Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten joined Kneecap for a performance of ‘Better Way To Live’ at Primavera Sound – watch below.
The Belfast rap trio played on the Occident Stage at the Barcelona festival at 1am on Saturday night (June 6) and brought out their friend and collaborator Chatten for a rendition of the 2023 single together.
Released as the lead track from Kneecap’s debut album ‘Fine Art’, ‘Better Way To Live’ is, in the band’s words, about “finding that little spark of joy in the monotony”, and Chatten reprised his guest vocals for the festival appearance.
Watch footage of the performance here:
While on site at the Parc del Fòrum, Chatten made the most of the music on offer and was spotted rocking out during The Cure’s two-and-a-half hour set on Thursday night (June 4), their first live show in more than 18 months.
Chatten and Kneecap have played ‘Better Way To Live’ live together before, including on Ireland’s Late Late Show in February 2024, during Kneecap’s Glastonbury 2024 set on the Peace Stage, in London’s Finsbury Park last summer and in Manchester’s Wythenshawe Park a few weeks later.
Chatten has consistently defended Kneecap during their legal battles in recent years too, describing the terror charge against Mo Chara “a witch hunt” last year. “That’s fairly plain to see to anyone who has a discerning eye,” he said. “I stand by their side, and I’m totally unafraid to do so. I think all of us are.”
His bandmate Deego told NME last year that he agreed with that take, saying: “I think it’s amazing what they stand up for…I think that it is a witch hunt. They’re trying to make an example of them, clearly.”
Fontaines are making their live return with three shows in Spain this summer, ahead of their headline slots at Reading & Leeds and Electric Picnic. Their first shows since last August will be in Cadiz, Alicante and Pamplona in August and you can find any remaining tickets here.
Kneecap, meanwhile, released their second album ‘Fenian’ last month and entered the chart at Number Two, the highest ever UK chart position for an Irish language album. They have donated all earnings from the album’s sales to charities supporting the Palestinian people and Irish community groups.
The album was given a four-and-a-half-star review from NME, which read: “Put all the rage-bait headlines aside and what you’re left with is a solid, progressive and fearless album from a group that could just as easily be dicking around instead of making music that matters. In that sense at least, their day has come.”
