Macklemore Leads Sold-Out Free Palestine Benefit Concert in Dublin

Macklemore opened a free-Palestine benefit concert series on Monday night at Dublin’s 3Arena, drawing a sold-out crowd and a lineup that included Hozier, Kneecap and Irish folk group Beoga. Guest appearances featured singer-songwriter Lina Makoul, M1 of Dead Prez, DJ Habibeats, actor Liam Cunningham, activist Nadia Greenspan and organizer Samir Eskanda, while Mark Ruffalo, Julian Casablancas, Cynthia Nixon, Ilana Glazer and Natasha Rothwell joined remotely.

Organizers said the three-city run will channel proceeds to humanitarian relief, medical care, education and advocacy efforts for Palestinians, naming beneficiaries such as Anera, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Jewish Voice for Peace and UNRWA USA.

The tour follows Macklemore’s departure from the North American leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after he voiced support for a “Free Palestine” message at MetLife Stadium. He later alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft pressured venues to bar him, a claim Kraft confirmed regarding Gillette Stadium. Sheeran attributed the cancellation to his promoter.

"Free Palestine," Macklemore told the MetLife crowd, adding that he would donate his $1 million net earnings from the tour to Palestinian aid groups.

The Dublin concert came days after Macklemore performed a 17-song set at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where he again called for a free Palestine and highlighted crises in Sudan, Congo, Lebanon, Haiti and U.S. immigration enforcement.

The benefit series will continue at Paris’ Accor Arena on October 29 and conclude at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 30, with both shows also sold out.