Fans Help MIA With Showstopper

MIA cut short her show at England’s The Big Chill after nearly 200 people climbed on stage during her headline appearance.

The Sri Lankan-born singer invited fans to join her for her hit “Paper Planes,” but apparently didn’t expect so many of them.

Festival organisers said MIA apologised for ending the set early, adding that only a few fans were expected to join her.

Some newswires reported that some in the crowd complained of a crush as fans rushed on stage, but it appears no one needed medical treatment.

“People were sprinting from the back of the crowd to get their moment of glory but the stage was completely full,” one festivalgoer told BBC News.

The Big Chill is now owned by Festival Republic, after last year’s gathering controversially plunged the event into bankruptcy.

Many of the creditors were furious when the festival chief at the time, Katrina Larkin, later won Virtual Festivals’ lifetime achievement award, although the jury selected her before news of The Big Chill’s demise became public. It tanked with estimated debts of about £1.2 million.

The other acts playing a resurrected Big Chill Aug. 5-8 included Massive Attack. Thom Yorke, Martina Topley-Bird, Roots Manuva, Kelis, Plan B, and Candi Staton.