Former Fray frontman Isaac Slade and American Idol contestant Brooks Rosser have joined Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour as new support acts.
Other performers had withdrawn from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore after his removal from the lineup in September.
Both performers confirmed their bookings in Oct. 8 Instagram posts, according to Page Six.
“I’m beyond excited and grateful. See you Saturday!” Rosser wrote.
Isaac Slade Will Open Four Remaining Stadium Shows
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Slade will perform at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Oct. 10 and Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Oct. 17. He will also open at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Oct. 24 and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Nov. 7, according to Sheeran’s official schedule.
“See you out there,” Slade wrote alongside his announcement.
Sheeran also has two concerts at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, on Oct. 29 and 30. Neither listing currently names a support act.
Brooks Rosser Heads From ‘American Idol’ to a Stadium
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Rosser described the booking as his “first show since American Idol.” He is joining the Indianapolis bill, with no additional Sheeran appearances currently listed.
The singer reached the Top 7 during Season 24 before being eliminated alongside Daniel Stallworth on April 27. During that episode, he performed Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved,” according to PEOPLE.
Slade Previously Joined Sheeran in Atlanta and Toronto
Slade opened Sheeran’s Oct. 3 Atlanta concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with an abbreviated set that included “How to Save a Life” and “You Found Me.”
During that set, he also addressed Gaza, saying what was happening there was wrong and urging people to find “common ground,” Us Weekly reported.
The two singers had first performed together at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on Aug. 22. Slade, who left The Fray in 2022, joined Sheeran for “How to Save a Life.” The pair had met for the first time that day after a friend told Sheeran that Slade would be in the audience. Sheeran asked whether he would join him onstage.
Sheeran told the crowd that Slade’s songwriting had influenced him as a teenager, according to JamBase.
The Departures Affected More Than the U.S. Opening Slots
Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said on Sept. 14 that venues on the remaining U.S. route would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the bill, Reuters reported.
The announcement followed his Sept. 4 and 5 performances at MetLife Stadium, where he called for a “Free Palestine” and performed his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
Robert Kraft confirmed that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette Stadium, citing concerns about antisemitism. Macklemore denied being antisemitic and rejected equating criticism of Israel’s actions with hostility toward Jewish people.
In a Sept. 15 statement, Sheeran said he had tried to mediate but that the promoter and venues made the final decision. Macklemore’s own announcement had attributed his removal to Sheeran and his team.
Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham withdrew from upcoming North American support dates. Finneas canceled planned South American appearances, while Beoga, which performed alongside Sheeran during his show, also left, according to Variety.
Sheeran’s Sept. 19 Philadelphia concert proceeded without an opening act. Addressing the audience before performing, he apologized for mistakes in his handling of the situation and expressed concern about venues preapproving performance content. He also described conditions in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable” and condemned the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
The tour’s next international leg begins with two shows at Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida in Santiago, Chile, on Nov. 21 and 22. Dates in Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil follow before the currently listed itinerary ends at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City on Dec. 11.