Macklemore performs to 13,000 in Dublin as Free Palestine tour begins

Macklemore opened his Free Palestine tour on Monday night at the 3Arena in Dublin. The 13,000 seats sold within minutes of going on sale. The rapper stood before a crowd wearing keffiyeh scarves, Palestinian flags, and red and green jerseys.

The concert marks the first stop on a tour organized after Macklemore was dropped as the opening act for Ed Sheeran. Sheeran's team cited stadium owners who threatened to block remaining dates if Macklemore stayed on the bill. Macklemore traced the split back to his comments at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He said the phrase Free Palestine became more controversial to some than the suffering that prompted the slogan.

"I am proud to stand here on stage in solidarity with the Palestinian people," Macklemore told the audience. He waved a Palestinian flag during much of the performance. He said the group will fight for collective liberation until their last breath.

The show featured several Irish acts who have publicly supported pro-Palestinian causes. Hozier, the group Kneecap, and the band Beoga performed. Beoga was one of the acts that left Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Palestinian singer Lina Makhoul and DJ Habibeats also took the stage. Liam Cunningham, an actor known for his role in Game of Thrones, spoke between sets.

Siobhan Lyons attended the show with her daughter. She said Macklemore made the event feel alive. Lyons described the rapper as a speaker for the current moment who reaches people effectively. She said she left the venue feeling eager to be part of the movement.

The tour continues in Paris and London this week. Macklemore has said US dates will be announced later. Palestinian authorities report that more than 74,000 people have died in Gaza since October 7, 2023. Israeli officials deny their actions amount to genocide.