Kneecap Takeover Glasgow
- Louise Young
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
After seeing Kneecap supporting Fontaines D.C. back in July, getting tickets for their own show was never even a question. The second they went on sale, I was there. That night in Finsbury Park had already been chaos in the best way, and I needed to see what that energy felt like in a room that was fully theirs. So by the time November came around and we were heading into the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, the expectations were already high.
Of course, I was not let down on my expectations.
Walking up to the venue, the Hydro was painted green, something that felt fitting for the gig we were about to experience. I could already spot numerous tri-colour balaclavas, Celtic colours and Keffiyeh's heading in the same direction. Even the air outside the venue was buzzing with electricity.
Before Kneecap's set had began, a bold message was displayed across the screen. "Israel is still committing genocide against the palestinian people" "Over 100,000 people have been murdered by israel in 24 months and they continue to ethnically cleanse palestinians from their homes and lands" "The British government is complicit by allowed arms sales to Israel" and "Speak up. Take action. Free Palestine". This is exactly what i would expect at a Kneecap gig, with all the members being very vocal on their political views and speaking out on the matter.
From the moment Kneecap came out, the place just erupted. There was no slow build, no easing into it, it was instant chaos. Being near the front with my friends, you could feel it hit all at once. The bass, the shouting, the pushing from every direction as mosh pits opened up almost immediately. It wasn’t the kind of crowd where you could just stand and watch.
What makes Kneecap so different live is how constant the energy is. There’s barely a second to catch your breath. Every track felt louder than the last, with the crowd matching them word for word, jumping in unison, arms in the air, drinks flying everywhere. It wasn’t just noise, t was controlled chaos, the kind where everyone somehow moves together even when it feels completely out of hand. I can hands down say, it was one of the most energetic lively crowds I have been a part of that year.
I remember having to grip onto my friends so we wouldn't get seperated in the crowd, but that just made the whole experience even more exciting and fun. You were forced to move with the crowd, which made it all the more memorable. For me, this was one of the main reasons i enjoyed the gig so much.
The interaction with the crowd only added to it. They weren’t just playing song and song, they were right there in it, feeding off everything the crowd gave them and throwing it straight back. There were moments where it felt less like a gig and more like a shared event, like everyone in the room was part of the same thing rather than just watching it happen.
And the crowd itself was unreal. Loud doesn’t even cover it. Every chant, every lyric, every beat was met with full force, the entire Hydro bouncing from start to finish. You could look around at any point and just see constant movement. People jumping, shouting, losing themselves in it completely. The crowd never seemed to lose its energy, keeping up the infectious feeling throughout the whole set. There wasn't a moment I was just standing still.
The arena itself was light up with various different stage effects and background visuals for each song which i feel just increases the overall experience for the crowd. It made it feel more powerful and more enchanting, as if the visuals and lights were helping to keep us moving, keep us chanting and jumping along.
By the time it got to the last song, it somehow kicked up another level. Just when it felt like it couldn’t get any more intense, DJ Próvaí ended up crowd surfing over everyone. It was during their last song 'The Recap' where he disappeared into a sea of hands while the place absolutely lost it. I remember the crowd surging forward, there was already numerous mosh-pts taking place, but the moment DJ Próvai was in the crowd, it got more intense. People started to push forward in hopes of getting closer to him, it was chaotic. People were falling down in the mosh-pits but strangers were clearing way to help them up. The whole atmosphere just gave a sense of community, like everyone was here for one thing and one thing only; Kneecap.
It was the perfect ending. Pure madness, completely in line with everything that had come before it. Walking out of that gig, sweat dripping, hair a tangled mess, it didn’t feel like you’d just watched a performance. It felt like you’d survived something. And honestly, I’d go straight back in and do it all again.
They had an apterpart set up at the Garage on Sauchiehall Street. They had a DJ set by DJ Próvai and Mógalí Bap lined up, followed by a live band called Dirty Faces, and then a last DJ set by FINNfm. The after party continued with the chaotic energy, more controlled now but still electric. People weren't pushing but the vibes were still high and the feeling still euphoric. For me, the afterparty definitely tied the whole night together and has made it one of my favourite gigs of the year.
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