It turns out Coachella organisers didn’t do their home work. Or at the very least, listen to Kneecap’s back catalogue before booking them for a set.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett was reportedly “blindsided” by Kneecap’s pro-Palestinian messaging. The messaging, which occurred across both Kneecap sets across the two weekends promptly stirred backlash from conservative media and pro-Israel groups.
Kneecap’s first set saw the livestream cut shortly after they voiced support for Palestine and led a crowd chant of “Maggie’s in a box” in honour of Margaret Thatcher. “Not only was that cut,” the band later posted, “but our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either.”
So, for round two, they brought their own camera crew—and political commentator Hasan Piker, who broadcast the whole thing on Twitch. This time, they also didn’t hold back. Slogans like “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine” and “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people” were projected behind them as they played.
The move was subsequently met with some outrage, some applause, and a very visible shift from fringe commentary to full-on political theatre on one of the world’s biggest festival stages.
Frontman Mo Chara paused mid-set to deliver a blistering monologue, drawing parallels between British oppression of Ireland and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. “If you’re not calling it a genocide, what the fuck are you calling it?” he asked, before leading the crowd in a “Free, Free Palestine” chant.
Goldenvoice has yet to comment directly on the fallout. But the notion they were completely “blindsided” feels like a bit of a stretch. Especially when you consider that Kneecap have been consistently vocal about Palestine, calling out Israel, the US, the Irish government, and even the Oscars (I mean, “Fuck the Oscars. Free Palestine.” was their official campaign wrap-up).
Booking Kneecap without expecting a political moment is like handing them a mic and being shocked when they use it.
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