On Monday evening, during the opening night of a three-date Palestine relief series, Macklemore enjoyed backing from Hozier and Kneecap.
The Can’t Hold Us hitmaker, who had been removed as a supporting act on Ed Sheeran’s tour in September following his pro-Palestine remarks, answered by launching the three-show Free Palestine Tour.
Under his given name Ben Haggerty, the artist opened the sold-out run at Dublin’s 3Arena with support from Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap, Palestinian-American DJ and producer DJ Habibeats, Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul, and rapper M-1.
Beoga, the Irish folk outfit that stepped away from backing Sheeran in solidarity with Macklemore, also joined the lineup.
Variety reported that the evening opened with remarks from Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham, before performances by Makoul, Beoga and Hozier. During a musical interlude, video messages from stars such as Julian Casablancas of The Strokes and actress Ilana Glazer were displayed on the arena screens.
Avengers actor Mark Ruffalo also appeared in a video message, urging listeners: “Keep championing a free Palestine and humanity everywhere. There can be no peace without equality. Much love, enjoy the show, keep up the good fight.”
Upon stepping out for the main act, Macklemore reflected on his removal from Sheeran’s tour after voicing “two words”.
Two words were all it took—two terms rooted in love and liberation, he proclaimed. “Not aimed at anyone, not meant to divide. Not a call for hatred. But a plea to acknowledge our shared humanity. Free Palestine. I said, free Palestine!”
Somehow those words have drawn more controversy than the suffering that made them necessary, he continued. “That’s why we’re here tonight. That’s why we are here, because, throughout history, music has offered a space to resist, to unite as a community, to share our pain, to share our stories, to move from the heart, to mobilise people with the frequency of love.”
During the set, Macklemore was joined on stage by Australian singer Tones and I and his Same Love collaborator Mary Lambert. He also debuted a new track, Where Is Our Love?, addressing conflicts around the world, including Congo and Sudan.
The Free Palestine Tour is set to continue in Paris on Thursday and in London on Friday, with lineups not disclosed ahead of time.
All proceeds from the performances will go to charities aiding Palestine.
