Macklemore reveals that tickets for all three performances of his recently announced tour aimed at supporting Palestinians were swiftly snapped up.
This development occurred shortly after the four-time Grammy award winner unveiled the October show dates in Dublin, Paris, and London, dubbing it the Free Palestine tour.
The lineup for the shows, which will feature the rapper “and friends,” has yet to be disclosed by Macklemore. However, he mentioned on Wednesday that the details of the performers will be announced soon.
The rapper introduced the three-show European tour last week following his removal as the opening act for English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour.
Expressing his astonishment, Macklemore posted on Instagram, “We put these shows together rapidly and in collaboration, believing that musicians can demonstrate solidarity with Palestine, utilize the stage to raise funds, and exemplify the potential of collective action.”
While CBC News reached out to Macklemore’s representatives regarding potential shows in Canada, no response has been received yet.
According to a press release from Live Nation, the concerts will benefit various Palestinian aid organizations, including Gaza Soup Kitchen, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, and UNRWA USA.
Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran’s tour after venue owners in the U.S. threatened to cancel Sheeran’s shows if the rapper remained as the opening act, as per a statement from Messina Touring Group to Rolling Stone magazine.
In response, Sheeran issued a statement revealing that Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group, which owns Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., and several sports teams, was one of the individuals threatening cancellations.
Macklemore has long been vocal about his pro-Palestinian stance and has previously made similar statements on various platforms.
Following Sheeran’s statement, all other openers, including his backing band, withdrew from the tour. In his address at the Philadelphia show on Sept. 19, Sheeran mentioned that he never intended to be an activist musician.
Notably, the shows at Gillette Stadium were eventually canceled due to severe weather conditions.