Macklemore Tour Rapper announces Free Palestine shows across Europe

The Macklemore Tour will begin in Dublin on October 26, followed by a performance at Paris’ Accor Arena on October 29 and London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 30. The rapper announced the dates on September 24.

Macklemore said he is still finalising the line-ups for the shows. He said he had contacted artists who had used their platforms to express solidarity with Palestinians despite potential consequences.

Further artist announcements are expected. Macklemore also said he plans to announce dates in the United States later.

All proceeds from the concerts will support 12 organisations working on medical care, humanitarian assistance, education, advocacy and community support for Palestinians. The organisations include Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, HEAL Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and UNRWA USA.

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The new shows follow Macklemore’s removal from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour. The decision came after the rapper made pro-Palestinian remarks during performances in New Jersey earlier this month.

Macklemore later said he would donate his reported $1 million earnings from Sheeran’s tour to organisations supporting Palestinians. Several other support acts and Sheeran’s backing musicians subsequently withdrew from the tour.

Announcing the new shows, Macklemore said he wanted to work with artists willing to use their platforms to support Palestinian causes. He also said recent events had highlighted wider questions about the role of artists and public platforms.

Fans can register through Macklemore’s website for the artist pre-sale, which begins at 10am local time on September 28. The general sale begins at 10am local time on September 30.