Kneecap

Despite only forming two years ago, the mythology of Kneecap precedes them. Banned by Irish State Broadcaster RTE. Kicked out of their own headline show in Dublin. Publicly condemned by the North of Ireland political party the DUP. And Front Page news for their UK 'Farewell to the Union' Tour poster and its "violent imagery" which featured Boris Johnson strapped to a rocket on a bombfire. Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí have built up a notoriety for themselves which has perhaps never been seen in Irish music.

Even if you put all that to one side, Kneecap are a frighteningly articulate rap group. Merging the Irish language with English, satire with socially conscious lyrics, and reality with absurdity, theirs is a voice which comes screaming from the too-often deprived areas of the North of Ireland, speaking in a language which is too-often ignored, and it makes for suitably electrifying stuff. There seems to be no stopping their spectacular rise, with sold out tours in the US and UK and main stage festival appearances now the norm. Whether you understand half of what they're saying or not, you won't want to miss them...