Dozens of major artists have signed a letter from Heavenly Recordings supporting the right to freedom of expression for musicians and artists.
The letter is a direct response to the ongoing controversy around Kneecap – who are signed to Heavenly – and the efforts from politicians to have them removed from festival line-ups this summer, including Glastonbury and TRNSMT.
Since Kneecap “blindsided” Coachella organisers with overtly political statements in support of Palestine, the band have found themselves the subject of attention from counter-terror police in the UK, who have said they are assessing two videos from the band’s gigs.
In one, footage appears to show a band member shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, while another purportedly shows the group calling for the death of Conservative MPs. The band have since denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah and have denied promoting violence against MPs.
In response to the intervention from politicians on the matter, indie label Heavenly have issued a formal statement under the banner: “We stand for freedom of expression”.
The letter has been signed by 40 major musicians and artists, including Pulp, Fontaines D.C., IDLES, Massive Attack, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Enter Shikari, English Teacher, The Pogues, Lankum, Toddla T, Sleaford Mods and Thin Lizzy.
It reads: “This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap. In Westminster and the British media, senior political figures have been openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye, with veiled threats being made over their scheduled performances at gigs, outdoor events and music festivals, including Glastonbury.”
“Chillingly, it is also clear to us that influential figures and personalities within the wider music industry are attempting to influence this campaign of intimidation. As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.”
The letter continues: “In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people.”
“The question of agreeing with Kneecap’s political views is irrelevant: it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture, and that this interference campaign is condemned and ridiculed.”
“Furthermore, it also the duty of key leadership figures in the music industry to actively defend artistic freedom of expression – rather than seek to silence views which oppose their own.”
Other signatories include Annie Mac, Bicep, Bob Vylan, Dexys, Katy J Pearson, Lisa O’Neill, Martyn Ware, Shirley Manson, Soft Play and The Mary Wallopers.
Kneecap’s own response to the backlash they are experiencing has included them issuing the following statement: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history”.
“We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.”
Massive Attack 👏👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/6QychuRmwv
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 30, 2025
Earlier today, Massive Attack, who themselves have been vocal in their support for Palestine for decades and have boycotted performing in Israel since 1999, issued a statement supporting Kneecap and urging the focus to remain on what they call a “genocide” against the Palestinian people.
In a statement titled “Kneecap are not the story”, Massive Attack wrote: “If senior politicians can find neither the time, nor the words to condemn, say, the murder of fifteen voluntary aid workers in Gaza, or the illegal starvation of a civilian population as a method of warfare, or the killing of thousands & thousands of children in the same territory, by a state in possession of the highest precision weapons on earth; how much notice should a music festival take of their moral advice on booking performing acts?”
In the wake of the Kneecap backlash, the group’s manager Daniel Lambert defended the band during an appearance on RTÉ’s Prime Time on Tuesday night (April 29), saying “children are starving to death, and we’re spending six or seven days talking about Kneecap,” adding: “We spent less than a day talking about fifteen executed medics.”
Speaking to Miriam O’Callaghan, Lambert said that “at every point, [the band] have the absolute conviction that they are doing the right thing and they stand on the right side of history.”
“A video didn’t emerge,” he continued. “There was a concerted campaign emanating from the US to analyse every single thing that Kneecap have ever said.
“Why this happened was because of what they said at Coachella, and what they said at Coachella was the right thing to say. It’s a message aimed at governments who are enabling a genocide in Gaza.
“What really scared the state of Israel, and what lead to this campaign, is the reaction of young people in America,” added Lambert. “Young people who aren’t willing to support a genocide, young people who have empathy and sympathy towards the Palestinian people.”
At the time of writing, the band’s appearances at Glastonbury, TRNSMT and other European festivals remain intact. Elsewhere earlier this week, their huge Belfast show with Fontaines D.C. sold out in just over half an hour, despite calls from the DUP to have it axed.
