Ed Sheeran to Perform Solo in Philadelphia After Support Acts Withdraw

Ed Sheeran is slated to resume his "Loop Tour" Saturday in Philadelphia, performing potentially as a solo act after all his opening performers withdrew from the tour. The series of withdrawals began after opener Macklemore was dropped from the lineup following pro-Palestinian statements made during a Sept. 5 concert in New Jersey.

Macklemore, who had been Sheeran's original U.S. opener, was initially replaced by Danish band Lukas Graham and Irish singer Aaron Rowe. However, both acts subsequently withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Finneas, brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish, also canceled his planned opening sets for Sheeran's upcoming South American dates.

Sheeran is scheduled to perform at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday. It remains unclear how the solo performance will be structured, as Sheeran has often performed parts of his sets with his band Beoga. As of Friday, tickets were still available for the concert, and Sheeran's website had not listed any replacement acts.

A coalition of pro-Palestinian organizations has announced plans to protest outside the venue on Saturday afternoon.

Sheeran has stated that he was not responsible for Macklemore's removal, a decision reportedly influenced by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose company owns a stadium where Sheeran's tour was scheduled to play. Sheeran's representatives have not publicly commented on the situation.

Macklemore announced Wednesday that he is donating $1 million to Palestinian relief efforts and called on Kraft to match the donation. A spokesperson for Kraft stated that both Kraft and Sheeran have agreed to donate $2 million, though the specific recipients have not been disclosed.

Sheeran's "Loop Tour" has been a significant financial success, reportedly averaging over $7 million per city in box office gross. In May, Pollstar named it the highest-grossing tour globally. Sheeran was also listed as the third highest-earning concert act since 2021.

In a statement earlier in the week, Sheeran emphasized that tour promoters ultimately held responsibility for booking decisions and expressed a desire to avoid political discussions during his concerts, stating fans attend his shows for the music. He also indicated efforts to mediate the situation prior to Macklemore's removal, seeking to "build a bridge" with venues. He maintained that he would not let down his fans or touring crew.

Experts suggest that while promoters and venues have influence, artists of Sheeran's stature typically have the final say regarding tour operations.