US rapper Macklemore has officially announced a new concert series titled the "Free Palestine Tour." The artist stated that all proceeds generated from these performances will be donated to organizations providing support to Palestinians. The tour is scheduled to commence with shows in Dublin on October 26, Paris on October 29, and London on October 30. Additional dates and supporting artists are expected to be announced at a later time.
The announcement follows Macklemore's removal from British singer Ed Sheeran's US tour. The rapper had been performing his pro-Palestinian track, "Hind's Hall," and advocating for a "Free Palestine" during his appearances, including at a concert in New Jersey earlier this month. Addressing the removal, Macklemore stated in a social media post that the situation was "bigger than one artist or one stage." He argued that when the "billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention."
Ed Sheeran previously explained that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour's US promoter following objections from specific venues. Sheeran noted that he had attempted to find a resolution with the venues. Following the removal, Sheeran faced calls for a boycott, and several other artists withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. During a performance in Philadelphia on September 19, Sheeran addressed the controversy again, describing the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic and unjustifiable" while emphasizing his desire for his concerts to remain spaces focused on unity rather than political discourse.
Macklemore has remained a vocal supporter of Palestinians since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza. In 2024, he released "Hind's Hall," a song named after a Palestinian girl killed in the conflict, and pledged the proceeds to humanitarian groups.
