There’s something magical about music. Whether it’s an open-air stadium tour or whether you were, like me, seeing Primal Scream at the Barrowlands the other week, there’s a togetherness and electricity that permeates through the crowd once the opening chords are struck.

Messaging matters too. What an artist projects or embodies through their lyrics or their values empowers the crowd or even, dare I say it, educates them. Calls this week to leave ‘politics’ out of music will fall on deaf ears. A main function of art after all is to hold a mirror up to society and allow us to ponder what matters.

Do we decry Bono and U2 for Sunday Bloody Sunday? Do we criticise Clearance Clearwater Revival for standing against the Vietnam War with Fortunate Son? Do we really want to live in a world whereby we censor Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come?

Bobby Gillespie was hardly shy in ensuring the Scream’s entire set was adorned with messages and chants of solidarity with the people of Palestine. Politics and music have always been intertwined and it’s for the birds to suggest otherwise.

Which brings me to Ed. I’ve been to a few Ed Sheeran concerts while on mum duties in my time and enjoyed them, but admittedly I’m more of a Swifty after taking my daughters to the Eras tour when she rolled into Edinburgh in 2024. But for me it’s been heartening to see the outpouring of support for Macklemore, who was dropped from Sheeran’s tour, along with those who have since withdrawn in solidarity. They all deserve our support as they find themselves thrust into the spotlight as the defenders of free........

© Herald Scotland