Irish band Beoga announced they remain friends with Ed Sheeran despite quitting his North American tour over the removal of American rapper Macklemore, rte.ie reported. The quintet—comprising Niamh Dunne, Liam Bradley, Seán Óg Graham, Damian McKee, and Eamon Murray—withdrew from their guest slots on Sheeran’s Loop tour in September following a controversy surrounding Macklemore’s comments about Gaza.
Tour Departures and the Macklemore Controversy
Macklemore was removed from the tour after performing at Ed Sheeran’s New Jersey shows on September 4, where he voiced support for Palestine, according to USA Today. The Messina Touring Group, the promoter behind the U.S. leg, stated that venues refused to host concerts with Macklemore on the lineup, threatening cancellations that would impact hundreds of thousands of fans. USA Today reported that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns Gillette Stadium, opposed the rapper’s performance and rallied other stadium owners to object. Sheeran subsequently stated in a social media post that Macklemore’s departure was the promoter’s decision, writing that upcoming tour dates had communicated they would pull shows if the rapper remained.
In response to Macklemore’s exit, Finneas O’Connell, Danish band Lukas Graham, Irish singer Aaron Rowe, and Beoga all dropped out of the Loop Tour. Finneas announced on September 15 that he was withdrawing from six South American shows scheduled for November and December, stating that artists must not be silenced when speaking for the oppressed. Lukas Graham cited the difficulty of watching families bury loved ones and argued that money should not decide who gets to speak. Aaron Rowe and Beoga also announced their departures on September 15, with Beoga stating that playing venues which silence advocates for a free Palestine was not an option.
Beoga’s Solidarity with Garvaghy Road Residents
Following their departure from the tour, Beoga joined residents of the Garvaghy Road on a Wednesday night as the Drumcree stand-off continued, rte.ie reported. Niamh Dunne told RTÉ Radio 1’s News at One that she was blown away by the extraordinary community, describing working-class people showing up for dignity and peace across generations with pots of tea and stew. Dunne noted that residents had been left to stand out in bad weather for almost 30 years and questioned why the community was put in that position. The Orange Order and residents of the Garvaghy Road are to be invited to another round of talks to resolve the stand-off, according to rte.ie.
While IBTimes reported that Beoga’s official biography lists more than 1.4 billion Spotify streams for “Galway Girl” alone, Dunne emphasized on News at One that the band was not the story. She stated that the focus must remain on the plight of Palestinians and criticized the social media pile-on for taking away from the fundamental fact of a genocide taking place in Palestine.
Answers regarding Macklemore and supporting artists leaving the tour
Why was Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour?
Macklemore was removed from the lineup after venue owners, including Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, threatened to pull upcoming shows if the rapper performed following his pro-Palestinian remarks at a September 4 concert in New Jersey.
Which artists withdrew from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour?
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga all voluntarily dropped out of their scheduled guest slots and supporting dates in September in solidarity with Macklemore.
How long has Beoga worked with Ed Sheeran?
Beoga’s friendship and musical collaboration with Ed Sheeran dates back over a decade, including contributing traditional Irish instrumentation to his hit tracks “Galway Girl” and “Nancy Mulligan” on his album ÷.
What event did Beoga attend in Northern Ireland after leaving the tour?
Beoga joined residents on the Garvaghy Road on Wednesday night to lend support through music and solidarity during the ongoing Drumcree stand-off.
More on Ed Sheeran
Keep reading