Belfast rap trio Kneecap bring their incendiary live show to Manchester Academy at a moment when their profile—and influence—has never been higher. Fresh off the back of a whirlwind 18 months that saw them headline major festivals, break international box office records, and spark political debate on both sides of the Atlantic, the most talked-about band in the world are set to deliver one of the most electrifying gigs of the year.
Kneecap’s debut album Fine Art (2024), produced by Toddla T, was hailed as a bold and brilliant breakthrough—praised across the board by The Guardian, Pitchfork, The Irish Times, and The Times, who called it “historic… exciting, funny and anarchic.” Blending Irish language, radical politics and pulsing beats, Fine Art launched Kneecap into the mainstream alongside their BAFTA-winning feature film Kneecap, starring Michael Fassbender.
Since then, their rise has been meteoric. A global tour took them from Coachella to Glastonbury, via Reading & Leeds, Electric Picnic and a sold-out arena in Melbourne, where over 10,000 fans showed up for a free outdoor set. Everywhere they go, they energise crowds with politically charged performances that merge activism and rave culture with raw lyrical brilliance.
Controversial, unflinching, and frequently hilarious, Kneecap’s live shows are part protest, part celebration—and wholly unforgettable. Whether they’re clashing with government ministers, winning court cases, or donating their festival fees to humanitarian causes, Kneecap never compromise. Their track “The Recap” featuring Mozey takes aim at Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and with a follow-up to Fine Art on the way, their momentum shows no signs of slowing.
Expect a high-octane, full-capacity, revolutionary night of punk energy, sharp wit, and beats that shake the floorboards. This one will sell out.
