Kneecap lead chants of “fuck KKR” at Øya Festival 2025 while The Mary Wallopers and Fontaines D.C. call for justice for Palestine

Kneecap hit out at the controversial investment group KKR over their ties to Israel during their energetic set at Øya Festival 2025.

The Irish rap trio took to the Windfruen stage at the Oslo festival last Friday (August 8), following their usual messaging, arguing that “Israel is committing a genocide in Palestine” and condemning Western governments’ complicity in it.

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Alluding to the previous day’s audience at Way Out West festival, “very hungover boy” Mo Chara introduced ‘Sick In The Head’ by saying: “The crowd in Sweden were a little better at the start, but to be fair, so were we.”

He ended: “Let’s keep this going. We can’t let those Swedish c***s win.” The band then added a chant of “Fuck Henrik Larssen”.

“We love the English people, it’s the English government we don’t like,” Chara said later on, responding to chants of “free Mo Chara” with “I’m as free as a fucking bird” – looking ahead to the second part of his court hearing on terror charges on August 20.

Met with chants on “free, free Palestine”, the band addressed some of the controversy met by Øya alongside the likes of Field Day, Tramlines, The Mighty Hoopla, Benicàssim, Sónar, due to the involvement of KKR – a global investment firm that holds significant investments in companies with ties to Israel amid the country’s ongoing conflict with Palestine. The company owns Superstruct Entertainment which owns and runs many international festivals.

“I don’t have to lecture you people,” began Chara, explaining how “what we’re witnessing is a livestreamed genocide”.

He continued: “I can understand there’s people here like, ‘All right, Kneecap – we get it. I’m sick of yous going on’. I wish I didn’t have to talk about this, I wish I didn’t have to get on stage every gig and talk about this.

“The fact is, as long as we’re on stage and as long as nothing is changing, Kneecap will always use this platform and this stage to call out the genocide and the war criminals. I know the Norwegians want that to stop. I don’t need to lecture you people when your oil fund is being used to fund the genocide.”

Chara added: “It’s a disgrace and a shame that KKR is behind all these festivals. No company investing in Israel while they commit war crimes should be involved in and taking part in music festivals.”

They then led the crowd in a loud chant of “fuck KKR”, echoing the sentiments of protesters outside the festival. Despite the call for a boycott from local protestors, Øya vowed to go ahead in order to give artists the platform to speak out on Palestine, with the event also raising money and awareness for people affected by the conflict themselves.

Kneecap’s set followed a spirited performance by The Mary Wallopers on the Amfiet stage shortly before them, during which they spoke out against politicians, racists and the Catholic Church while also hailing immigrants and asking the audience: “What happens to rich people when they die? Hope that Elon Musk and Netanyahu are fucking next”.

Introducing the song ‘Building Up And Tearing England Down’, they added: “It pains me to hear Irish people in Ireland complaining about fucking immigrants. It doesn’t make any sense. It’s manipulation from the rich to make the poor fight each other.”

During a packed-out early evening set in the Cirkus tent, Fontaines D.C. once again used their platform to speak out for the people of Palestine and argue that “Israel is committing a genocide” – using one of the final scheduled shows of their acclaimed tour for ‘Romance’ to urge fans to “use their voice”.

Øya 2025 also saw headline performances from Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Queens Of The Stone Age, with Girl In Red filling the traditional closing set from a Norwegian artist.

Chara (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) allegedly shouted “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and displayed a Hezbollah flag on stage during a Kneecap gig in London. He has since appeared in court, but was granted unconditional bail in June. He is due to appear in court again on August 20.

According to a recent report by Al Jazeera, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 61,499 people and wounded 153,575. Israel has rejected accusations of genocide and denies committing any war crimes, maintaining that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence.

Kneecap have further festivals coming up this summer, including Green Man 2025, and will open for Fontaines D.C. at their huge outdoor gig in Manchester this Friday (August 15).

The trio are scheduled to play a huge show at London’s Wembley Arena – their biggest England headline date yet – on September 18. A wider UK tour will take place this winter (find any remaining tickets here) following a run of North American dates in the autumn (buy tickets here).

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