On Sunday, Ed Sheeran, the British pop sensation, faced a setback in Bengaluru, southern India, when authorities intervened to halt his busking activities, citing a lack of required permissions.
A video capturing a local police officer disconnecting Sheeran’s microphone on Church Street in Bengaluru, a bustling hub for shopping and entertainment, has rapidly gained traction online.
Officials informed the ANI news agency that a request from Mr Sheeran’s team to perform on the street was denied to prevent congestion in the vicinity.
Sheeran took to Instagram to clarify that “we had permission to busk, by the way.” The decision for us to perform in that specific location was made in advance. The situation was not merely a matter of our unexpected arrival. Everything is fine.
We look forward to seeing you at the show this evening.
A significant incident occurred just before his planned Mathematics Tour concert at NICE Grounds in Bengaluru.
Fans took to social media to voice their criticism of the police intervention, with one user remarking, “We live in an uncleocracy.” Uncles often take great pleasure in curbing the enjoyment of young people, a sentiment that resonates with the myriad of ambiguous regulations surrounding public space usage in India.
PC Mohan, a local MP representing the ruling BJP party, emphasised, “Even global stars must adhere to local regulations – no permit, no performance!”
Ed Sheeran is in India for the second consecutive year, embarking on a 15-day tour. He has already performed in Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai, with upcoming concerts planned for Shillong in the northeastern region and the capital city, Delhi.
During his performance in Bengaluru, Ed Sheeran delighted the audience by collaborating with singer Shilpa Rao to sing two popular songs in Telugu, much to the surprise of his fans.
Last year, he joined forces with Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh at a concert held in Birmingham.
While in India, he partnered with sitar musician Megha Rawoot to create a rendition of his popular track, Shape of You.
The appetite for live music concerts in India is rising, highlighted by Ed Sheeran’s most extensive tour in the country, which follows closely after Dua Lipa’s recent show in Mumbai and Coldplay’s extensive multi-city tour.
A recent report from the Bank of Baroda highlights India’s rise as a significant participant in the live music sector, projecting that the market for live concerts could reach between $700 million and $900 million (£550 million to £730 million) due to increasing disposable incomes.
