Macklemore says he's 'blown away' after his 'Free Palestine' tour ‘sold out immediately': 'Art will always be a form of resistance'

Macklemore will head across the pond for the three shows — in Dublin, Paris and London — beginning on Oct. 26, where he’ll play the 3Arena, Accor Arena and OVO Arena Wembley respectively. The 3Arena and OVO Arena Wembley boast a concert capacity of 12,500-13,000, while Accor Arena can hold around 20,000. Tickets ranged between $84-$95, while tickets to a sold out solo Colorado show on Oct. 22 are reselling for as high as $1,400.

The Ed Sheeran controversy

Macklemore announced in mid-September that he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s tour following comments he made on stage that included, “Free Palestine. I want those words to be loud and clear, so the people from Gaza, all the way to the occupied West Bank, know that we have not forgotten them.”

He claimed that billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft told Sheeran that he’d “rallied some of the other stadium owners” to not allow the tour to play at their venues with Macklemore present. The tour’s promoter confirmed that some U.S. venues refused to let the concert proceed with Macklemore on the bill.

Meanwhile, Sheeran’s tour continues, though all of the original supporting acts have since dropped out.

The risk of mixing art and political activism

Macklemore has long tackled political issues in his music and activism, from his 2012 song “Same Love” that supports same-sex marriage and the 2024 pro-Palestinian track “Hind’s Hall” to speaking out against President Trump.

Moneywise reached out to the rapper’s representatives for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.

Macklemore’s ability to rebound from the controversy and establish his own headlining tour, however, is not only remarkable but also counter to the devastating blowback other artists have faced when taking a political stand.