Macklemore Opens Free Palestine Tour in Dublin
The rapper launched his new itinerary in Ireland after being removed from Ed Sheeran's opening slot, with the first show selling out in minutes.
By Harper Hassan ·
13,000 tickets for the show at Dublin's 3Arena sold out within minutes of going on sale. The crowd filled the venue on Monday evening for the first date of the "Free Palestine" tour. Many attendees wore black, red, and green football jerseys, keffiyeh scarves, and Palestinian flags. Vendors outside the arena sold similar items to fans gathering for the concert.
The tour began following the rapper's removal from Ed Sheeran's US tour. Sheeran's team dropped Macklemore as the opening act after he criticized Israel's war in Gaza. This incident occurred six weeks prior at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Macklemore cited the rallying cry "Free Palestine" as the specific cause for his dismissal. He stated that stadium owners threatened to bar further shows with him on the bill for the remaining dates of Sheeran's tour.
"Six weeks ago, two words is all that it took," Macklemore told the audience. He waved a Palestinian flag during much of his set. He claimed the words are "more controversial than the suffering that made them necessary." The audience chanted "Free Free Palestine" throughout the performance.
Supporting acts included Irish artists Hozier, Kneecap, and Beoga. Beoga previously quit Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Palestinian singer Lina Makhoul and DJ Habibeats also performed. Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham spoke between sets. Siobhan Lyons, a Dublin attendee, described the rapper as a necessary voice for the current moment. She said the experience made her feel part of something larger.
Macklemore vowed to continue speaking out against the conflict. He expressed pride in standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The tour is scheduled to visit Paris and London this week. US dates are expected to be announced later. Palestinian authorities report more than 74,000 deaths in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023. Israeli officials deny their actions constitute genocide.
The concert marked the first leg of a multi-city itinerary. The lineup features a mix of Irish and Palestinian musicians. The event took place in an overwhelmingly pro-Palestinian country. Fans gathered in the streets before entering the venue. The show served as a public response to the earlier cancellation of his opening role for Sheeran.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
