All remaining opening acts for Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour — Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, Finneas and house band Beoga — have announced they will withdraw from upcoming shows in solidarity with Macklemore after he was removed from the North American dates. The promoter, Messina Touring Group, says venues threatened to cancel shows if Macklemore stayed on the bill and removed him after stakeholder consultations. Ticketmaster and Sheeran’s site indicate refunds are limited and sales are final, while Sheeran maintains the promoter, not he, made the decision.
All Remaining Opening Acts Quit Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour in Protest After Macklemore Is Removed
Ed Sheeran performs at Madison Square Garden in New York City last year.(Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
The future of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour is uncertain after every remaining opening act announced they would withdraw in solidarity with rapper Macklemore, who was removed from the North American leg after making pro‑Palestinian remarks at a recent stadium show.
What Happened
Hours after Sheeran posted that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the promoter and not by him, supporting artists — Irish singer Aaron Rowe, Danish pop group Lukas Graham, songwriter and producer Finneas (Finneas O'Connell), and Sheeran’s house band Beoga — said they would no longer perform on upcoming dates in protest.
Finneas: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed. I have decided to withdraw from my upcoming tour dates with Ed Sheeran. I stand with Palestine and its people.”
Aaron Rowe and Beoga framed their decisions in the context of Ireland’s history and their activism. Rowe described his choice as painful given his friendship with Sheeran but said he could not remain silent in the face of what he characterized as atrocities in Gaza. Beoga noted its role in the Irish Artists for Palestine movement.
Finneas O'Connell attends the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.(John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Promoter, Venues and The Decision To Remove Macklemore
The promoter, Messina Touring Group, told Rolling Stone it was notified by venues on Sheeran’s upcoming U.S. tour that they would “not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans.” After discussions with stakeholders, Messina said it removed Macklemore.
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, publicly said Macklemore would not be welcome at Gillette for the late‑September dates. Macklemore has accused Kraft of rallying other stadium owners to pressure Sheeran’s tour.
Ticketing And Fan Options
Ticketmaster says refund policies are set by event organizers and apply only in limited circumstances. Its standard terms note: “Opening Acts are subject to change or cancellation at any time without notice. No refund will be given due to a change in or cancellation of a Participant or Opening Act.” Sheeran’s official site also states that sales are final.
Macklemore performs in Dublin in 2025.(Kieran Frost/Redferns via Getty Images)
Affected Dates
Several North American dates remain on the schedule and are not reported as sold out. Remaining U.S. dates listed on Sheeran’s site include:
- Sept. 19 — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Sept. 25–26 — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
- Oct. 3 — Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Oct. 10 — Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
- Oct. 17 — Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
- Oct. 24 — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Oct. 29–30 — Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Fla.
- Nov. 7 — Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Finneas had been scheduled to join Sheeran for South American dates including shows in Santiago, Asunción, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
Context: Macklemore’s Remarks And The Song “Hind’s Hall”
Macklemore spoke at Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium shows earlier in September and performed “Hind’s Hall,” a protest song named for Hind Rajab, a five‑year‑old Palestinian girl who was killed when Israeli troops opened fire on the car carrying her family in Gaza. Israel’s military later acknowledged firing on the vehicle and said it had launched a criminal investigation into the incident.
Robert Kraft speaks to the media at Tom Brady's induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in Foxborough, Mass., in 2024.(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Onstage, Macklemore called for a “Free Palestine” message from stadium stages and said his criticism of Israeli policies was not criticism of Jewish people. His comments drew criticism from some artists and pro‑Israel groups; the Israeli‑American Council launched a petition calling for his removal.
Sheeran’s Position
Sheeran said he had spoken with venue owners “to try and build a bridge,” but that the venues’ decision was final. He emphasized on Instagram that Macklemore’s removal was the promoter’s decision, and added that he does not use his concerts as political forums — though critics noted Sheeran has publicly supported causes before, such as performing for Ukraine relief efforts in 2022.
What’s Next
At the time of reporting, Sheeran’s tour site still listed the supporting acts, and Messina Touring Group had not provided additional comment beyond its statement to Rolling Stone. It remains uncertain whether the promoter, the venues, or ticketing platforms will offer refunds or exchanges for fans who object to the lineup changes or wish to protest.
Reporting note: This account summarizes public statements from the artists, the promoter, venue owners, and ticketing policies as of the latest updates. Statements and venue decisions may evolve.
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