It was an Instagram post from West Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap that sent me racing towards Glastonbury’s West Holts stage on Saturday afternoon.
‘You’ll need to be very early to catch us, father… VERY EARLY!!!’ read the message on the band’s Instagram page at 1pm – three hours before they were due to play.
I’m no fan of the group, but needed to be there to report on their performance after band member Liam O’hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with a terror offence.
As a result, critics had called for them to be barred from Glastonbury altogether. It was safe to say their set was expected to be controversial.
But when I arrived at the West Holts stage at 2.30pm to secure my spot, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.
The 30,000-capacity area was already heaving – but not for Kneecap. Instead, Bobby Vylan was on stage, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
Before a sea of Palestinian flags, the frontman of punk duo Bob Vylan launched into a tirade against ‘Zionist’ music industry executives, who he accused of trying to have Kneecap banned.
Even more shocking than Vylan’s hateful words was how strongly the audience were clamouring and cheering for him.
Kneecap band member Liam O’hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with a terror offence. As a result, critics had called for them to be barred from Glastonbury altogether
‘You’ll need to be very early to catch us, father… VERY EARLY!!!’ read the message on the band’s Instagram page at 1pm – three hours before they were due to play
The 30,000-capacity area was already heaving – but not for Kneecap. Instead, Bobby Vylan (pictured) was on stage, whipping the crowd into a frenzy
‘Free, free Palestine,’ he chanted. Then, the crowd joined in as he screamed: ‘Death, death to the IDF.’
I stood frozen, stunned. Around me, no one looked remotely disturbed by his abhorrent words.
In more than two decades of Glastonbury reporting, I’ve never felt afraid. But on Saturday, I was genuinely worried there was going to be a crush.
It makes me wonder whether Kneecap, furious that the BBC had refused to live-stream their set, timed their Instagram post to make sure fans were there to see Bob Vylan’s performance, which was being broadcast live.
The two acts are long-time allies – bantering on social media about crowd-surfing arrests back in 2022.
Were they working together to make sure their message – an anti-Semitic rallying cry – was heard on live television?
Vylan’s outburst has brought shame on Glastonbury and plunged the BBC into crisis.
And it’s time for founder Sir Michael Eavis to face reality: his beloved festival is being hijacked by those intent on spreading hate.
If Eavis doesn’t act, it could destroy everything Glastonbury stands for.
