Ed Sheeran’s New U.S. Loop Tour Opening Acts Revealed After Macklemore Controversy

Isaac Slade will open four of Ed Sheeran's U.S. Loop Tour shows, beginning Oct. 10 in Indianapolis

American Idol finalist Brooks Rosser joins Slade for the Indianapolis concert

Macklemore was removed as an opening act after venue owners objected to his comments supporting Palestinians

Who is the opening act for the rest of Ed Sheeran 's U.S. Loop Tour dates?

On Thursday, Oct. 8, Isaac Slade of The Fray and Brooks Rosser of American Idol announced they'll join Sheeran, 35, for some of his remaining Loop Tour dates in North America after Macklemore was previously removed from the shows following his onstage comments in support of Palestine.

Slade, 45, took to Instagram and shared that he'll open four of Sheeran's upcoming shows: Oct. 10 at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Oct. 17 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 24 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Nov. 7 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

"See you out there," wrote the "How to Save a life" singer, who fronted The Fray from the band's 2002 inception through his departure in 2022.

Rosser, 23, who made it to the top 7 on season 24 of American Idol , announced he'll join Sheeran and Slade for the Indianapolis concert. "my first show since American Idol, and it's at Lucas Oil Stadium opening for @teddysphotos ," he wrote on Instagram . "I'm beyond excited and grateful. See you Saturday!"

Sheeran's Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 shows at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., still feature no opening acts.

On Sept. 14, Macklemore revealed he was removed as an opening act on the Loop Tour. He revealed the "Shape of You" singer told him Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., said the "Thrift Shop" rapper would not be allowed to perform at the venue for his scheduled tour stops with Sheeran due to his political comments.

"Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues," wrote Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty.

Sheeran later confirmed the information in his own statement , noting he spoke with Kraft in an attempt to "build a bridge," but "the venue's and promoter's decision was final."

Kraft told PEOPLE in a statement at the time that Gillette does not "provide a platform for hate speech."

Macklemore later donated $1 million in earnings from Sheeran's tour to Palestinian relief organizations. He also launched the three-date Free Palestine tour , which he said "sold out immediately." Kraft, meanwhile, said Sheeran asked him to match a $2 million donation to humanitarian aid in the area.

All of Sheeran's opening acts and his backing band dropped out of the Loop Tour in solidarity with Macklemore. The two shows Sheeran was set to perform at Gillette were ultimately canceled due to a nor'easter.

Slade first joined Sheeran as an opening act on the Loop Tour on Oct. 3 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. "Everybody seems to be taking sides in this world and that's good," Slade said on stage, according to Billboard . "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."