Macklemore has announced that all three dates of his newly organized Free Palestine Tour sold out immediately following his high-profile removal from Ed Sheeran's US Loop Tour. The news comes after a turbulent few weeks.
This follows weeks of industry debate after Macklemore was pulled from Sheeran's lineup following pro-Palestinian comments and a performance of his track 'Hind's Hall' at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Shortly after his departure from the tour, Macklemore announced his self-headlined three-date run across Europe and the UK, which quickly sold out across all venues.
Why Macklemore Was Removed From Ed Sheeran's Tour
Who made the call depends on who you ask. Sheeran said it was his promoter's decision. not his, after venues said they would pull future shows. Messina Touring Group said those objections risked cancelling the concerts and affecting hundreds of thousands of fans but didn't say which venues were involved.
Separately, Patriots owner Robert Kraft acknowledged contacting Sheeran and said Macklemore wouldn't be permitted at Gillette Stadium, citing what he described as Macklemore's broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.
Al Jazeera reported that all of Sheeran's supporting acts later withdrew in solidarity, including Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and the backing group Beoga. On X, Macklemore had alleged that Kraft had pressured Sheeran to boycott him among other stadium owners.
Macklemore's Three-City Tour: Dates, Venues and Lineups
Dublin's 3Arena opens the run on 26 October, followed by Paris's Accor Arena on 29 October and OVO Arena Wembley in London on 30 October. Lineups are promised soon, but no support acts have been named.
Announcing the sell-outs, Macklemore said he was 'honestly blown away' and thanked fans for 'showing up the way you did.' He added that 'art will always be a form of resistance' when those in power try to silence calls for liberation.
Where Will Tour Proceeds Go?
Macklemore said all proceeds would benefit organisations supporting the Palestinian people and movement. The tour poster lists about a dozen as intended beneficiaries, but how the money will be split, how much each group gets and when it will be paid hasn't been made public.
A separate pledge covers his earnings from Sheeran's tour. Macklemore said his net earnings totalled $1 million, going to six organisations including the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine and Anera.
Macklemore also challenged Kraft to match the $1 million pledge. Kraft said he would commit $2 million toward humanitarian aid, adding that Sheeran had asked him to do so before Macklemore's challenge became public.
Fans Are Glad The Shows Have Sold Out
Over on Reddit, the post sharing Macklemore's message on r/popculturechat drew around 2,200 upvotes. One commenter called it a 'clever move' and compared it to Live Aid, while another praised the artist as he 'backs up what he says.'
Comment
by u/trixotica from discussion
in popculturechat
For now, the Free Palestine Tour has proved there is an audience for a politically charged night out. Who joins the bill, whether more dates follow, and what the organizers eventually report raising will show how far that goes.
Macklemore ended his post by saying he can't wait to be together with the crowds. The first show is on 26 October; the lineups are still under wraps, and how much of that sold-out energy turns into documented aid remains to be seen.
