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Bangalore Police Stops Ed Sheeran’s Street Performance Citing Permission Reasons
Updated on: 10 February, 2025 12:16 PM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Ed Sheeran in Bangalore
On Sunday afternoon, February 9, 2025, British pop sensation Ed Sheeran surprised fans with an impromptu street performance on Church Street in Bengaluru. However, his mini-concert was abruptly stopped by the Bangalore police, who cited permission issues as the reason for shutting it down.
As the performance was halted, the Bad Habits singer addressed the audience, saying, “Everyone, we had permission to do this, but this policeman is shutting it down.” The unexpected interruption left fans disappointed, but they appreciated the rare opportunity to see the singer up close.
Those who were present on Church Street expressed their disappointment on social media. One user shared, “Just saw Ed Sheeran on Church Street. He sang his song, but sadly the police stopped him in the middle.” Another wrote, “Went for a casual walk on Church Street and stumbled upon Ed Sheeran performing live. What a city!”
Also Read: Top 7 Ed Sheeran Songs to Add to Your Playlist!
Sheeran is currently in the middle of the international leg of his Mathematics tour. He recently performed two shows at NICE Grounds in Bangalore and will soon be heading to Shillong and Delhi for the next stops on his tour. Notably, Sheeran has also made history by becoming the first international music artist to perform a concert in Bhutan.
Despite the brief roadblock in Bengaluru, Sheeran’s presence in India continues to create buzz, and fans are looking forward to his upcoming performances.
A Simple Setup, A Big Surprise
Sheeran, known for his love of busking, set up a simple performance area with just a stand mic and his acoustic guitar. He was performing his global hit "Shape of You" in front of a mural-painted wall when a policeman approached and disconnected his microphone from the sound system. Despite this, the musician tried to continue, engaging with the crowd who had gathered to watch him play.As the performance was halted, the Bad Habits singer addressed the audience, saying, “Everyone, we had permission to do this, but this policeman is shutting it down.” The unexpected interruption left fans disappointed, but they appreciated the rare opportunity to see the singer up close.
Following the incident, Sheeran took to Instagram to clarify what had happened. He shared a story stating, “We had permission to busk, by the way. Hence, us playing in that exact spot was planned out before. It wasn’t just us randomly turning up. All good though.” His statement suggested that the performance was not a spontaneous event but a planned gesture.
Also Read: AR Rahman Makes a Surprise Appearance at Ed Sheeran’s Chennai Concert
Police Clarify Their Stand
According to Bengaluru City Police, they had not granted permission for the event. Shekhar H.T., Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division), issued a statement saying, “Event managers approached us seeking permission. But we do not allow for such events on the busy street, as there are chances of large crowds gathering and the artists themselves being mobbed. So we rejected permission. However, Mr. Sheeran turned up and began to busk on the street. We even received a call from the public to our emergency helpline 112, following which our personnel went and stopped the artist’s performance.”Those who were present on Church Street expressed their disappointment on social media. One user shared, “Just saw Ed Sheeran on Church Street. He sang his song, but sadly the police stopped him in the middle.” Another wrote, “Went for a casual walk on Church Street and stumbled upon Ed Sheeran performing live. What a city!”
Also Read: Top 7 Ed Sheeran Songs to Add to Your Playlist!
Sheeran is currently in the middle of the international leg of his Mathematics tour. He recently performed two shows at NICE Grounds in Bangalore and will soon be heading to Shillong and Delhi for the next stops on his tour. Notably, Sheeran has also made history by becoming the first international music artist to perform a concert in Bhutan.
Despite the brief roadblock in Bengaluru, Sheeran’s presence in India continues to create buzz, and fans are looking forward to his upcoming performances.
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