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Macklemore closes his Free Palestine Tour at a sold-out Wembley with Greta Thunberg and Hollywood on the bill
Over 12,500 people filled OVO Arena Wembley for the last of three sold-out European nights, with proceeds going to organizations supporting Palestinian communities.
A sold-out finish in London
More than 12,500 people packed OVO Arena Wembley in London, and every ticket for the night was sold. [1] Macklemore brought the final night of his Free Palestine Tour there on Friday. [1]
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among the guest speakers. [1] Hollywood actors Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, Cynthia Nixon, Melissa Barrera and Julian Casablancas took part remotely. [1]
How the three nights ran
The run started October 26 at Dublin's 3Arena, moved to Paris' Accor Arena on October 29 and ended October 30 at Wembley. [2] All three European dates sold out less than a week after the series was announced. [2]
Macklemore kicked off the tour in Dublin on Monday with special guests Hozier, Kneecap and Boega. [3] In Paris on Thursday night, he performed with a roster of artists including Aurora, Portugal The Man and Tamer Nafar. [3]
Aurora sang The Seed in Paris. [3] Francesca Albanese, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the West Bank and Gaza, was a guest speaker. [3]
Macklemore told the Paris crowd that the artists and speakers had come together with one common goal, a free Palestine. [3] Green and red confetti, colors of the Palestinian flag, covered the sold-out crowd while he was lifted over the barricade during Can't Hold Us. [3]
The Sheeran dispute
Venues set to host Ed Sheeran's concerts threatened to pull out if Macklemore was on the bill. [1] Sheeran said the decision to drop Macklemore was a promoter decision. [1]
In response to his removal, Macklemore launched his own benefit concert series with artists in London. [1] Macklemore said it was more uncomfortable for him to stay silent than to say something about the situation with Sheeran. [1] He also said that saying something is human, and that the children in Gaza are our children. [1]
Sheeran was emotional when he addressed the controversy onstage in Philadelphia last month, saying his concerts have always been a safe space for everyone. [1] He said he was deeply worried about the idea that venues pre-approve content for performance. [1]
Fifty members of the British House of Lords urged the U.K. government to ban Macklemore's concert. [1]
Where the money goes
All proceeds from the Dublin, Paris and London concerts will go toward organizations supporting Palestinian communities. [1] They include Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestinian Youth Movement, Heal Palestine, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Jewish Voices for Peace and the UNRWA USA National Committee. [3]
According to the British Red Cross, the death toll in Gaza is over 69,000, and almost 1,200 Israelis were killed in the October 7, 2023 attack. [1]
What it means for you
If you wanted a ticket to the European shows, all three dates have sold out. [2] The shows are billed as Macklemore & Friends: Free Palestine, and additional artists had not yet been announced. [2]
If you are in the U.S., Macklemore said more cities, including U.S. dates, are still coming. [2]
Sources
- Macklemore Wraps Up Free Palestine Tour in London: “It Was More Uncomfortable for Me to Stay Silent” — The Hollywood Reporter
- Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ Shows Sold Out in London, Paris, Dublin After Ed Sheeran Tour Exit — The Source Magazine
- ‘One Common Goal’: Macklemore, Aurora, and More Unite in Paris for Free Palestine Tour — Rolling Stone
Written from the sources above and checked twice before publishing. How we work · Report an error
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