Derry gig gets greenlight for new venue

A Kneecap concert in Londonderry, which had previously been delayed due to issues around an entertainment licence, is to go ahead at a new venue.

The rap-trio had initially planned to play at St Columb’s Park in the Waterside but will now perform in a 4,500 capacity tent at Templemore Sports Complex later this month.

At a special meeting of council’s health and community committee meeting on Thursday, members approved the required licence for the concert.

It comes after BBC News NI previously learned that dozens of people had complained about the Irish-speaking band – known for their politically-charged lyrics – performing in a designated shared space, near unionist and loyalist areas.

Previously, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Gary Middleton said that some unionists had raised concerns about a Kneecap concert being staged at St Columb’s Park in the Waterside

Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today last month, Middleton said: “The idea of bringing Kneecap, a provocative, controversial group, with all that goes with it in terms of their lyrics and behaviour… the idea of bringing that to the park is something which I think the majority of people would recognise is not a wise idea.”

However, some councillors, including the SDLP’s Brian Tierney, had previously said a gig cannot be stopped “just because some people might not like their music”.

At the council committee meeting on Thursday, Tierney highlighted the “need for a dedicated venue space” in the north west to avoid any future issues with staging concerts.

“The saga around this entire thing points out the need for a dedicated venue space within this council district,” he said, adding the the committee had been informed of “five genuine objections” to the intital Waterside plan.

Tierney said it was “regrettable” this had become “a protracted process, given public commentary by some people around the initial application”.

DUP councillor Niree McMorris told the committee that “hopefully all processes have been completed in regard to this [concert]”.

“We are happy enough as long as everything is as it should be and all processes had been followed.”

Sinn Féin councillor Paul Boggs said: “This has been a protracted process, which could have been cleared up sooner in my view and we are here today to get it over the line so people in this city and district can enjoy an event.”

Kneecap are an Irish-speaking trio from west Belfast who openly court controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The group was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Their rise to fame recently inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.

It gained rave reviews and last month won an audience award at the Sundance Film Festival.

However, the group has faced criticism over their politically-charged, expletive-filled, drug-referencing lyrics.

Their use of Troubles-related imagery has also prompted unionist complaints.

Kneecap have stated they like to get people riled up and have argued art should be “challenging”.

They also point out that much of their music is tongue-in-cheek.

“There’s a lot of playfulness and a lot fun and craic, if you’re offended by it then you’re just not getting the joke,” Móglaí Bap told BBC News NI earlier this year.