Even a four-time Grammy winner needs the right permits to perform in India, as Ed Sheeran learned during a surprise street performance in Bengaluru on Sunday. The 33-year-old artist’s spontaneous performance of “Shape of You” was abruptly stopped when local police intervened, cutting off his microphone mid-song while the crowd expressed their frustration.
A video taken by onlookers shows Sheeran, casually dressed in green shorts and a white t-shirt with sunglasses, performing with just a microphone and an acoustic guitar in front of a mural on Church Street. As fans sang along off-camera, the scene shifted when a uniformed officer approached and disconnected the sound equipment, despite efforts by two bystanders to prevent it. Sheeran smiled and shrugged when his mic was cut off.
“We have permission to be here, but this policeman is shutting us down,” Sheeran told the disappointed crowd, adding, “But we’ll see you later.” However, local authorities contradicted the singer’s statement. “I refused to give permission because Church Street gets very crowded,” said Shekar Tekkannanavar, police deputy commissioner for central Bengaluru, to ANI news agency. “That is why he was asked to leave the area.”
Sheeran later explained the incident on Instagram Stories, saying, “We had permission to busk btw, hence us playing in that exact spot, was planned out before, it wasn’t just us randomly turning up.” He reassured fans that “all good” and added, “See ya at the show tonight x.”
The event happened during Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour in Bengaluru, where he was set to perform at NICE Grounds on February 8 and 9. The interruption sparked discussions on social media, with PC Mohan, a local MP from the ruling BJP party, stating on X: “Even global stars must follow local rules – no permit, no performance!” Meanwhile, some fans were excited by the rare performance, with one writing on X, “Went for a casual walk on Church Street and stumbled upon Ed Sheeran performing live. What a city!”
Despite the disruption, Sheeran made the most of his time in India, sharing his experiences on social media. On February 7, he posted about his first sitar lesson with Megha Rawoot, whom he called “a great teacher,” even playing “Shape of You” on the instrument. He also spent time recording with Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman, famous for his work on Slumdog Millionaire.
The concerts in India followed Sheeran’s groundbreaking performance in Bhutan, where he commented, “It’s mad that this is the first international concert here,” adding, “I hope that there’s many more to come.” The Mathematics Tour continues with upcoming shows in Shillong and Delhi.
