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Bengaluru police pull the plug on Ed Sheeran’s impromptu performance at Church Street

Ed Sheeran, a four-time Grammy Award winner, is touring India from January 30 to February 15.

Ed Sheeran's impromptu performance in Bengaluru cut short by police. (Screengrab: X/@snehaplsstop)

An impromptu street performance by Ed Sheeran was halted by the Bengaluru police around noon on Sunday, when the British singer-songwriter, accompanied by bodyguards, arrived opposite the M G Road Metro station on Church Street, where two microphones and a guitar had been set up for the performance.

“So, we were gonna play more than one song. But, right now let’s play one song, alright,” the Grammy Award winner said before beginning to strum his hit track Shape of You. However, his performance lasted barely a minute before a police officer disconnected the speakers to stop his performance.

According to the police, the event was stopped midway because no prior permission had been sought for the performance.

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However, Sheeran took to Instagram to clarify that he had obtained permission for the performance, adding that it was pre-planned. “We had permission to busk…hence us playing in that exact spot, was planned out before, it wasn’t just us randomly turning up,” Sheeran wrote.

Sheeran, a four-time Grammy Award winner who has sold millions of albums worldwide, is in Bengaluru for two concerts scheduled at NICE Grounds in Madavara. He performed on Saturday evening and has another show planned for Sunday.

The incident quickly went viral on social media, with some users criticising the police for interrupting the performance. “A police officer pulled the plug when Ed Sheeran surprised everyone on Church Street,” wrote one user, sharing a video of the incident.

A police officer pulled the plug when Ed Sheeran surprised everyone on Church Street😂😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/cMIRoLC7Mk

— Naai sekar (@snehaplsstop) February 9, 2025

Known for hit songs such as Shape of You, Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and Castle on the Hill, the pop and soft-rock icon is touring India from January 30 to February 15.

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