Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten joined Kneecap on stage to perform ‘Better Way To Live’ in Belfast last night (December 21). Watch the footage below.
- READ MORE: The Pogues: “Fontaines D.C. are carrying their own torch and Kneecap are without precedent”
The band’s biggest-ever headline show at Belfast’s SSE Arena was described as the largest Irish language gig in the city’s history, and came just after the death of Móglái Bap’s father, Gearóid Ó Cairealláin.
On Saturday (December 21), the hip-hop trio had confirmed the news of his passing on social media, writing: “He was an Irish language revolutionary, community activist, loving father, husband and an inspiration to many. We are heartbroken,” adding: “Tonight is for him.”
At the show, Chatten – who made another guest appearance in Dublin recently when he joined The Pogues – joined them for ‘Fine Art‘ track ‘Better Way To Live’, drawing a massive reaction when he walked out onstage. Check out reactions to the moment below.
kneecap’in belfast konserinde fontaines dc’den grian chatten sahneye çıktı ve better way to live’i söyledi.🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/bR5tsZR0zA
— playtuşu (@playtusumag) December 22, 2024
since grian chatten thinks he’s so funny doing all these guest appearances when’s his guest appearance under my tree
— avs ✨🤍 (@Joshjenkinslay) December 22, 2024
Grian chatten sings every line like it’s his last,the best frontman in atleast the last 20 years https://t.co/hiYGEguBTV
— josh armstrong 🇬🇧🏴 (@josharmstrong55) December 22, 2024
went to the kneecap gig in belfast tonight and they brought grian chatten out as a special guest! didn’t expect to be seeing him for the second time in the last 2 weeks – merry fucking christmas to me! what a gig 💚
— amy 🗡️ solas brainrot (@honkytonkhorror) December 22, 2024
big fan of grian chatten just rocking up everywhere l, he was singing with the pogues a few days ago now he’s doing kneecaps belfast gig, hope one day the boy does a solo album performance https://t.co/1GUV7mGMpr
— Regan 🇫🇷 (@_reganrobinson_) December 22, 2024
better way to live with grian chatten and i wasnt there pic.twitter.com/2CsMz1wOUn
— marzia ⭐️ fdc dublin n2 ! (@misschwaartz) December 21, 2024
The man himself Grian chatten took the sting out of missing Fontaines pic.twitter.com/fnWTPjrHZA
— ireleezi 🇮🇪 (@Ireleezi1) December 21, 2024
Earlier this year, the film Kneecap chronicled the group’s unconventional rise to fame and revolved around Michael Fassbender’s Arlo Ó Cairealláin, a tireless champion of Irish language and culture that was, in the story of the film, the father of Naoise ‘Móglái Bap’ Ó Cairealláin, although he was not a direct representation of Gearóid Ó Cairealláin.
Kneecap was recently named by NME as the best film of 2024, who noted: “Inspired by the three’s experiences growing up in post-Troubles Belfast – as well as their wit and endless imagination – this dark comedy cum docudrama cum fictionalised origin story follows low level drug dealers Móglaí and Mo as they bumble through life getting beaten up by Republicans and Loyalists alike.
“Eventually, via a drug-induced creative bender, they discover a love for making music and form Kneecap with a local schoolteacher. Cue the funniest and most exciting band biopic since, well, ever.”
The film has now been shortlisted for two Oscars – Best International Feature and Best Original Song – with the final list of nominees set to be confirmed on January 17.
Earlier this month Kneecap took home seven wins at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), including a joint lead accolade for its stars.
The band released their debut album ‘Fine Art’ this year, which was also named as one of the albums of the year by NME. “Cheeky, clever, countercultural: this is everything you want in a debut album,” NME wrote.
“The Belfast trio get gacked with glee on ‘Fine Art’, unleashing a brand-new vocabulary of Irish words for their hijinks along with some of the deadliest festival tunes of 2024. To disgruntled parents, we say: Tá fáilte romhat!
The group were also one of NME’s cover stars earlier this year. Speaking in the interview, the band reflected on how they had helped to raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine, broadcast their message during high-profile TV appearances, and joined the boycott of SXSW this year due to it being sponsored by The Army.