Macklemore headlined the first of three free Free Palestine shows at Dublin's 3Arena on Monday night, October 26, bringing out Hozier, Kneecap, Beoga and other special guests. The sold-out concert marked the opening date of a tour the rapper says is aimed at raising support for humanitarian aid for Palestinians. Attendees were encouraged to donate to relief organisations providing medical aid, care, education and advocacy, including Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, UNRWA USA, Anera and Jewish Voice for Peace.
The shows follow a turbulent month for Macklemore. Last month he was abruptly removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after calling for a «Free Palestine» while on stage. Beoga, which had also been part of the Loop Tour lineup, withdrew from that run in support of Macklemore after he was dropped. At the Dublin show, the rapper performed a headline set that included chart-toppers «Thrift Shop» and «Can't Hold Us», and later appeared in a Kneecap jersey.
Kneecap took the stage after a video played on the screens showing people across different moments in history speaking out against injustice and calling for change. The footage included clips of Martin Luther King Jr. and the US Civil Rights movement, as well as material from across Ireland. Hozier, who performed hits including «Take Me To Church» and «Too Sweet», said it felt fitting for the first date to take place in Ireland, citing the country's «wonderful history of global solidarity» on issues of emancipation, justice and anti-racism.
Other performers on the bill included DJ Habibeats, M1 of Dead Prez and Lina Makoul. Guest speakers included activist Nadia Greenspan, artist Samir Eskanda and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham. Remote messages of support came from Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Mark Ruffalo, Natasha Rothwell and Cynthia Nixon.
In his remarks, Macklemore spoke about his removal from the Loop Tour and framed the phrase at the center of the controversy as one rooted in love and liberation. «Six weeks ago, it was two words,» he said. «Not against anybody. Not divisive. Not a call for hatred, but a call to recognise our shared humanity. Free Palestine.» He added that while the world debates those words, «the videos» show parents pulling children from rubble and families erased, and that the words had become more controversial than the suffering that made them necessary.
The next shows in the series are scheduled for Paris on Thursday, October 29, at the Accor Arena, and London's OVO Arena Wembley on Friday, October 30. All three are sold out. After his removal from Sheeran's tour, Macklemore defended his on-stage comments and pledged his entire $1 million earnings from the tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians. His first show after the removal took place at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Thursday, October 22, where he played a 17-song set and said he also called for freedom for Sudan, Congo, Lebanon, Haiti and communities affected by ICE in America.