Kneecap call out Norway’s oil fund and KKR during Øyafestivalen set
Kneecap used their Øyafestivalen to condemn Norway’s sovereign wealth fund over links to Israel and criticise KKR’s ties to the festival operator.
Kneecap used their set at Øyafestivalen in Oslo on 8th August to criticise Norway’s government over its sovereign wealth fund and to challenge the private equity ownership behind the festival’s operator.
Before taking the stage, the Irish rap trio displayed a message accusing the Norwegian government of “enabling” the “genocide” in Gaza through the country’s “oil pension fund”. The Government Pension Fund of Norway, which invests surplus revenues from the petroleum industry and holds more than £1.4trillion in assets, was recently reported by Aftenposten to have invested around £11.3million in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd. between 2023–2024, a jet engine parts manufacturer supplying the Israeli military. The government has launched a review of the fund’s holdings to ensure it is not investing in Israeli companies contributing to the war in Gaza, and Norway has recognised Palestine as a state.
“Over 80,000 people have been murdered by Israel in 21 months,” Kneecap’s message continued. “Free Palestine.” According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 61,158 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
On stage, Mo Chara told the crowd, “I don’t have to lecture you people. I can understand there’s people here like, ‘All right, we get it, I’m sick of yous going on.’ I wish I didn’t have to talk about this, I wish I didn’t have to get on stage every gig and talk about this.
“The fact is, as long as we’re on stage and as long as nothing is changing, Kneecap will always use this platform and this stage to call out the genocide and the war criminals. I don’t need to lecture you people when your oil fund is being used to fund the genocide.” He also addressed festival ownership, saying he thinks “it’s a disgrace and a shame that KKR” – a global investment firm that owns Superstruct Entertainment, which runs Øyafestivalen and other international music festivals – “is behind all these festivals. No company investing in Israel while they commit war crimes should be involved in and taking part in music festivals.”
Before taking the stage, the Irish rap trio displayed a message accusing the Norwegian government of “enabling” the “genocide” in Gaza through the country’s “oil pension fund”. The Government Pension Fund of Norway, which invests surplus revenues from the petroleum industry and holds more than £1.4trillion in assets, was recently reported by Aftenposten to have invested around £11.3million in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd. between 2023–2024, a jet engine parts manufacturer supplying the Israeli military. The government has launched a review of the fund’s holdings to ensure it is not investing in Israeli companies contributing to the war in Gaza, and Norway has recognised Palestine as a state.
“Over 80,000 people have been murdered by Israel in 21 months,” Kneecap’s message continued. “Free Palestine.” According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 61,158 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
On stage, Mo Chara told the crowd, “I don’t have to lecture you people. I can understand there’s people here like, ‘All right, we get it, I’m sick of yous going on.’ I wish I didn’t have to talk about this, I wish I didn’t have to get on stage every gig and talk about this.
“The fact is, as long as we’re on stage and as long as nothing is changing, Kneecap will always use this platform and this stage to call out the genocide and the war criminals. I don’t need to lecture you people when your oil fund is being used to fund the genocide.” He also addressed festival ownership, saying he thinks “it’s a disgrace and a shame that KKR” – a global investment firm that owns Superstruct Entertainment, which runs Øyafestivalen and other international music festivals – “is behind all these festivals. No company investing in Israel while they commit war crimes should be involved in and taking part in music festivals.”
Kneecap have repeatedly said at shows including Coachella and Glastonbury that Israel is committing a “genocide” in Gaza, and have denied accusations of anti-Semitism, claiming that those attacking the band “weaponize” the false accusation to “distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.” Multiple UN human-rights experts and UN bodies have stated that Israel’s military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with the International Court of Justice finding claims of genocide plausible. Israel rejects the genocide accusations and denies committing any war crimes, maintaining that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence.
The group have also faced scrutiny after footage emerged of Mo Chara allegedly shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and displaying a Hezbollah flag on stage. He has appeared in court and was granted unconditional bail; he is due to appear again on 20th August.
This summer, Kneecap were removed from several festival bills, including TRNSMT, Germany’s Hurricane and Southside festivals, and Cornwall’s Eden Project. Last month it was confirmed they had been banned from Hungary for three years ahead of a planned performance at Sziget. Yesterday (9th August), a Kneecap show in Vienna was cancelled “due to acute safety concerns” following political pressure from Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).
KNEECAP recently announced a run of UK headline shows set to take place in November.
The November shows will take place following their previously announced date at London’s Wembley Arena on 18th September.
The November UK dates read:
NOVEMBER
14 O2 Academy, Bournemouth, UK
15 Blackstone Street Warehouse, Liverpool, UK
17 DEPOT, Cardiff, UK
18 The Prospect Building, Bristol, UK
21 O2 Academy, Leeds, UK
22 O2 Academy, Newcastle, UK
24 Octagon, Sheffield, UK
27 O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK
28 Academy, Manchester, UK
30 OVO Hydro, Glasgow, UK
The group have also faced scrutiny after footage emerged of Mo Chara allegedly shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and displaying a Hezbollah flag on stage. He has appeared in court and was granted unconditional bail; he is due to appear again on 20th August.
This summer, Kneecap were removed from several festival bills, including TRNSMT, Germany’s Hurricane and Southside festivals, and Cornwall’s Eden Project. Last month it was confirmed they had been banned from Hungary for three years ahead of a planned performance at Sziget. Yesterday (9th August), a Kneecap show in Vienna was cancelled “due to acute safety concerns” following political pressure from Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ).
KNEECAP recently announced a run of UK headline shows set to take place in November.
The November shows will take place following their previously announced date at London’s Wembley Arena on 18th September.
The November UK dates read:
NOVEMBER
14 O2 Academy, Bournemouth, UK
15 Blackstone Street Warehouse, Liverpool, UK
17 DEPOT, Cardiff, UK
18 The Prospect Building, Bristol, UK
21 O2 Academy, Leeds, UK
22 O2 Academy, Newcastle, UK
24 Octagon, Sheffield, UK
27 O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK
28 Academy, Manchester, UK
30 OVO Hydro, Glasgow, UK
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