The Live World: The Ed Exodus, Saddling Up for Stagecoach, Don't Tour Back In Anger

Each week, we track major tour announcements and live world news across ROSTR & NIF. The Live World is your weekly Thursday wrap-up of the live music biz stories you should know about. Let's take a look at this week's…

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In the biggest story of the week, all of Ed Sheeran's openers for his Loop tour have withdrawn from their dates in solidarity with Macklemore, who was removed from the tour over his pro-Palestine onstage comments. Macklemore has since pledged the $1M he earned from the tour towards Palestinian aid, urging billionaire and Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft to do the same, who advised Sheeran his tour would not be permitted at his stadium if Macklemore played. Kraft claims he is already planning on committing $2M toward humanitarian aid in Palestine at the request of Sheeran days prior.

FINNEAS announced his decision to leave the tour on social media, stating "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed." Aaron Rowe similarly noted "I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children." Danish group Lukas Graham added that nobody's bank balance "should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we’re allowed to acknowledge.” The Irish band Beoga, who served as Sheeran's backing band, also stated "As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be.”

While Sheeran has expressed he is "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine," he said he does not use his professional platform for politics because his "audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.” Sheeran has yet to comment on his openers all dropping out.

Oasis announced a 2027 run of 11 dates stopping in both the US and Europe starting late May in Glasgow.

Oprah Winfrey will take the stage at Sphere in April for a two-hour music and arts show featuring Jacob Collier, poet Ocean Vuong, musician Ajeet & singer Wintley Phipps amongst others.

🎟️ Festival Headlines:

• Stagecoach unveiled its lineup – unconventionally before Coachella's lineup this time around – with Riley Green, Garth Brooks & Zach Top set to headline

• Tahoe Live will return this December with headliners GRiZ, Knock2, Chris Lake

• Also in April, Knoxville's Big Ears festival will feature performances from Jeff Tweedy, Robert Glasper, Weyes Blood, Oneohtrix Point Never & more

• Germany's simultaneous rock festivals Rock am Ring & Rock im Park announced blink-182, Turnstile, Bring Me The Horizon & more as headliners

❌ Cancellations:

• The inaugural Ocean Way Festival was cancelled weeks before its set weekend due to hurricane damage in Santa Monica; Olivia Dean, The Killers, Jack White & Khruangbin were set to headline the Goldenvoice event

• Chief Keef postponed his first hometown Chicago performance in fourteen years due to his flight's cancellation

🔥 Check out this week's hottest tours in the gallery below: