Macklemore has turned a fresh tour controversy into a new European concert series titled ‘Free Palestine’, weeks after he was removed from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Loop’ tour over his pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.
According to Deadline, the rapper announced the new shows on Instagram, saying he had reached out to artists who had “shown up and used their stages to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people”. The artists joining him will be announced later.
The tour opens at Dublin’s 3Arena on 26 October, followed by Paris’ Accor Arena on 29 October and OVO Arena Wembley in London on 30 October. Organisers said more cities and US dates will follow.
Proceeds from the concerts will go to organisations providing humanitarian, medical and other support to Palestinians.
Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s remaining US shows after his 4 September performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Promoter Messina Touring Group said venue owners would not allow him to perform at the remaining dates.
The fallout deepened when several other supporting acts withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Sheeran later addressed the dispute publicly and said he had tried to mediate the situation.
