Fontaines D.C. and KNEECAP sell out their show in Belfast, while the DUP call for it to be banned

Tickets for the Fontaines D.C. and KNEECAP show at Belfast Vital festival sold out today in 35 minutes, while the DUP call for the show to be banned.

The performance is set for August 29 at Boucher Road Playing Fields, with KNEECAP as the opening act. 40,000 tickets were sold.

“This one will be epic,” KNEECAP wrote on X.

DUP group leader at Belfast City Hall, Sarah Bunting, suggested the council review the licence of the event following KNEECAP’s Coachella performance last Friday. The rap trio displayed visuals that read “Fuck Israel. Free Palestine,” and led the crowd in chanting “Free, free Palestine.”

“The Irish not so long ago were persecuted at the hands of the Brits, but we were never bombed from the skies with nowhere to go,” Mo Chara said during the show. “The Palestinians have nowhere to go.”

The performance led to major push-back, including from X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, who urged for their US work visas to be revoked.

“It is deeply concerning that KNEECAP has been selected to perform at Belfast Vital, particularly given their track record of inflammatory behaviour and associations that many in Belfast and beyond find deeply offensive,” said Bunting. “Only this last week KNEECAP has once again engaged in divisive and offensive rhetoric which, if repeated on Belfast City Council property, would bring significant reputational damage upon the council. As a public authority, Belfast City Council must hold itself to a higher standard than commercial organisations.”

Footage of a KNEECAP concert from November of last year is currently being reviewed by UK counter-terrorism police, for comments made at the performance saying “Up Hamas” and “Up Hezbollah.”

“Our message is about ending the genocide and ending the ongoing illegal occupation of Palestine,” Mo Chara told Rolling Stone following their Coachella performance. “We want people to take whatever action they can to stop the genocide. People can take what they want from our music, stopping the genocide is more important.”