Their riotous music is uniting young people in Northern Ireland and reviving the Irish language; a fictionalised film about their rise just won the audience award at Sundance. The punk-rap trio talk about raving, working with Toddla T – and enraging politicians
A slow afternoon in the warm wooden enclave that is Madden’s Bar, Belfast. A handful of middle-aged Guinness drinkers chat quietly, nestled like comfy dogs in the corner. The lights are low. The music is comforting.
Until, blap! Not quite a cowboy entrance, but the door opens and the energy levels leap. In bowl three young men, familiar to the barman, the drinkers and anyone who’s interested in rap or who watches joe.co.uk or Vice videos. Kneecap, the Irish-language band smashing out of Belfast and into the world, are here: rappers Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 26), smooth-skinned and pretty in a blue jumper and mac; Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin, 30), with a grin like a smiley shark, in an excellent Lacoste tracksuit, and DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh, 34), usually pictured wearing an Irish flag balaclava, but today in his civvies of no face covering and black clothes. They’re straight up to the bar: Guinness for Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap, a blackcurrant and soda for Próvaí.
