio from Belfast - Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap (vocals) and DJ Próvaí - put on an all-action, anti-establishment show, banger after banger, to a wild crowd in Brum.

Before taking to the stage, Kneecap put up a black-and-white message about Israil, Palestine and the British Government.

Then, the intro from their Fine Art album (3CAG) played over the speakers, and they came out, going straight into It’s Been Ages. Mo Chara’s rapping was clear and sharp all night.

The crowd, full of tricolours and Celtic tops, was bouncing straight away, hands up and down.

They gave a shout to Birmingham’s working-class history before moving into Better Way to Live, which features Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten.

They upped the pace after that, calling for a pit to open before dropping Sick in the Head.

During the set, flags were thrown on stage, leading to Mo Chara asking if anyone had seen the news after he was charged in May for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig in November 2024. He decided not to pick any up this time.

That led into a bit where they talked about Palestine, with the crowd responding with cheers and chants.

Then two big tracks hit: No Comment, their newest heavy bass collab with Sub Focus, and Sayonara, which might have been the night’s highlight.

The bass blew the roof off and the strobe lights were wild.

And that was just the start. BHFiacha Linne, Fine Art, and Rhino Ket poured fuel onto a raging fire, pushing the crowd even further.

What started as a laugh on their Belfast street was now tearing down the house in Birmingham to 2,800 people.

After some more political commentary and chants, they played CEARTA, getting the crowd to get on shoulders, then Hood and The Recap closed the night.

Mo Chara waving a Palestine flag, Móglaí Bap topless and DJ Próvaí in the crowd while a crowd of around 50 per cent anti-establishment Brits and 50 per cent Irish went wild.

They reminded the crowd their last Birmingham gig had just 30 people.

A few years later, they blew the roof off a sold-out O2 Academy.

Support was by Australian Aboriginal rapper Miss Kaninna who ahead of Kneecap did a stellar job warming up the Academy crowd.

This was my first time seeing Kneecap. I was asked if they live up to the hype - yes they do.

Kneecap played:

It's Been Ages

Amach Anocht

Fenian

Thart Agus Thart

Better Way To Live

Sick In The Head

Sniffer Dogs

No Comment

Sayonara

I'm Flush

Bhfiacha Linne

Fine Art

Rhino Ket

Guilty Conscience

Gybo

C.E.A.R.T.A.

Parful

Hood

The Recap