Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap brought their incendiary brand of hardcore, politically charged rap to Dublin’s 3Arena on December 16th, playing the first of two sold-out nights at the venue. The scale of the occasion was immediately clear, with a sea of fans filling the arena, many wearing the now-iconic tri-colour balaclava that has become synonymous with the group’s confrontational image and unapologetic messaging.
The stage design leaned heavily into Kneecap’s protest aesthetic. Two large smoking barrels flanked either side of the stage, periodically erupting into bursts of flame throughout the set. Whether intended to evoke civil unrest or simply amplify the trio’s aggressive energy, the effect reinforced the sense of confrontation that defines their live performances. A large rear screen projected the group’s familiar visual imagery, anchoring the show in their established visual world. However, for a venue of this size, the lighting felt underwhelming. Heavy reliance on strobe effects and a noticeable lack of front lighting often left the performers obscured, a missed opportunity given the theatrical nature of their stage presence.
The 23-song set opened with Kneecap’s signature intro video before the trio stormed the stage and launched straight into “It’s Been Ages.” From that moment on, there was little let-up. The crowd responded ferociously as the group tore through fan favourites including “Fenian Cunt,” “Drug Dealing Pagans,” “Sniffer Dogs,” and “Fine Art.” Each track was delivered with raw intensity, the trio feeding off the audience’s energy while maintaining the confrontational edge that has propelled them from underground provocateurs to arena headliners.
What stood out most was Kneecap’s ability to command such a large space without diluting their message. Their lyrics politically charged, confrontational, and deliberately provocative lost none of their bite in the arena setting. Instead, the scale amplified the sense of defiance, transforming the 3Arena into something closer to a rally than a conventional hip-hop show.
The night closed with “The Recap,” bringing the set to a raucous end and leaving the crowd in no doubt as to why Kneecap were able to sell out the venue across two nights. While aspects of the production fell short of the arena’s potential, Kneecap’s performance itself was uncompromising, intense, and unmistakably theirs proof that their brand of political hip-hop can thrive on the biggest of stages.
Kneecap photos & set-list:
Set-list:
(Intro Video)
It’s been ages
Amach Anocht
Fenian Cunt
Thart agus Thart
Mam
Drug Dealing Pagans
TPM
Better Way To Live
Sick In The Head
Sniffer Dogs
Harrow Road
No Comment
Sayōnara
I’m Flush
I bhFiacha Line
Fine Art
Rhino Ket
Guilty Conscience
GYBO
C.E.A.R.T.A
Parful
H.O.O.D
The Recap
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic