After being removed from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour, Grammy Award winner Macklemore will soon return to the live stage. The rapper has announced “Free Palestine,” a series of performances with all proceeds to benefit Palestinian aid organizations.
The run will begin with three dates next month in Europe. It kicks off at Dublin's 3Arena on Oct. 26, followed by Paris' Accor Arena on Oct. 29 and London's OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 30.
Additional artist announcements, as well as U.S. dates, are forthcoming.
An artist presale begins at 10 a.m. local time Monday at Macklemore.com.
According to a press release from Live Nation, the shows will benefit several Palestinian aid organizations, including 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 an U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA USA.
“If these last couple of weeks have shown us anything, it’s that something has shifted over the last three years. There has been a collective awakening around Palestinian liberation, the power of billionaires that try to censor that call, and what we expect from artists right now,” Macklemore wrote on Instagram in the caption of his “Free Palestine” announcement. “When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.”
Last week, Macklemore made headlines when it was revealed that he was dropped as an opener for Ed Sheeran’s tour of North and South America because of the rapper’s onstage pro-Palestinian comments. Since then, all of Sheeran’s other supporting acts dropped out, including a group that plays with Sheeran during part of the show.
At the time, Sheeran said the decision to cut Macklemore from the Loop Tour was the promoter’s, not his own.
Macklemore said his removal was the result of an effort led by Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots. His Kraft Group also owns Gillette Stadium, where the NFL team plays and where Sheeran is scheduled to perform later this month.
Macklemore also announced he would donate $1 million from his net earnings from the tour to six organizations helping Palestinians.
FILE - U.S. rapper Macklemore performs on the Main Stage at the 42th Gurtenfestival edition in Bern, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP, File)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars are counting on one thing following their worst offensive performance in 11 months: a favorable response.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Lawrence said. “It’s the NFL. You’re going to play some good teams, you’re going to have some tough losses and you got to be able to respond the next week. And that says everything you need to know about your team.”
The Jaguars (1-1) will learn plenty when they host defending AFC champion New England (1-1) on Sunday in front of a reduced-capacity crowd at EverBank Stadium.
The Patriots are looking for answers, too. They have allowed a league-low 16 points through two games, but have scored just 30 points behind quarterback Drake Maye and running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
“One of the best things about getting new chances every week is having to let the other ones go,” Maye said.
Maye has one touchdown pass and four interceptions — already half as many INTs as he threw in 2025. He will be without star receiver A.J. Brown for the second consecutive week. Brown is on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
“I think we’re finding ourselves,” Maye said. “I think every time you get into a new season with new guys, new players and you’re battling injuries, every team in the league is trying to improve. Really for us, it’s about finding ourselves.”
The Pats have won nine of their past 10 road games, with the lone loss coming at reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle in the season opener. New England led most of the game before Maye threw three picks in the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, are looking to rebound after mustering just three second-half points in a 20-13 loss at Denver. Lawrence threw for 189 yards, with an interception and two sacks, behind a shaky offensive line.
“Coaches, players, everybody involved in that, we’ve got to be accountable,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “We have to connect, reconnect. We’ve got to move on and respond. That’s what it really comes down to. I’m excited to see us respond.”
New England (1-1) at Jacksonville (1-1)
When/where to watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS.
Latest odds: Jaguars by 3.
Against the spread: Patriots 2-0; Jaguars 1-1.
Last week: Patriots beat the Steelers 20-3; Jaguars lost to the Broncos 20-13.
Last meeting: Jaguars beat Patriots 32-16 on Oct. 20, 2024, in London.
Series record: Patriots lead 12-3.
A week after getting manhandled by Denver’s Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto, Jacksonville’s offensive line faces another big challenge against New England’s Christian Barmore and Milton Williams. Lawrence was hurried and harassed all afternoon in the loss. Creating more time for Lawrence against one of the best defenses in the NFL could be the key to Jacksonville rebounding from a loss or dropping two in a row for the first time in nearly a year.
— The game will be played in front of 42,000 fans, with the upper deck closed amid a $1.4 billion renovation to EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars will play the entire 2027 season outside Jacksonville.
— Patriots offensive line coach Doug Marrone will be on the visiting sideline in Jacksonville for the first time since getting fired as the Jaguars’ head coach in 2020.
— The fewest points the Patriots have allowed through three games is 17 in 2019, so they would need a shutout to break the franchise mark.
— Rhamondre Stevenson needs 37 yards against Jacksonville to pass Curtis Martin for fourth on the team’s career rushing list.
— No NFL team has more wins against AFC opponents over the past two seasons than the Jaguars, who have 11.
— Trevor Lawrence needs two passing touchdowns to pass Blake Bortles (103) for second place on the team’s career list. Mark Brunell holds the top spot with 144.
— The Jaguars hope to get two-way player Travis Hunter more involved on offense. He has played just 10 snaps on that side of the ball through two games.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel celebrates with teammates after Treveyon Henderson scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Foxboro, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Rico Dowdle (13) drives past New England Patriots' Christian Elliss (53) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Foxboro, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
