Macklemore has announced that his newly established Free Palestine Tour has sold out immediately across all scheduled European dates. The Seattle rapper took to social media to share that tickets for his performances in Dublin, Paris, and London were claimed within minutes of going live, demonstrating significant public support following his high-profile departure from Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour.
The headlining run was organized in the wake of Macklemore being removed from several dates on Ed Sheeran’s tour. The artist attributed his removal to his vocal support for the Palestinian people during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In a statement shared on Wednesday, Macklemore expressed his gratitude to his fanbase, noting that the rapid sell-out serves as a testament to the power of collective action and artistic resistance. “I’m honestly blown away,” Macklemore stated. “We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like. When those in power try to silence our calls for liberation, art will always be a form of resistance.”
The tour is scheduled to begin in Dublin on October 26, followed by a performance in Paris on October 29, and concluding the European leg in London on October 30. Macklemore has indicated that dates for a United States leg will be announced in the future. The controversy surrounding his tour removal intensified after Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, confirmed he barred Macklemore from performing at his venue. Kraft cited “recent actions” and “antisemitic rhetoric” as the basis for the decision, referring to Macklemore’s onstage comments in New Jersey. Macklemore, however, characterized the move as a pressure campaign aimed at silencing his political stance and reaffirmed his commitment to the cause.
Following the removal, other opening acts on the tour reportedly dropped off the bill in solidarity with Macklemore, leading Ed Sheeran to perform without support acts during his Philadelphia stop. Macklemore’s independent tour will see all proceeds benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian movement, featuring artists who have used their platforms to stand in solidarity regardless of the professional consequences. He emphasized that these platforms mean very little if artists are only willing to use them when it is safe to do so.
From Rolling Stone