Macklemore announces Free Palestine Tour after Ed Sheeran tour exit
Macklemore has announced a new concert series supporting Palestinian causes, with proceeds from shows in Dublin, Paris and London to benefit 12 organisations.
- Macklemore's new concert series will raise funds for organisations providing humanitarian and other support to Palestinians.
- The first shows are scheduled for Dublin, Paris and London between 26 and 30 October.
- The tour follows Macklemore's removal from Ed Sheeran's US tour after his pro-Palestinian performances.
American rapper Macklemore has announced a new concert series called the “Free Palestine Tour”, with proceeds from the shows to be donated to organisations supporting Palestinians.
The rapper announced the concerts on Thursday (24 September), weeks after he was removed from the remaining North American dates of Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks during a performance.
The first dates will take place in Europe, with concerts scheduled for Dublin on 26 October, Paris on 29 October and London on 30 October. Venues have confirmed the performances, while additional dates, including shows in the United States, are expected to be announced later.
The Dublin show will take place at 3Arena, while the Paris performance is scheduled for Accor Arena and the London show at OVO Arena Wembley.
Proceeds to Palestinian organisations
The concerts will be performed under the name Macklemore & Friends, with the rapper saying the series will centre on Palestine and Palestinians while raising humanitarian assistance and other support.
According to the official 3Arena announcement, proceeds will benefit 12 organisations: Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, HEAL Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Middle East Children's Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Institute for Middle East Understanding, Palestine Children's Relief Fund and UNRWA USA.
The organisations work in areas including medical care, humanitarian assistance, education, community support, advocacy and media-related work concerning Palestinians.
The Accor Arena listing similarly states that all proceeds from its 29 October concert will be donated to the organisations.
The artist's presale is scheduled to begin on 28 September, according to the venue announcement. Further cities and dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Removal from Sheeran's tour
The new concert series follows a dispute that began during Macklemore's appearance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 4 September, where he expressed support for Palestinians and performed his protest song Hind's Hall.
He subsequently lost his place on the remaining US dates of Sheeran's Loop Tour. The decision followed objections to his political statements and performances, including from Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium, where one of the scheduled concerts was due to take place.
Macklemore subsequently criticised his removal and described the episode as raising questions about which political views artists are permitted to express on major concert stages.
Sheeran later said Macklemore's contract was with the tour promoter rather than with him personally and that the decision to remove the rapper was made by the promoter. Sheeran also addressed the controversy during a concert in Philadelphia, saying that the situation in Gaza was “catastrophic and unjustifiable”.
Several performers associated with the tour subsequently withdrew, including Beoga, Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe, according to reports.
Macklemore pledges US$1 million to aid groups
The new tour follows another announcement by Macklemore earlier in September that he would donate US$1 million from his net earnings from Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians.
The six recipients are Palestine Children's Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, UNRWA USA National Committee and Anera. Macklemore also challenged Kraft to match his donation.
The donation followed Macklemore's earlier support for Palestinian humanitarian causes. He had previously pledged proceeds and streaming royalties from his songs Hind's Hall and Hind's Hall 2 to UNRWA USA.
According to UNRWA USA, royalties from those projects have generated more than US$509,000 in support.
The rapper's latest concert series will therefore combine live performances with fundraising for organisations working with Palestinians. The first three announced shows will take place in Dublin, Paris and London in late October, with further international dates to follow.
