Kneecap at the Savoy review: Rappers in party mode in Cork for two gigs in one night

The northern trio delighted fans at the Savoy with launch events for their chart-topping album Fenian

Kneecap took to the stage of the Savoy twice tonight in Cork to launch their latest album, 'Fenian'. Pictures: Eddie O'Hare

Cork waited over a year for a Kneecap gig and suddenly two come along at once. 

The boys from Belfast visited the Savoy on Tuesday evening for two performances as part of the launch campaign for their latest album,  Fenian.

It follows a fine tradition of double gigs at the recently-reopened Leeside venue, with such luminaries as the Rolling Stones previously playing two sets on the same stage.

Presented in association with local promoters the Good Room and Togher record store, Musiczone, tickets for both gigs were offered with various CD or vinyl add-ons, and sold out soon after being announced in early May.

Doors for the first set of the night opened at 6.30pm, with Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí taking to the stage at about 7.15pm.

A shout of 'Chorcaí!' drew the first of many cheers as Smugglers & Scholars Carnival launched proceedings. The new song’s refrain of ‘Free free Mo Chara’ refers to the failed legal case taken against the rapper in British courts for waving a Hezbollah flag on stage.

Not surprisingly, the rest of the 45-minute set was mostly comprised of a whistle-stop tour through the new album.

Fenian hit the Irish charts at number one, and was only pipped to the top slot in the UK hit parade by a Michael Jackson compilation album. The group thanked the Cork crowd as apparently sales around this gig pushed the album to No 1 in Ireland. Tá fáilte romhaibh.

About half an hour in, they did break from the new material for fan favourite H.O.O.D, from 2019.

And it wasn’t all an evening of Brit-bashing. Apparently our near neighbours should be thanked for giving us brown sauce, and ‘when’ we get a united Ireland, we should definitely hang on to the free health care.

Mo Chara also encouraged fans to share videos of the ‘Free Palestine!’ chants, as he said they do get seen in the West Bank and Gaza.

Mo Chara, DJ Próvaí, and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap launching their new album Fenian in concert at The Savoy, Cork. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

From here, the trio have a busy summer on the festival circuit at such events as Primavera in Barcelona, Roskilde in Denmark, and All Together Now in Waterford, even squeezing in a return to Cork for a full-scale gig at the Marquee on July 6.

Out and about at Kneecap at the Savoy 

Sara Dennehy, Sarah O'Callaghan and Leah Aftab at the Kneecap concert to launch their new album Fenian at The Savoy, Cork. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Peter and Sofia Walsh at the Kneecap concert to launch their new album Fenian at The Savoy, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Ed, Katrina , Cuan and Fionn O'Leary , Martian Healy, Carole Deschamps at the Kneecap concert. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Lar O'Tuama and Luke McGrath at the  Savoy. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Sandra Sanoillenko and Daithí Broderick at the  Savoy, Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Séamas Ó Géibheannaigh with Lorcán Ó Géibheannaigh and Lil 'Ráiní Ó Géibheannaigh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Rachel O'Keeffe, Shane Moynihan and Mary O'Leary. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Áine O'Reilly and her son Isaac O'Dell. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Niamh O'Keeffe and Gearoid Crowley. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Terry and Louie O'Connor. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

James and Jessica O'Riordan, Grange, at the Kneecap concert. Picture; Eddie O'Hare