Macklemore spoke out, lost his Ed Sheeran support slot, and turned it into a tour for Palestine.

In early September, Macklemore was opening for Ed Sheeran. Last week, he was headlining three arenas of his own, with Hozier, Kneecap, Aurora, Pomme and Paloma Faith among the artists joining him.

The shows weren't part of a conventional tour. They were organised in September, after Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of Sheeran's Loop Tour following his onstage support for Palestine at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. "Free Palestine," he told the crowd there on 4 September. "The people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them."

Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venues had refused to host concerts featuring the rapper. Sheeran later said it was "the promoter's decision, it was not mine". Four other acts withdrew from upcoming dates in solidarity: Finneas, Lukas Graham, the Irish singer Aaron Rowe and Beoga, the Irish folk band who play on Sheeran's "Galway Girl".

"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," Finneas wrote. Lukas Graham: "It's hard to watch families in other parts of the world burying the people they love." Beoga's statement included a line that was easy to miss: "We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be."

Macklemore's response was to organise his own concerts.

"So, as you all know, my schedule freed up a bit," he wrote when announcing the Free Palestine Tour on 24 September.

By the end of October, that newly available schedule had become three arena shows, with proceeds going to twelve organisations supporting Palestinians through humanitarian assistance, medical care, education and advocacy. "All three shows sold out immediately," he wrote a few days after the announcement. "I'm honestly blown away."

Dublin: Hozier, Kneecap and the band from "Galway Girl"

The first show took place at Dublin's 3Arena on 26 October. Actor Liam Cunningham opened the evening: "Enjoying tonight does not mean forgetting about the suffering in Gaza."

Hozier played "Take Me to Church" and "Too Sweet", and told the room: "We have a wonderful history of global solidarity when it comes to issues of emancipation and justice." Belfast trio Kneecap came on after a video on the big screens.

Beoga were there too. A month after walking off Sheeran's tour, they played a set of their own.

Palestinian singer Lina Makoul, M-1 of Dead Prez and DJ Habibeats also performed. Video messages came from Mark Ruffalo, Cynthia Nixon and The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, among others.

Macklemore closed with a ten-song set, including "Thrift Shop" and "Can't Hold Us", at one point wearing a Kneecap jersey. Looking back at how the night had come about, he told the audience: "Two words is all that it took."

Paris: Aurora, Pomme and Portugal. The Man

Three days later, the tour arrived at Paris's Accor Arena. Norwegian singer Aurora joined French artist Pomme, American band Portugal. The Man, rappers Redveil and Tamer Nafar, and Palestinian-Jordanian singer Zeyne. Siba, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and DJ Habibeats were also on the programme.

Aurora sang "The Seed", the song she performed at Glastonbury 2024 as a tribute to the children of Gaza. Afterwards she wrote on Instagram: "None of us are free, until we all are free."

Speakers included the actor Carice van Houten, with video messages from Susan Sarandon and Javier Bardem. Macklemore told the room they were in "a collective awakening, remembering who we are."

London: the final night at Wembley

The run ended on 30 October at London's OVO Arena Wembley. Greta Thunberg opened the evening, and told a room full of benefit-ticket holders that this would not be enough: "The occupation will not end by philanthropy and slogans."

Paloma Faith: "Right now, this world doesn't feel very safe for children." Palestinian-Canadian singer Nemahsis: "My existence is the strongest form of resistance." Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos also addressed the audience.

Macklemore's set included "Thrift Shop", "Same Love", "Glorious" and "Can't Hold Us", alongside "Hind's Hall", his 2024 protest song. He ended on: "Those children in Gaza are our children. There is no separation."

What it added up to

No total has been published for the three nights yet. Some of what happened along the way is easier to count. The day after Macklemore was dropped, "Hind's Hall" had nearly 87,000 US on-demand streams, its best day in more than two years. Aaron Rowe had his best US streaming day ever, up 2,665% on the day before. Sheeran's numbers barely moved (early Luminate data, via Billboard). Macklemore pledged his net earnings from the Loop Tour, $1 million, to Palestinian aid organisations, and Ms. Rachel said she would match it.

Macklemore has never been an artist who keeps politics entirely separate from his music. Songs such as "Same Love" and, more recently, "Hind's Hall" have made his positions part of his public work.

Gaza is not a new subject for him either. Weeks after the 7 October attacks in 2023, he called for a ceasefire. He called the attacks an "abomination", and said that "killing innocent humans in retaliation as collective punishment is not the answer." "Hind's Hall" followed in May 2024, later a sequel, "Hind's Hall 2", and in September 2024 he played a Palestine benefit concert in his home town of Seattle. By the time he got to MetLife, he had been saying the same thing for nearly three years.

What made these October concerts different was the number of other musicians who chose to take part.

More cities, including US dates, were promised when the shows sold out. At the time of writing, none have been announced.