Kneecap review: Belfast rappers get a huge welcome at Cork's Marquee
Kneecap performing at Live At The Marquee in Cork tonight, Monday. Picture: Darragh Kane
Belfast rap trio Kneecap took over Cork's Live at the Marquee on Monday night, showcasing their second album, 'Fenian', at what was their biggest headline show in the county to date.
The group have built a loyal following in Cork over the years, beginning at the arts festival Quarter Block Party seven years ago where they performed at An Spáilpín Fánach on South Main St.
Since then, their profile has exploded and they've sold out Christmas shows at Cork City Hall as well as, more recently, two intimate album release shows at the Savoy.
Fans new and old made the walk to the Marquee wearing Tricolour balaclavas, 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts, and keffiyehs, in solidarity with their stance in support of Palestine.
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Merchandise stalls did brisk trade outside the venue as fans snapped up last-minute items before the show.
Once on stage, DJ Próvaí, Mo Chara, and Móglaí Bap quickly had the crowd in the palm of their hand, joking that Cork was the “real capital” and praising the city’s “strong Fenians”.
The trio are in the midst of a busy festival season following the release of .
In recent months, they have performed to tens of thousands of fans at events including Primavera Sound in Barcelona, and are due to appear at Leeds and Reading at the end of the summer, with a showcase at All Together Now in Waterford to come over the August bank holiday weekend.
Roars erupted under the blue and red big top as the trio came onto stage shortly after 9pm as Kneecap blared and from the new album before yelling "Corcaigh".
The band erupted into , fans jumped on shoulders to sing the hit early track, taking over the entire marquee when the bass went silent.
Mosh pits formed as Kneecap performed the likes of , , and .
"It’s always a pleasure to come down from Belfast to Cork to perform to the Rebel County... I know that wherever we are, whatever stage we play, whichever country we show our solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Palestine," Mo Chara said.
"We should be proud to be on the right side of history."
Sweaty limbs clung onto bodies as the crowd went up to 90, jumping up and down in the shady canopy, hidden away from the sunny, warm weather that has been dominating Cork City for the last week.
“This is our last gig in our five-week tour. So have a mad one if you don’t have work tomorrow,” they declared.
Kneecap’s performance is part of the final week of music at Live at the Marquee this summer.
Pop star Kesha is set to take over the stage tomorrow, Tuesday, followed by Tom Grennan on Thursday and legendary American wordsmith James Taylor on Friday. Then it is over to the darts before comedian Kevin Bridges wraps this year’s offering on July 17 and 18.
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