{"id":2298729,"date":"2026-02-25T03:18:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T03:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2298729"},"modified":"2026-02-25T03:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T03:18:26","slug":"kneecap-capture-revolutionary-times-on-electric-new-single-smugglers-scholars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/kneecap-capture-revolutionary-times-on-electric-new-single-smugglers-scholars\/","title":{"rendered":"Kneecap capture &#8220;revolutionary times&#8221; on electric new single &#8216;Smugglers &#038; Scholars&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/kneecap\">Kneecap<\/a> have shared their electric new single \u2018Smugglers &amp; Scholars\u2019, the latest track from their <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kneecap-announce-new-album-fenian-response-to-those-who-tried-to-silence-us-3925956\">upcoming album \u2018FENIAN\u2019<\/a> \u2013 check it out here.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"post-content-read-more\">\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"499\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b>Read More:<\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/the-cover\/kneecap-03-06-2024-3761722\"><b>Kneecap on the cover \u2013 giving peace, protest and partying a chance<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The single, which premiered tonight (February 24) on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/zane-lowe\">Zane Lowe<\/a>\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/brands\/apple\">Apple Music 1<\/a> show, is named for a play on the epithet Land of Saints and Scholars, often given to Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>It takes influence from Detroit hip-hop as the trio look back and reminisce over the island\u2019s history. With the sound of sirens permeating and a thick, low-end bass riff anchoring the track, it\u2019s an intense, exhilarating listen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<i>Ya think it\u2019s all poetry and clovers, when it\u2019s raincoats and police Land Rovers \/ Salt of the earth, looking over their shoulder, someone shot in turn, chopper hovering over<\/i>,\u201d the lyrics run. Listen to the track here:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"KNEECAP - SMUGGLERS &amp; SCHOLARS\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BPlJ_6M74l0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Discussing the track, Kneecap described it as \u201ca track that\u2019s reminiscing on revolutionary times in Ireland, driven by a hopefulness, when the working class, academics and good people everywhere united and took action in search of a better future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The group announced \u2018FENIAN\u2019, their third album, last month. It\u2019s set to arrive via Heavenly Recordings on April 24 and is available to pre-order <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/kneecap.lnk.to\/FENIAN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> on CD, cassette, DL, black vinyl, tri-colour splatter vinyl, and more.<\/p>\n<p>It follows their 2024 album \u2018<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/album\/kneecap-fine-art-album-review-3765120\">Fine Art<\/a>\u2019, and will feature 14 tracks including collaborations from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/kae-tempest\">Kae Tempest<\/a>, Radie Peat and Fawzi, and the lead single \u2018Liars Tale\u2019, which came out on January 28.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018FENIAN\u2019 comes following <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kneecap-terror-trial-court-case-explained-palestine-support-keir-starmer-uk-government-watch-3894538\">Mo Chara\u2019s ongoing terror case<\/a>, which is currently going through an appeal.<\/p>\n<p>The case against the rapper (real name Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh) <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kneecap-terror-trial-mo-charas-case-is-thrown-out-3895371\">was dropped last September due to a technicality relating to the way in which it was brought about<\/a>. At the time, the Chief Magistrate told the court that the charge was \u201cunlawful\u201d and \u201cnull\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It stems from an alleged incident where he <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kneecap-respond-to-concert-footage-being-assessed-by-counter-terror-police-3858031\">reportedly displayed a Hezbollah flag during a live show in November 2024<\/a>, and shouted \u201cup Hamas, up Hezbollah\u201d. Both are listed as proscribed terrorist organisations by the UK government.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement announcing the record, the band said: \u201cThey tried to stop us by branding Kneecap \u2018terrorists\u2019, with cancellations, with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kneecap-respond-as-keir-starmer-and-kemi-badenoch-call-for-glastonbury-ban-you-know-whats-not-appropriate-keir-arming-a-fucking-genocide-3871702\">statements from the Prime Minister himself<\/a>. We had all the motivation we needed\u2026this isn\u2019t a swift reaction, but a considered response to those that tried to silence us. And failed.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUDORfrja5s\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cMade with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/artists\/dan-carey\">Dan Carey<\/a>, a producer we are honoured to have worked with. It\u2019s a more sinister sound\u2026because these are sinister times. But also defiant and triumphant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They added: \u201cInspired by, and proudly named \u2018Fenian\u2019, who were warriors in Irish folklore, and later a derogatory term for the Irish. Now we\u2019re using it to name everyone speaking truth to power.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter 800 years of colonisation, they thought the Irish language would die, it didn\u2019t. Thanks to [social campaign group] Muintir na Gaeltachta, and all the Gaels who refused to let their culture and language be destroyed. And kneecap is much the same\u2026we haven\u2019t gone away. The Paddies are back.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><b>The tracklisting for \u2018FENIAN\u2019 is:\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>\u2018\u00c9ire go Deo\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Smugglers &amp; Scholars\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Carnival\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Palestine\u2019 (ft. Fawzi)<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Liars Tale\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018FENIAN\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Big Bad Mo\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Headcase\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018An Ra\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Cold At The Top\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Occupied 6\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Gael Phonics\u2019<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Cocaine Hill\u2019 (ft. Radie Peat)<\/b><b><br \/><\/b><b>\u2018Irish Goodbye\u2019 (ft. Kae Tempest)<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Also coming up for the trio are a run of live dates, beginning with a series of out-stores across the UK towards the end of April. They\u2019re then set to play European festivals including <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/primavera-sound-barcelona-2026-line-up-revealed-3895061\">Primavera Sound<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/opener-2026-addison-rae-tomora-pinkpantheress-lead-new-line-up-additions-3919756\">Open\u2019er<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/festivals\/roskilde-festival\">Roskilde<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/reading-leeds-2026-line-up-headliners-announced-poster-tickets-3914124\">Reading &amp; Leeds<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kneecap-scissor-sisters-madness-skrillex-lead-massive-boomtown-2026-line-up-buy-tickets-3902979\">Boomtown<\/a> over the summer, while their <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/kneecap-announce-biggest-headline-show-to-date-at-londons-crystal-palace-park-gig-with-the-mary-wallopers-fat-dog-and-more-3911652\">biggest headline show to date is coming up at London\u2019s Crystal Palace Park<\/a> on June 27 \u2013 find tickets to their summer shows <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ticketmaster-uk.tm7559.net\/c\/2862475\/431519\/7559?sharedid=NME&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.co.uk%2Fkneecap-tickets%2Fartist%2F5309006\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><i>NME<\/i> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/reviews\/live\/kneecap-wembley-arena-london-live-review-photos-setlist-3893765\">gave their huge OVO Arena Wembley show in September, which came a week before terror charges against Chara were thrown out, a glowing five-star review<\/a>, meanwhile, describing it as \u201ca Keir Starmer-baiting Wembley invasion\u201d.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jeg_video_container jeg_video_content\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kneecap at Glastonbury 2024 on their love of Fontaines D.C., Lewis Capaldi and Paul Mescal\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pZLsId29Ba8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The review concluded: \u201cYou don\u2019t pull off a gig like that on controversy alone. You need bangers and you need a culture to fill this room. Kneecap have all that, and they\u2019re a fucking good laugh. There\u2019s no call for violence, there\u2019s nothing that should land someone in front of a judge, just solidarity and a rave against the dying of the light.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust 24 hours earlier in this same room, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/heres-what-went-down-at-together-for-palestine-with-damon-albarn-brian-eno-richard-gere-florence-pugh-and-more-3893355\">Together For Palestine put on all-star fundraiser for the cause<\/a>, the biggest of its kind. It\u2019s significant that gigs like this should happen at a time like now. The state may try to crush them, but Kneecap have a power of their own. As they spit on \u2018It\u2019s Been Ages\u2019: \u2018Controversy won\u2019t phase us, we hold all the cards and they\u2019re aces, try to protect your kids but they\u2019ll hear us.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('consent', 'revoke');\n  fbq('init', '370979561341328');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n<\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nme.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kneecap have shared their electric new single \u2018Smugglers &amp; Scholars\u2019, the latest track from their upcoming album \u2018FENIAN\u2019 \u2013 check it out here. Read More:\u00a0Kneecap on the cover \u2013 giving peace, protest and partying a chance The single, which premiered tonight (February 24) on Zane Lowe\u2019s Apple Music 1 show, is named for a play [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2298730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[21944,21945],"class_list":["post-2298729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-hip-hop","tag-rap"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Kneecap-capture-revolutionary-times-on-electric-new-single-Smugglers.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2298729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2298729"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2298729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2298731,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2298729\/revisions\/2298731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2298730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2298729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2298729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2298729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}