Well, well, well! Ed Sheeran‘s highly-followed (and controversial!) Loop Tour is getting some fresh faces on the lineup after allllll the drama surrounding Macklemore‘s removal! And now we finally know who’s stepping up to the mic!
According to brand-new reports coming out late Thursday and early Friday, The Fray‘s Isaac Slade and American Idol alum Brooks Rosser are joining Sheeran for select remaining North American dates. The announcements came out late on Thursday following weeks of controversy over Macklemore’s outspoken support for Palestine and subsequent pull-out from Sheeran’s scheduled sets.
Related: Ed Sheeran Apologizes To Fans After Pro-Palestine Supporters Protest Concert
Slade, 45, took to Instagram to reveal that he’ll open four upcoming shows: October 10 in Indianapolis, October 17 in Charlotte, October 24 in Arlington, Texas, and November 7 in Tampa. The How to Save a Life singer, who fronted The Fray from the band’s 2002 debut until his departure in 2022, kept his announcement short and sweet, writing:
“See you out there.”
Meanwhile, Rosser, 23, who finished in the top seven on American Idol‘s 24th season, is getting his own big moment! The singer announced he’ll join Sheeran and Slade for Saturday’s Indianapolis show, calling it his first performance since the singing competition.
On IG, he wrote:
“my first show since American Idol, and it’s at Lucas Oil Stadium opening for @teddysphotos. I’m beyond excited and grateful. See you Saturday!”
But not every date has an opener just yet! Sheeran’s October 29 and 30 performances at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, currently have no opening acts announced, per People.
ICYMI, Macklemore revealed early last month that he’d been removed from the tour after Sheeran told him that Robert Kraft, owner of Massachusettes’ Gillette Stadium, had objected to the rapper performing there because of his political comments regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, said stadium owners had collectively threatened to block Sheeran from their venues if he remained on the lineup. Sheeran later confirmed that he’d spoken with Kraft in an effort to “build a bridge,” but said the venue’s and promoter’s decision was final.
Related: Ed Sheeran Leaves Warner Music Group After 15 Years! What Happened?
And the fallout was HUGE!!! All of Sheeran’s opening acts and backing band dropped out in solidarity with Macklemore. The two scheduled Gillette Stadium shows were eventually canceled because of a nor’easter.
Macklemore later donated $1 million in tour earnings to Palestinian relief organizations and launched a three-date Free Palestine tour that he said sold out immediately. Kraft also said Sheeran asked him to match a $2 million humanitarian aid donation.
So, the Loop Tour lineup is changing once again! Will these new additions help settle the drama, or is this controversy far from over?
[Image via MEGA/WENN]