Ed Sheeran had a surprise opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 3, with former The Fray frontman Isaac Slade taking the stage before the Atlanta stop of the Loop Tour.
Slade performed an abbreviated solo set before Sheeran’s headlining show and also addressed the crowd directly, bringing his own message into a tour that has undergone several lineup changes since September.
The booking gave Sheeran a recognizable guest after recent dates were reshaped by the departures of musicians originally scheduled to appear with him. Slade arrived in Atlanta with his own connection to Sheeran already established from an earlier Loop Tour stop.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium had announced only a “special guest” in its Saturday event information, scheduling that performance for 7 p.m. ahead of Sheeran’s 8 p.m. set.
Isaac Slade Played The Fray Hits and Called for ‘Common Ground’
Slade’s set included “How to Save a Life” and “You Found Me,” two of the songs most closely associated with his years fronting The Fray. He told the audience he was “honored to be here” before speaking about the war in Gaza and the way people were dividing themselves into opposing camps.
He called what was happening in Gaza wrong and argued that finding a way forward would require people willing to occupy “that middle place, that common ground,” according to Us Weekly.
“We will find a way through this together,” Slade told the crowd.
The remarks came from an artist brought into a concert already shaped by arguments over political expression onstage, but Slade did not repeat the speech that had triggered the earlier dispute. His comments focused instead on conflict, peace and the need to hold opposing perspectives in balance.
Sheeran’s Supporting Lineup Changed After Macklemore Was Removed
Macklemore had appeared at Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium dates in New Jersey before being removed from his remaining Loop Tour appearances following pro-Palestinian comments onstage. During the Sept. 4 show, he shouted “Free Palestine” and spoke about people in Gaza and the West Bank before performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”
Reuters reported that tour promoter Messina Touring Group said owners of upcoming venues would not allow concerts to proceed with Macklemore on the lineup. Sheeran later said Macklemore’s contract was with the promoter and that removing him “was not my decision.”
Aaron Rowe and Lukas Graham withdrew from remaining U.S. support dates, while Beoga left its role as Sheeran’s backing band. Finneas, who had been scheduled for later South American dates rather than the remaining U.S. stadium shows, also withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore.
Sheeran addressed the situation at his Sept. 19 Philadelphia concert, telling the crowd that he had been “making mistakes” and was “so, so sorry.” He also said he wanted his concerts to remain a space for people from different backgrounds while continuing to fulfill his commitments to fans and the crew working on the tour.
Sheeran First Invited Slade Onstage in Toronto Six Weeks Earlier
Sheeran and Slade first performed together at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Aug. 22, when Slade joined him for “How to Save a Life” with Beoga also playing during the song. JamBase reported that the two had only met that day.
Before introducing Slade, Sheeran told the Toronto crowd that The Fray singer’s music and songwriting had been part of his “formative years as a teenager.” He recalled hearing songs at that age that stayed with him as he grew older.
A friend who had helped get Sheeran’s music onto American radio told him Slade planned to attend the show. Sheeran immediately asked whether Slade would be willing to sing with him, turning what had been a visit to the concert into their first performance together.
The Atlanta reunion also fit Slade’s own touring schedule. City Winery Atlanta had him booked for a solo show on Oct. 2, one night before he moved from the smaller venue to Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Sheeran’s surprise guest.