West Belfast Irish language rap trio Kneecap arrived on the Garvaghy Road on Sunday and were given a fanatical reception.
The group were thronged by a crowd of thousands who had made their way to the site of the ongoing protest, which has now seen residents and supporters camped out on the Garvaghy Road for more than a week.
It comes as a sustained standoff continues a week on from when an Orange Order march was originally supposed to go ahead.
A major policing operation was in place for the weekend with both sides in the dispute organising rallies to bolster support, with positions entrenched in the run-up to a further legal challenge in the courts on Monday.
The stage where the protest heard from the Mary Wallopers last week and a number of speakers in front of 15,000 on Saturday was empty on Sunday evening.
The group did not take to the stage or make any public comment during their 30 minute public appearance.
But their march up the Garvaghy Road was preceded by a visit to the local Naíscoil and a meeting with local residents which was held away from the glare of the media.
We know that the band members voiced their support to the residents in their ongoing battle to block the Orangemen from going through their area.
After that, Moglai Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provai took part in a choreographed walk from the nearby community centre to the masses awaiting them.
They were flanked by a security team who encouraged selfies only while they were walking, and had solicitor Darragh Mackin and Breandán Mac Cionnaith of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition.
Mackin has represented members of the band in high profile cases in the past, and will also be present in court on Monday as the Garvaghy Road residents’ latest appeal is heard.
One Sinn Féin representative on the ground said a decision had been taken by the band not to perform at the protest “not to inflame things” ahead of Monday’s court sitting.
“It’s for the kids,” they said.
The pandemonium that ensued in the half an hour when the trio made their way up and down the road was palpable.
Children were visibly delighted after grabbing their selfies with the band members, one young girl said she thought she was “dreaming” after snapping one with Moglai Bap.
The whole evening felt a bit more like a music festival than a contentious parade protest - a constant stream of traditional music sessions were the centre of attention before the arrival of the west Belfast lads sent the place into raptures.
They are at the peak of their fame and are more than happy to use it to further the causes they believe in. Before they escaped the crowds there was time for one last photo opportunity with Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson as she and the trio raised their fists in unison.
Soon afterwards, a more solemn gathering was taking place at Wilson Street car park in the town where the Portadown District Orangemen held a prayer meeting as part of its own protests at not being able to complete their parade.
On Monday, the battle will depart the streets temporarily and move to the courtroom once again.
