Jacob Alon and Kae Tempest Honor George Michael with Powerful ‘Freedom’ Tributes on Tour

In a moving display of intergenerational queer solidarity, 24-year-old Scottish folk musician Jacob Alon spent October and November 2025 touring as the support act for Kae Tempest’s "Self Titled" tour. Each night, Alon and Tempest—both celebrated for their openness about their identities—brought audiences to their feet as they embraced onstage and performed George Michael’s “Freedom” together. The song, widely regarded as a queer anthem, served as both a tribute and a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility .

Alon described the moments before performing “Freedom” as transformative, recalling, “There’s a moment just before we perform the song where Kae comes onto the stage and we have a hug, and in that stillness, just where they hold me… We’re together, and there are thousands of people, thousands of voices behind us, but we’re just in our own little world” . This shared experience underscores the power of queer kinship and the unique sense of belonging that can emerge, even in the midst of a crowd.

Both Alon and Tempest have cited George Michael’s influence as foundational to their artistry. Michael, who came out publicly as gay in 1998, is recognized for paving the way for greater LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream music. Alon, who identifies as non-binary, explained how their own identity is woven into every aspect of their music, much like Michael’s authenticity was essential to his work. “He paved the way so much,” Alon said. “He also knew where he came from and stood on the shoulders of the people who walked before him. He’s a beautiful, brave soul, and I think he has a really important message that Kae highlights in that song – you’ve gotta give. You’ve gotta give what you take” .

The decision to spotlight “Freedom” each night was a conscious one. For Tempest, whose spoken-word performances often center on themes of resistance and resilience, the song offered a moment of collective celebration. At the Deer Shed Festival, Tempest’s headline performance culminated in a “fiercely heartfelt rendition” of the track, described by festival reviewers as a “perfect way to celebrate today’s Trans pride” .

The collaboration between Alon and Tempest has resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ fans. At recent shows, Alon’s performances have been set against a backdrop of Trans Pride and Palestine flags, visually reinforcing messages of solidarity, intersectionality, and hope . Audiences have praised the “raw emotion” of Alon’s music and the “validating and inspiring” energy that permeates their live sets.

Tempest’s concerts, long known for their poetic urgency and emotional depth, have taken on new meaning in this context. Their willingness to share the stage with emerging queer artists like Alon signals a commitment to uplifting transgender and non-binary voices within the music industry. The impact is palpable: audience members across generations have described feeling “spellbound and inspired,” particularly young queer people witnessing themselves reflected in the art and on the stage .

This tour, and the nightly homage to George Michael, arrives at a critical time for the LGBTQ+ community in the UK and beyond. With rising transphobia and continued debates over queer rights in public life, moments of communal joy and affirmation are more vital than ever. Alon summed up their mission: “You’ve got to give that love to receive it back, and I’m trying my hardest to put into the world what I want to feel, and the world I want to live in. And I think was pretty badass for doing that in a time that was much harder – well, in some ways” .

For audiences, the joint performances by Alon and Tempest are more than entertainment—they are acts of affirmation and resistance, drawing on the legacy of queer icons past to light the way for the future.