Macklemore’s newly announced tour aimed at supporting Palestinians saw all three shows selling out promptly, following the announcement of October dates in Dublin, Paris, and London as part of the Free Palestine tour. The lineup for the shows, which will feature the rapper “and friends,” is yet to be disclosed, with Macklemore mentioning that details will be revealed soon.
The European tour was introduced after Macklemore was removed as an opening act for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour. Expressing gratitude and amazement, Macklemore took to Instagram to acknowledge the swift response to the shows, emphasizing the importance of musicians standing in solidarity with Palestine and utilizing the stage to raise funds through collective action.
While there has been no confirmation on Canadian shows, Live Nation stated that the tour will benefit various Palestinian aid organizations, including Gaza Soup Kitchen, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, and UNRWA USA. The decision to embark on this tour followed Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s tour due to pressure from venue owners threatening to cancel shows if the rapper continued as an opener.
In a statement, Sheeran mentioned that one of the individuals pressuring for Macklemore’s removal was Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group. Macklemore, known for his pro-Palestinian views, has been vocal about his stance on different platforms in the past. Following Sheeran’s statement, all other openers, including his backing band, withdrew from the tour.
Addressing the situation during a show in Philadelphia, Sheeran admitted to not aspiring to be an activist musician. The shows scheduled at Gillette Stadium were later canceled due to severe weather conditions.