Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour left with no openers after four acts quit over Macklemore removal

Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour has lost all of its opening acts after four support artists walked away over Macklemore's removal.

Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Irish band Beoga have all withdrawn from remaining dates in the United States and South America, leaving the bill empty, according to Rolling Stone.

Macklemore had been supporting the US leg of the tour. In early September, during a show at MetLife Stadium, he called for a free Palestine and performed his protest song Hind's Hall. Messina Touring Group, the tour's US promoter, announced on 14 September that he would not play the remaining support dates, Billboard reported.

Several venues allegedly said they would not allow a concert with Macklemore on the bill and threatened to cancel tour dates. Messina Touring Group said the decision to drop him was its own. Separately, Robert Kraft barred Macklemore from Sheeran's 25 and 26 September concerts at Gillette Stadium.

Aaron Rowe was the first to voluntarily withdraw. He had been opening Loop Tour shows since February. He said he could not stand by and allow billionaires to use power to silence voices speaking up against Israeli genocide.

Lukas Graham followed. The Danish pop act, part of the supporting line-up since August, announced on Instagram that he would leave the remaining US dates.

Beoga left next. The band had played a six-song mini set alongside Sheeran during the shows. The group cited what it described as the silencing of Macklemore by Zionist lobbies, and said playing venues that silence anyone advocating for Free Palestine was not an option for the band.

Finneas announced his withdrawal on 15 September. He had been due to begin a stint of opening dates in October, ahead of the South American leg set to begin in November. He said he was stepping away in support of Palestine and its people, and said artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.

For fans, this means the headline set goes ahead without a warm-up act. An opening act, the performer who plays before the main artist, is normally listed on the ticket. There are currently no openers remaining on the tour.