Macklemore repeats Palestine call in 17-song Red Rocks set

Macklemore used a 17-song Red Rocks Amphitheatre concert in Colorado on Thursday, October 22, to repeat “free Palestine” and criticize US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, NME’s article published October 24 said, citing Setlist FM.

The appearance matters because the dispute has moved from stage speech into tour economics. Macklemore pledged his entire $1 million in Sheeran-tour earnings to six organisations supporting Palestinians, while Robert Kraft confirmed a $2 million regional aid contribution, NME reported.

During the Red Rocks show, Macklemore framed his remarks as a humanitarian position rather than partisan speech. “Being a human being in this moment is not complicated,” he said, according to NME.

“It is not political. It is human to have a heart, to watch others suffering and to say, ‘Not anymore!’ So I say, free Palestine.

I say, free Palestine!” he said.

Macklemore also referred to Sudan, Congo, Lebanon and Haiti, and said: “to all the people that are affected by ICE in America, who are afraid to leave their houses.” After applause from the crowd, he added: “The message will always be love.”

The show extended a dispute that began when Macklemore opened for Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last month. NME reported that he called for “all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality,” addressed people in Gaza and the West Bank, declared “free Palestine” and performed his 2024 protest track “Hind’s Hall” with footage from Gaza.

The remarks drew criticism from Pink and the Israeli-American Council, according to NME. Macklemore later defended his position, saying that “wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial.”

Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft objected to Macklemore appearing at Sheeran’s scheduled shows at the venue, NME reported. Macklemore later confirmed he had been removed from the remaining dates, and said Sheeran told him Kraft and other stadium owners had opposed his place on the bill.

NME reported that Sheeran’s remaining support acts and backing band then withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore. The rapper’s $1 million pledge was half the size of Kraft’s confirmed $2 million humanitarian-aid contribution in the region.

Macklemore has since announced a brief “Free Palestine Tour” across the UK and Europe, with NME reporting that the benefit shows have sold out. “We put these shows together fast and in community, believing that musicians can stand in solidarity with Palestine, use the stage to raise funds and show what collective action can look like,” he wrote, according to NME.

Sheeran later apologized for “mistakes” in his handling of the dispute and said the fallout had made him question whether he wanted “to be an artist at all,” NME reported. His scheduled Gillette Stadium concerts were later cancelled because of “severe weather warnings” in the area.

Source: trade-press article, NME, 2026-10-24