Macklemore’s Free Palestine tour launches in Dublin with Hozier — SkimNews
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- Macklemore headlined the first European date of his Free Palestine tour at Dublin’s 13,000-capacity 3Arena, which was sold out, marking a significant rise in turnout compared to his last European tour.
- Ed Sheeran indirectly catalyzed the Free Palestine tour after Robert Kraft pressured him to remove Macklemore from his summer US tour following a pro-Palestine speech, leading to Macklemore’s removal and widespread artist backlash.
- Kneecap made a surprise appearance at the Dublin show, delivering a chaotic and politically charged set that referenced The Troubles and Sinéad O’Connor, igniting mosh pits and audience fervor.
- Hozier performed a set heavy on hits like Take Me to Church and Too Sweet, and displayed a QR code linking to a petition for 55 Gaza students denied visas to study in Ireland, aligning his appearance with direct advocacy.
- Beoga, the Irish folk band who quit Sheeran’s tour alongside Macklemore, were celebrated as heroes and revealed themselves as founding members of Irish Artists For Palestine, underscoring their long-standing political commitment.
- Dead Prez, the political US hip-hop duo, appeared on stage, reinforcing the event’s activist tone, while video messages from Mark Ruffalo, Cynthia Nixon, and Julian Casablancas were shown to audience approval.
Why it matters: Macklemore transformed a career setback into a high-visibility platform for Palestinian advocacy, drawing major artists and sold-out crowds, with tangible outcomes like visa petition promotion and aid fundraising—proving that artistic solidarity can amplify political causes when aligned with cultural momentum and public sentiment.
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