Ed Sheeran has added former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade as a supporting act for his ongoing Loop tour in the United States, following the sudden exit of rapper Macklemore over pro-Palestinian remarks, NPO 3FM reported. The lineup change follows a turbulent stretch for the tour that saw previous support acts and backing musicians depart.
Isaac Slade Joins the Loop Tour in Atlanta
Isaac Slade stepped onto the stage on a Saturday evening in Atlanta to perform a brief set of well-known tracks by The Fray, including “How to Save a Life,” “You Found Me,” and “Over My Head (Cable Car),” Weekend Online reported. Slade led the rock band during their peak commercial success in the early 2000s before stepping down as frontman in 2022. His addition comes as Sheeran works to fill the remaining twelve dates of the American leg of his tour. Before this change, Macklemore had been slated for the opening slot and had already performed twice during the U.S. leg of the Loop tour.
Macklemore Departs After Gaza Remarks
The tour overhaul began in early September when rapper Macklemore used a performance to draw attention to Gaza and shouted “Free Palestine,” prompting severe backlash from several American concert venues scheduled to host the tour, according to Weekend Online. Venue management teams threatened cancellations, which led to Macklemore’s removal from the lineup. Following his exit, remaining support acts and Sheeran’s backing band also stepped down from the tour.
Differing Stances on the Middle East Conflict
American media outlets quoted Slade telling the audience that everyone is choosing a side and calling what is happening in Gaza wrong, while emphasizing the need for people who take a middle position. What is happening there is wrong, but if we want to get through it, we need people who take that middle position.
, he stated. Sheeran previously addressed the disruption directly during a concert in Philadelphia, where he appeared visibly emotional and offered apologies to fans for the ongoing controversy.
Twelve Remaining Tour Dates Face Uncertainty
With Slade stepping in for the Atlanta performance, the remaining schedule leaves open questions regarding who will fill the support slots for the final twelve shows of the Loop tour. For these upcoming dates, organizers have confirmed that a special guest
is again planned to serve as the opening act.
A Tour Defined by Political Friction
The recent instability marks a sharp contrast to the tour’s earlier momentum, as Sheeran continues to handle the fallout from the Macklemore controversy, which is a focal point of the production's current U.S. run.
Keep reading