Ed Sheeran Taps Former Fray Singer Isaac Slade as Atlanta Opener After Macklemore Dropped and Support Acts Quit

Ed Sheeran brought out former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade as a surprise opening act during his Saturday, Oct. 3, concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the Loop Tour.

Slade performed The Fray songs “How to Save a Life” and “You Found Me.” He also spoke about the war in Gaza, urging the audience to find common ground amid polarization surrounding the conflict.

“Everybody seems to be taking sides in this world and that’s good,” Slade told the crowd in fan-captured video. “What’s happening over there [in Gaza] is wrong but if we’re going to get through it, we’re going to need people to step into that middle place, that common ground.”

He continued, “That bonfire in the middle of the field that sees both sides, that understands that peace is not a lack of conflict. Peace is not a blank canvas that we need to guard and be polite.”

“[Peace] holds enough beauty, enough tragedy, enough sorrow, enough joy and life if we learn how to integrate it and hold each other in balance. We will find a way through this together,” he added.

Slade’s appearance follows the removal of Sheeran’s previous opening act, Macklemore, from the U.S. leg of the tour. Macklemore performed at Sheeran’s Sept. 4 and 5 shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he played “Hind’s Hall” and called for a “Free Palestine.”

Macklemore was scheduled to open several remaining Loop Tour dates, including the Atlanta show. Sheeran stated later that the tour promoter made the decision to remove Macklemore after venues indicated they would refuse the shows if he remained on the lineup.

Other scheduled supporting acts—Aaron Rowe, Finneas, and Lukas Graham—withdrew from the tour following Macklemore’s removal. Sheeran’s backing band, Beoga, also left.

Macklemore launched his own headlining Free Palestine Tour after leaving Sheeran’s tour, and those dates are already sold out.

Sheeran performed his Sept. 19 show in Philadelphia without an opener. During that concert, he addressed the controversy by stating he wanted his shows to center on “love, hope and unity” while acknowledging suffering in both Israel and Gaza.

Slade previously performed “How to Save a Life” alongside Sheeran during an August Loop Tour stop in Toronto. Sheeran told the audience that he listened to Slade’s music and songwriting during his teenage years.