Macklemore kicked off his Free Palestine Tour in Dublin on Monday. The sold-out show marked the first of three European concerts raising funds for pro-Palestinian organisations.
The launch comes after the US rapper was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s North American tour over his public support for Palestine.
The sold-out concert at Dublin’s 3Arena on Monday 26 October, marked the first of three announced European dates. It featured some artists who withdrew from Sheeran’s tour following Macklemore’s exit.
The Grammy-winning rapper was removed from Sheeran’s tour after performing his protest song Hind’s Hall.
He called for a “Free Palestine” and expressed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank during concerts in New Jersey.
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Sheeran’s response and tour turmoil
Sheeran later said – in September – that the decision was not his.
He explained that venues had threatened to withdraw upcoming shows if Macklemore remained on the line-up.
The tour promoter subsequently confirmed that venues would not allow the rapper to perform.
The controversy prompted four other supporting acts to withdraw from Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore. These acts include Irish folk band Beoga, singer Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and American singer Finneas.
Sheeran later addressed the situation during a concert in Philadelphia. He described the devastation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate”.
He also expressed concern about venues influencing what performers could say on stage.
Benefits for Palestinian aid
Macklemore announced his Free Palestine Tour last month.
He said all proceeds would benefit organisations providing humanitarian assistance, medical care, education and advocacy for Palestinians.
The Dublin concert featured Irish singer Hozier, hip-hop trio Kneecap, Beoga, Palestinian singer Lina Makoul, Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats and members of US hip-hop duo Dead Prez.
Irish actor Liam Cunningham also addressed the audience, while video messages from other public figures were shown.
Outside the venue, fans praised Macklemore for using his platform to speak about Palestine.
“Macklemore’s support for Palestine is huge. He’s stood up and he’s put himself on the line instead of taking the easy way out,” Michael Keating, a 31-year-old insurance worker said.
Another concertgoer, 60-year-old Grainne Healy, criticised the removal of artists over their political statements. She said the United States was supposed to be a country of free speech.
‘He missed a massive, beautiful opportunity there’
Meanwhile, producer Jack Antonoff recently criticised Sheeran for not cancelling his shows.
Antonoff, the Grammy-winning producer and Bleachers frontman, said Sheeran had missed an opportunity to challenge the decision. The singer attributed the decision to tour promoters and venues.
He said Sheeran should have cancelled his tour and performed for free outside the venues to raise money for Palestinians.
“He missed a massive, beautiful opportunity there,” Antonoff said. “Just cancel the whole tour, then play for free outside each venue, raise a bunch of money, rather than let a billionaire tell you what to do.”
Antonoff also defended Macklemore’s public support for Palestine, describing it as “a deeply human thing to say”.
The tour continues in Paris on 29 October and London on 30 October. Additional dates in the United States are also planned.
Organisers have named several beneficiary organisations, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Anera and UNRWA USA.
The concerts place artistic freedom and humanitarian advocacy at the centre of a controversy that has extended beyond Macklemore’s removal. This has drawn criticism from fellow musicians and renewed attention to the war in Gaza.
