Macklemore Opens Three-Show 'Free Palestine' Charity Tour in Dublin With Hozier and Kneecap
Photo: NBC NewsRapper Macklemore opened his three-show "Free Palestine" charity tour in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday, Oct. 26, just over a month after he was removed as an opener on Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour following onstage comments supporting Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Hozier and Kneecap appeared as surprise guests, as did Beoga, the band that left Sheeran's tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Palestinian singer-songwriter Lina Makoul, M-1 of Dead Prez and Palestinian-American DJ Habibeats also performed. Irish actor Liam Cunningham gave opening remarks, saying that enjoying the night did not mean forgetting suffering in Gaza. Psychotherapist Nadia Greenspan and organizer Samir Eskanda also addressed the crowd. Hozier praised Ireland's history of solidarity on emancipation and justice. Macklemore dedicated the show to love and liberation, and the shows are meant to raise money for Palestine.
Left-leaning Rolling Stone leads with the tour launch and the lineup, which had been kept secret beforehand. It features quotes from Beoga, Hozier and Cunningham and names the performers and speakers; the portion available gives little of Macklemore's own speech. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had. Among alternative sources, Variety centers Macklemore's own words, with a headline about how threatening two words are to some people, and presents the night as a call for unity. France 24 mentions the charity stadium shows only briefly, as one item in a weekly music roundup next to John Legend's new album. All three coverage items agree the shows are a charity effort for Palestine; only Rolling Stone and Variety tie the tour to the Sheeran dispute.
How the sides differ Left sources emphasize the lineup and guest speakers; alternative sources stress Macklemore's own message or treat it briefly; right sources had not covered it.
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Rolling Stone leads with the Dublin launch, detailing the guest performers, speakers and quotes from Beoga, Hozier and Liam Cunningham, plus the background of Macklemore's removal from Sheeran's tour.
Variety foregrounds Macklemore's own remarks about love, liberation and unity, with Hozier and Kneecap as surprise guests; France 24 mentions the charity shows briefly in a weekly music roundup.