Macklemore delivers speech about power of music at first Free Palestine gig

The 43-year-old – real name Benjamin Haggerty – announced the concerts last month after being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour over comments he made about Gaza.

Macklemore was joined onstage by Irish stars including singer Hozier, rap trio Kneecap and actor Liam Cunningham as he opened the tour with a sold-out show at the 3Arena on Monday.

Other celebrity guests included folk band Beoga, who were among Sheeran’s supporting acts that dropped out of his Loop tour following the controversy, while Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo also made an appearance via video.

Macklemore, who will also perform in Paris and London later this week, opened the performance with a passionate speech addressing his public support for Palestine amid the conflict with Israel.

In videos from the event, the musician said: “Six weeks ago, it was two words.

“Two words is all that it took. Two words that are rooted in love and liberation. Not against anybody, not divisive. Not a call for hatred. But a call to recognise our shared humanity.

“Free Palestine. I said free Palestine! The same thing that I want for all of us, freedom, dignity, the right to exist without fear.

“Being able to raise our children in the homes that we grew up in, not having to prove our humanity to the rest of the world.”

The crowd cheered as the Grammy-winning musician continued: “Somehow, those words have become more controversial than the suffering that made them necessary.

“That’s why we’re here tonight.

“Throughout history, music has given people a place to resist.

“To come together as a collective, to share our grief, to share our stories, to move from the heart, to mobilise people with the frequency of love.

“The heartbeat in our drum that makes us feel alive, that makes us feel connected.”

Elsewhere, Game Of Thrones star Cunningham also delivered a speech and urged the audience to “celebrate the humanity and life that Palestinians have fought so hard to protect” amid the “suffering in Gaza”.

Kneecap were also filmed addressing the crowd and discussed how there is “still not a ceasefire in Gaza”, and said they will “continue to use our platform for what we believe we need to do”.

Ruffalo, best known for playing the Incredible Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), told the crowd to “keep fighting for a free Palestine and for humanity all over the world” as he appeared via video.

Macklemore’s next Free Palestine performance will take place at Paris’s Accor Arena on October 29 and the tour will finish at London’s OVO Arena Wembley on October 30.

The musician, known for hits such as Thrift Shop and Same Love, previously said the gigs “sold out immediately” after going on sale last month.

The shows will bring together artists and friends to help provide humanitarian aid and support for people in Palestine.

All the proceeds from the concerts will go towards a number of organisations working in support of Palestinian people with medical care, humanitarian assistance, education, community support and advocacy.

Those organisations include Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, Heal Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Institute for Middle East Understanding, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and UNRWA USA.