Ed Sheeran’s surprise street performance in Bangalore was abruptly halted by police over permit issues. The British singer-songwriter, currently on his Mathematics Tour, was performing on Church Street, a popular nightlife hub, when authorities stepped in and unplugged his microphone mid-song.
Fans Sing Along as Police Intervene
Sheeran, 33, started his impromptu concert on Sunday evening, drawing a massive crowd. Videos on social media show him singing and playing guitar before an officer interrupted, silencing his microphone. As Sheeran stood in surprise, fans took over the chorus, singing along in defiance.
Some onlookers jeered at the police, while others recorded the moment, quickly making the incident viral online.
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Permit Issues Spark Dispute
Bangalore police stated that Sheeran lacked the necessary permits for a public performance. Shekar T. Tekkannanavar, a senior police official, explained that Church Street gets extremely crowded, and allowing a global artist to perform there could lead to safety concerns.
Sheeran, however, disagreed. In an Instagram post, he insisted that he had secured permission beforehand. “The street performance was planned, not random,” he wrote, challenging the police’s claims.
Government Defends Police Action
Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara defended the decision to stop the concert. Bangalore Central MP P.C. Mohan backed the move, stating: “Even global stars must follow local rules—no permit, no performance.”
On social media, many criticized the police, with one user commenting: “We live in an uncleocracy. And there’s nothing uncles love more than stopping young people from having fun.”
Sheeran’s Tour in India Continues
Despite the setback, Sheeran’s India tour remains on track. He recently performed in Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai, where he collaborated with A.R. Rahman for a special mash-up of “Shape of You” and Rahman’s 1994 hit “Urvasi.”
In Bangalore, high demand led to two sold-out shows on February 8 and 9. He will now perform in Shillong on February 12 and New Delhi on February 15 before wrapping up his India tour.
India’s Growing Concert Scene
Sheeran’s tour highlights India’s booming live music industry, which is estimated to be worth $700–900 million. Major artists like Dua Lipa and Coldplay have performed in India recently, making the country a rising global destination for music events.
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