The Script offers gigs to Ed Sheeran tour acts who left in support of Macklemore

The Script have offered work to two Irish acts who left Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after Macklemore was removed from the line-up.

Frontman Danny O’Donoghue extended the invitation to Aaron Rowe and Beoga during an appearance on Ireland’s The Late Late Show, praising the musicians for their decision to walk away from the tour.

“They showed immense backbone,” O’Donoghue said, while expressing particular admiration for Rowe, who left the stadium tour despite having the opportunity to perform at major US venues.

O’Donoghue then directly addressed Rowe and Beoga, inviting them to join The Script at their upcoming Dublin shows.

“The Script are playing the 3Arena on the dates that you were supposed to play Tampa,” he said. “If you want to come, if you want to support, then The Script are there for you. You’re more than welcome to come down.”

The Script are scheduled to perform at Dublin’s 3Arena on October 30 and 31. Those dates coincide with the Tampa show that Rowe and Beoga had originally been scheduled to perform as part of Sheeran’s tour. Sheeran’s official tour schedule lists Tampa for November 7, while the tour also has two Florida dates in Hollywood on October 29 and 30.

Rowe and Beoga were among several supporting acts who left Sheeran’s Loop Tour after Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates. Finneas and Danish band Lukas Graham also withdrew from the tour.

Macklemore's removal followed his September performance at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, where he voiced support for Palestinians and led the audience in saying “Free Palestine”. Sheeran later said that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour’s promoters and was not his own.

Rowe said at the time that he could not continue with the tour while what he described as the silencing of voices speaking about Palestine was taking place. Beoga similarly announced its departure, while Finneas said artists should not be silenced when speaking about oppressed people.

The fallout left Sheeran without several of his planned supporting acts. He addressed the controversy during his September 19 concert in Philadelphia, where he spoke about freedom of speech and the wider conflict surrounding the situation in Gaza.

Sheeran said he had tried to speak with venues about Macklemore’s removal but ultimately said the decision by the venues and promoter was final. He also said he did not want to abandon fans, touring crew members and musicians who depended on the shows for work.

Meanwhile, O’Donoghue said he is a “massive believer in free speech” while discussing the controversy on The Late Late Show. The Script singer is now preparing to take his band back on the road in support of their latest album, The User’s Guide to Being Human.

It remains unclear whether Rowe and Beoga will accept O’Donoghue’s invitation to perform with The Script in Dublin. The offer, however, gives the two Irish acts an opportunity to appear on stage in their home country after stepping away from Sheeran’s US stadium tour.