TG4 explains why Irish language station won’t be airing Kneecap’s Electric Picnic performance

It comes just months after the BBC chose not to screen live their Glastonbury performance, but instead made it available on demand

Irish language station TG4 has confirmed it will not air Kneecap’s Electric Picnic performance.

But the station said they will instead air an interview with the Belfast rap group at the Stradbally festival, which kicks off this weekend.

Kneecap are set to take to the main stage at Electric Picnic on Saturday at 3.30pm and tens of thousands of fans are expected to attend their gig. But TG4 said it doesn’t have the broadcast rights to air the rap trio’s performances on the main stage, according to The Irish Mirror.

READ MORE: KNEECAP cancel all 15 US tour gigs due to Mo Chara’s upcoming court dateREAD MORE: Kneecap rapper faces month-long wait over whether terror charge is thrown out

A spokesman for TG4 said: “TG4 does not have the permission to film or broadcast any performances on the main stages at Electric Picnic.

“Acts on the main stages will however appear on the show where possible by doing interviews and acoustic sessions, we will feature an interview with Kneecap on our programme along with other acts from the main stages.

“Our programme is showing live music from the Irish Language stages which are An Chollchoill (Hazelwood) and An Puball Gaeilge – this is the agreement we have with festival organisers.”

Presented by Síomha Ní Ruairc and John Sharpson, Beo ón Electric Picnic will feature live music performances from artists performing on the Collchoill (Hazelwood) and Puball Gaeilge stages. Highlights will include Bláithín Mhic Cana and Piaras Ó Lorcáin, IMLÉ, John Spillane, Eve Belle, Clada, Amano, Caolan Ryan and Dysania.

The show will also feature interviews and intimate acoustic sessions with some of the biggest names playing at this year’s festival – stay tuned for some big surprises!

Along with acts performing in Irish on the Collchoill (Hazelwood) and Puball Gaeilge stages there will be podcasts, yoga sessions, a céilí mór, comedy and the Gaeltacht Camping site. Síomha and John will speak to the team bringing all of this to life from festival organisers to artists to festival-goers.

The special hour-and-a-half broadcast will air on TG4 on Sunday, August 31 at 9.30pm.

Meanwhile, Kneecap has announced that it has had to cancel its sold-out US tour. They took to social media on Monday to share the “bad news” with tens of thousands of ticket holders who were due to see the band perform in October.

They have cited the upcoming court date of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, in London as the reason for the shows having to be postponed.

Mo Chara is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. He denies the offence and the band says its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah.

The 27-year-old appeared at London’s Magistrates’ Court last week where Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26, when he will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case.

Mo Chara is yet to enter a plea to the charge and is on unconditional bail.

A statement on Instagram read: “To all our US based fans we have some bad news. Due to the proximity of our next court hearing in London to the first date of the tour, as the British government continues its witch-hunt, we will have to cancel all 15 US tour dates in October.

“With every show fully sold out, to tens of thousands of fans, this is news we are sad to deliver. But once we win our court case, which we will, we promise to embark on an even bigger tour to all you great heads. Refunds are available at point of purchase.

“We also have some good news. We will be sharing something very special for US fans next week so that we can still link in with you all in October.

“It’s top secret for now, but all will be revealed next week – stay tuned. And remember… ‘The revolution will be no re-run, brothers. The revolution will be live’. Free Palestine!”

They have confirmed their Canadian shows have not been affected by this decision.

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