This isn’t a political assertion, it is a humanitarian assertion

The Irish group had been as a result of play at Membership Gretchen within the German capital on Saturday night time (Might 10) as a part of a world tour supporting their third album ‘Blindness’, which was launched in February.

The present was cancelled by native authorities, nonetheless, after they discovered of the band’s intentions to show a Palestinian flag on the stage throughout their efficiency, one thing which they’ve completed in any respect of their current reveals.

Reacting to the information, the band gave a speech outdoors the venue to a lot of their followers, which they’ve posted on Instagram. Additionally they went on to play an acoustic present within the open air for these in attendance.

Holding a Palestinian flag aloft, frontman James McGovern defined the band’s stance on the problem. “We pulled into Berlin this morning, we had no concept that we weren’t allowed to fly this flag right here at present,” he stated. “We discovered early this afternoon. That is from the band’s standpoint.”

“We mentioned it for an hour at size, what we must always do, we got here to the choice that we weren’t going to take the flag off the stage. That was a choice fairly simply made, however we mentioned attainable outcomes – what in the event that they determine to cancel the present? We thought of all of you deeply, as a result of we care about you deeply, and I imply that. And our determination was that we’re gonna put the flag on stage.”

He continued that they thought of changing the flag with a banner studying “Free Palestine”, however he stated the authorities wouldn’t permit this both. “So it’s not nearly nationwide flags, it’s about political statements,” he stated.

“To us, this isn’t only a political assertion, it’s a humanitarian assertion. We’ve been saying that in interviews for the entire time that we’ve been talking about it as folks. It’s not all about politics, it’s about people who find themselves dying and being slaughtered daily, and that’s occurring proper now.”

“So, for us as a band who has had this flag on their stage for numerous reveals now, it might be the fallacious factor for us to do to take it off the stage simply in order that the venue is saved glad. We don’t agree with that.

“We want reside music and artwork and theatre could possibly be freed from political dialogue and issues like that, however because the world as it’s, sadly it simply can’t be. That’s the way in which it’s so we’ll be again to you as quickly as we will and we recognize all of your assist deeply, however most significantly, free Palestine.”

Watch a clip of the band’s subsequent acoustic efficiency outdoors the venue above, as captured by a fan in attendance.

Germany has strict legal guidelines in opposition to hate speech and antisemitism and Kneecap’s scheduled reveals within the nation had been not too long ago cancelled within the mild of their outspoken feedback at Coachella and elsewhere in regards to the Israeli authorities’s ongoing operations in Gaza.

The backlash in opposition to Kneecap precipitated numerous main artists to signal a letter written by their label Heavenly that stood up for artists’ “freedom of expression”. The letter learn: “In a democracy, no political figures or political events ought to have the appropriate to dictate who does and doesn’t play at music festivals or gigs that might be loved by 1000’s of individuals.”

The Homicide Capital, too, have been constant of their assist of Gaza and the Palestinian folks, donating earnings from their single ‘Love Of Nation’ in the direction of support in Palestine. McGovern stated the track is about “the darkish facet of patriotism and nationalism, and what they turn into when they’re warped and weaponised.”

In a press launch, he added: “Internationally, we’re seeing hatred of “different” spreading like a illness. No claiming of land at present is extra barbaric than the continuing genocide of the Palestinian folks.”

“We’re releasing a 7” document of ‘Love Of Nation’, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Medical Support for Palestine. Within the face of, and past such clear acts of evil, it’s extra important than ever to cherish the richness of our various communities and the facility of human connection. We should stand agency in opposition to the rise of nationalist ideologies and converse up for these whose worlds are being torn aside by hatred and violence.”

The band additionally mentioned the problem with NME final yr: “Nationalism, patriotism, all of those matters are sizzling on the tongue of all people, for thus many alternative causes: the genocide happening in Palestine, Trump being re-elected. Irishness comes up on a regular basis for us – most of the time, as a result of we’re feeling delight for our nation – [but also] dismay on the method issues are being dealt with by our authorities, the way in which individuals are being let down and pushed into corners. There’s lots of that on the planet. Not simply the people who find themselves committing atrocities, however people who find themselves crammed with this hatred of ‘different’.”

NME awarded ‘Blindness’ three stars, noting: “‘Love Of Nation’, recorded in a single reside take, is a sprawling meditation on the push and pull between patriotism, nationalism and xenophobia, and reveals McGovern’s songwriting at its most incisive. If The Homicide Capital’s goal was to purge themselves of inertia, then ‘Blindness’ can solely be judged as successful.”

The band are set to play their largest headline present up to now on the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin on July 19, with visitors Mushy Play and Mary In The Junkyard. Discover any remaining tickets right here.

Different main reveals within the pipeline embrace supporting The Maccabees at All Factors East 2025 in London on August 24 (tickets right here) and opening for Queens Of The Stone Age at Sheffield’s Rock N Roll Circus on August 27 and 28 (tickets right here).