Ed Sheeran Says Security Concerns Caused Him to Change Stage Setup in Philadelphia

Ed Sheeran admitted that he was unsure how audiences would receive him during his first show back in Philadelphia on Saturday night following the Macklemore tour fallout, prompting him to make adjustments to the live setup, including scrapping the B-stage typically positioned in the middle of the crowd.

“I’m gonna be totally honest with you: I didn’t know what this audience would be like tonight. I didn’t know if I would have things thrown at me,” Sheeran said during the show. “I took the B-stage out because I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle, and I will admit that.”

Sheeran was also forced to assemble a new live band on short notice after Beoga withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. He said he called longtime collaborator Alicia Enstrom, who helped put together a group of musicians willing to join him onstage.

“They’ve had three days to learn these songs. Three days to learn these songs!” Sheeran explained. “And I just want to say, before they come on stage: they said yes to being on stage with the knowledge that the world thought I was a certain type of person. They said yes with the knowledge that the world may hate them, too, for standing on stage with me. And I am so grateful.”

Saturday’s show marked Sheeran’s first concert since Macklemore was removed as a support act from the tour. Sheeran opened the night by addressing the controversy, concerns over venues restricting artists’ speech, and his own views on Israel and Palestine.

🎥| Ed introducing his new band tonight to the crowd in Philadelphia and telling them how they only had 3 days to rehearse pic.twitter.com/G12uSCE6Bv

— Ed Sheeran Access (@AccessEdSheeran) September 20, 2026