Northern Ireland

Kneecap celebrate as festival drops US military sponsorship after boycott

Belfast rappers pulled out of SXSW in March over festival’s links to military and weapons contractor

A photo of Kneecap doing their messages, which include Tunnock's Tea Cakes and Windowlene
Kneecap's Móglaí Bap, DJ Próvaí and Mo Chara. PICTURE: SARAH ELLIS
By Paul Ainsworth

A major festival in Texas has dropped the US Army as a sponsor following a boycott led by music acts including Belfast rappers Kneecap.

The hip-hop trio were among Irish artists to withdraw from the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in March, in protest over the event’s links to the US military and American support for Israel over its war in Gaza.

In a statement at the time, the group said they were pulling out of a performance at the festival “in solidarity with the people of Palestine and to highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the US military, who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population”.

SXSW offers a prominent platform for music acts in America, and Kneecap’s appearance had been due to follow the premiere of the movie depicting their rise to fame at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January.

Other Irish acts to pull out from SXSW included Belfast punk act Enola Gay and Portadown singer-songwriter Conchúr White.

In response to the boycott, a SXSW spokesperson defended the sponsorship by the US military and defence contractor RTX Corporation.

“The defense industry has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today,” they said.

“These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives.

“The Army’s sponsorship is part of our commitment to bring forward ideas that shape our world.”

However, in a statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson said: “After careful consideration of our offerings, we are revising our sponsorship model.

“As a result, the US Army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing, will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”

In a post to X (formerly Twitter) following the announcement, Kneecap - comprising rappers Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap and producer DJ Próvaí - welcomed the news, stating “US ARMY is OUT of SXSW” alongside an image of a Palestinian flag and an expletive targeting Israel.

The Kneecap movie, in which the trio play themselves alongside stars including Michael Fassbender, is due for release in cinemas in August.

The group’s debut album, Fine Art, was released earlier this month.