Kneecap headlined The Gallery stage at Leeds Festival on Friday night, where they led the crowd in a chant of "Andy Burnham's a w****r" in response to the Prime Minister's recent comments on a united Ireland.
The Irish rap trio's politically-charged set came after Mr Burnham made his first official visit to Northern Ireland this week, during which he said a referendum on a united Ireland "is off the table".
PM's comments on border poll
In an address to political leaders, the PM said that Brexit and the independent Scottish referendums demonstrated the "risks that come from those situations and take a long time to heal".
"Well, obviously I'm here as I said earlier to listen and I will take a collaborative approach, but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table," he said.
He added that rather than concentrating on a united Ireland, the focus should instead be on public services and the cost-of-living crisis. "We need to fix the things right in front of us in the here and now," Burnham told BBC News NI. He met with Stormont's first and deputy first ministers, as well as the main parties of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Support for Palestine
Kneecap, who are known for their political statements, also showed their support for Palestine in their latest festival appearance. Moments before they appeared on stage, visuals displayed on big screens read: "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Over 100,000 people have been murdered by Israel since 2023."
Kneecap closed The Gallery stage on Friday, following performances from the likes of Role Model, Holly Humberstone, Blossoms and Julia Wolf earlier in the day. Over on The Grid mainstage, Florence Welch delivered a show-stopping performance on what was her 40th birthday.
Weather warnings at festivals
Despite weather warnings in place across both Leeds and Reading Festivals, thousands of fans have enjoyed the first day of the live music, despite the damp conditions.
The Met Office stated that Reading Festival is expected to "experience a notably unsettled few days." They add: "The forecast points to heavy showers and thunderstorms possibly developing with warm and humid air helping to fuel some intense downpours. Temperatures are expected to stay slightly above average, and while there may be some sunshine between weather systems, conditions are likely to remain changeable from day to day."
Meanwhile, for this heading to Leeds, festivalgoers can expect very similar weather. The Met Office says: "Low pressure moving in from the south-west is forecast to bring an increased risk of heavy showers and thunderstorms. Although temperatures should remain a little above average, any warm spells are likely to be interrupted by frequent showers and the potential for locally torrential downpours. Humidity levels are also expected as the weekend approaches."
