Ed Sheeran took the stage at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Sept. 19 with no opener, no familiar backing band, and a tour that had been unraveling all week. Macklemore had been removed from the lineup after venue owners, led by Robert Kraft, pushed back on his statement of support for Palestine. The other openers and Sheeran’s band Beoga then dropped off in solidarity, leaving Sheeran to perform with a last-minute group led by violinist Alicia Enstrom.
Before his set, Sheeran addressed the crowd directly. He apologized, called the situation difficult, and described what’s happening in Gaza as“catastrophic, unjustifiable, and disproportionate.”He also said he’s been speaking with people across the spectrum about how to contribute. He admitted he wasn’t sure whether the tour would continue.
Then he played the show and called it“the best show of my life.”Whether the rest of the tour happens is still an open question, but the Philadelphia date proved something: losing your opener, your openers, and your band doesn’t necessarily mean losing the night. Do you think Sheeran should finish the tour?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.