Inside Ed Sheeran and Beoga's Years-Long Partnership as Band Says Staying After Macklemore's Tour Removal Is 'Simply Not an Option'

Ed Sheeran's decade-long musical partnership with Irish folk band Beoga has been thrown into uncertainty after the group withdrew from the remaining US dates of his Loop Tour following Macklemore's removal.

Beoga announced the decision on Tuesday, 15 September, saying that while performing in stadiums with Sheeran had been 'the stuff of dreams', continuing under the circumstances was 'simply not an option for us'.

From Studio Session to 'Galway Girl'

Sheeran and Beoga's relationship stretches back more than a decade, according to the band, which said the friendship would continue despite its decision to leave the tour.

Their best-known collaboration arrived during the making of Sheeran's 2017 album ÷. (Divide) Beoga were invited to work with him after mutual friend and singer-songwriter Foy Vance played Sheeran some of their music.

The Antrim-based group travelled to Sheeran's studio in Suffolk in June 2016, where they contributed to two tracks that ultimately appeared on the album: 'Galway Girl' and 'Nancy Mulligan'.

Beoga's own tune 'Minute 5', from their album 'How to Tune a Fish', was incorporated into 'Galway Girl'. The collaboration helped introduce the traditional Irish group to a much larger international audience.

The partnership continued beyond the studio. Beoga later performed with Sheeran and, most recently, served as his touring band on the Loop Tour, joining him for several songs during his stadium sets.

Why Beoga Walked Away

Beoga said it had decided to 'depart as Ed Sheeran's band' for the remaining US dates after Macklemore was removed from the tour.

Macklemore had performed 'Hind's Hall' and said 'Free Palestine' while supporting Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey earlier this month.

Sheeran said on Tuesday that removing Macklemore was the promoter's decision, not his, after upcoming venues warned that shows could be pulled if the rapper remained on the bill.

Beoga said it witnessed Macklemore's performance and supported his message. The band also pointed to its role as a founding member of Irish Artists for Palestine and its commitment to Palestinian advocacy.

'As musicians, playing to those crowds every night is the stuff of dreams,' Beoga said, before adding that playing venues it accused of silencing advocacy for a free Palestine was 'simply not an option for us'.

Friendship Expected To Continue

Despite withdrawing, Beoga made clear that its decision was not framed as the end of its personal relationship with Sheeran.

'We have been friends with Ed for over 10 years now and will continue to be,' the band said, adding that it believed in dialogue.

Its departure nevertheless creates a practical question for the remaining US shows. Beoga had become part of Sheeran's live production, performing songs with him during his sets.

Sheeran's official tour schedule lists further US stadium dates through October. Beoga has not indicated that it will return for those concerts.

After years of recording and performing together, one of Sheeran's longest-running musical partnerships is now absent from the remainder of his US tour, even as the friendship behind it appears set to survive.

The withdrawal also leaves questions over how Sheeran will restructure his performances for the remaining concerts.