---
title: "Police in India pull the plug on British singer Ed Sheeran's impromptu street concert"
description: "Feb 10 (Reuters) - A street performance by Ed Sheeran in India's tech capital of Bengaluru was stopped abruptly by police on Sunday, outraging fans and prompting the British singer to issue a clarification."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Busking"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-02-10-police-in-india-pull-the-plug-on-british-singer-ed-sheerans-impromptu-street-concert/"
published: "2025-02-10T12:12:54"
updated: "2025-02-10T12:12:55"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 193
---

# Police in India pull the plug on British singer Ed Sheeran's impromptu street concert

> Feb 10 (Reuters) - A street performance by Ed Sheeran in India's tech capital of Bengaluru was stopped abruptly by police on Sunday, outraging fans and prompting the British singer to issue a clarification.

By Reuters · Published 10 February 2025, 14:12 SAST · Updated 10 February 2025, 14:12 SAST

## Key points
- In a classic case of "you can't take the busker out of the boy," Ed Sheeran was unplugged mid-jam on a bustling Bengaluru street, leaving local police and fans wondering if his impromptu performance was a hit or just a hiccup before the main event.
- Ed Sheeran surprised fans by busking on a busy Bengaluru street ahead of his concert.
- Police intervened, unplugging his microphone due to lack of permission from event organizers.
- Sheeran claimed he had authorization for the performance, stating it wasn't spontaneous.
- Later that night, he performed to a massive crowd, joined by Indian singer Shilpa Rao.

## Content

Sheeran, dressed in a white t-shirt and shorts was seen singing and playing his guitar on a pavement in the centre of Bengaluru ahead of his [concert](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL2N3MZ06L&linkedFromStory=true) on Sunday night.

Local channels showed a policeman walking up to Sheeran as he was singing the hit single "Shape of You" and unplugging the microphone, as onlookers jeered. Sheeran left soon after.

Police said event organisers had refused permission for the street performance, which was on one of the city's busiest streets.

"I refused to give permission because Church Street gets very crowded. That is the reason he was asked to vacate the place," Bengaluru police official Shekar T Tekkannanavar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Sheeran, who began his career as a busker in the UK, said later on his Instagram account that he did have permission to perform.

"It wasn't just us randomly turning up. All good though," he wrote.

Sheeran is in India for a series of concerts, and performed in front of thousands of people at an open ground in the city later that night, accompanied by Indian singer Shilpa Rao.

(Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Kate Mayberry)