Kneecap’s Mo Chara appears at surprise 100 Club gig with tape over mouth after terror charge: “I need to thank my lawyer”

Kneecap‘s Mo Chara appeared at the band’s surprise intimate show at London’s 100 Club last night (May 22) with tape over his mouth after being charged with a terror offence.

• READ MORE: Kneecap on the cover – giving peace, protest and partying a chance

The Belfast hip-hop trio took to the stage at the 350-capacity 100 Club on Oxford Street last night, after announcing the gig earlier in the day. It came after member Mo Chara’s terror offence charge on Wednesday (May 21) – which the band have slammed as a “carnival of distraction”.

Mo Chara reportedly arrived at the venue in a silver Mercedes and was met by a cheering crowd of fans. He then took to the stage with tape covering his mouth, before joking about being careful with what he said.

“I need to thank my lawyer,” he told the audience. “He’s here tonight as well.”

Police were at the venue to manage visitors to the event, which Kneecap said was sold out in 90 seconds, with 2,000 people on the waiting list. There were no issues or arrests.

Videos from the gig show Mo Chara briefly addressing the charge, saying: “We’re not the fucking story, they’re using us as a scapegoat not to talk about the real fucking issue.” The crowd then began a “Free Palestine” chant.

Check out footage from the gig below.

KNEECAP tonight at their secret gig in The 100 Club in London pic.twitter.com/jaEpvEGp6s

— The Rock Revival (@TheRockRevival_) May 22, 2025

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A post shared by Graham MacIndoe (@grahammacindoe)

The performance served as a warm-up to the group’s headline set at Wide Awake 2025 in Brockwell Park today (May 23), and was promoted with a poster that featured a recent quote from John Lydon, who said the trio “need a bloody good knecapping” in response to the ongoing controversy around them. See the announcement post here:

Mo Chara was charged with a terror offence following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday June 18.

It comes after the musician, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, allegedly displayed a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation. The incident is alleged to have occurred during a show at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on November 21, 2024.

Responding to the terror charge, Kneecap said they “deny” the offence and would “vehemently defend ourselves”. “This is political policing,” they wrote. “This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.”

Following Kneecap’s statements in support of Palestine at Coachella 2025, which supposedly “blindsided” festival organisers, counter-terror police began to assess footage from the London gig in question. It is reported that the video appears to show Mo Chara shouting: “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah”. In the UK, it is a crime to show support for either of these organisations.

The band have denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah, and stated that they would not incite violence against any individuals. They have also argued that the footage had been taken out of context.

Since the investigation began, Kneecap have been removed from several festivals, including scheduled German appearances at both Hurricane Festival and Southside Festival. They were also axed from the Eden Project bill in Cornwall before announcing a replacement show in Plymouth, which was subsequently cancelled as well.

MPs have also called for them to be removed from the line-ups of TRNSMT, Glastonbury and more, but they currently remain on the bill.

Kneecap are still set to perform at Wide Awake 2025 tonight, at the time of writing. The event has faced its own setbacks recently after losing a court ruling. However, organisers Brockwell Live have confirmed that “no event will be cancelled as a result of the High Court’s decision”.

Meanwhile, various figures from the music world have expressed their support for Kneecap. Tom Morello, Brian Eno, Pulp, Fontaines D.C. and more are among those to have signed an open letter to protect “freedom of expression”. Massive Attack, who themselves have boycotted performing in Israel, also supported the band by saying: “Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story.”

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