Neil Young reportedly told off an audience in New York after they began clapping along during his performance.

The singer-songwriter was performing at Carnegie Hall on Monday night (06.01.14) as part of four dates he will play at the venue this week.

According to the New York Times, the 68-year-old musician chastised his audience both for clapping and talking in between songs.

He reportedly shouted: ''Wrong!'' at the audience as they began clapping out of time to his protest song 'Ohio', written in reaction to the 1970 Kent State shootings.

Neil told the surprised crowd: ''It's something that you probably don't know, but there's a hell of a distance between you and me.''

Later on in the show, he turned to fans sitting on a balcony who were talking as he tuned a harmonica, telling them: ''No, you paid real good money to get in here, so you should be able to listen to each other.''

Neil Young and Crazy Horse will return to the UK to headline a show at London's Hyde Park later this year.

The band - featuring Neil, bassist Billy Talbot, drummer Ralph Molina and guitarist Frank 'Poncho' Sampedro - cancelled their four-city North American tour after Frank injured his hand.

But they are now ready to get back out on the road and will be joined at 'Barclaycard British Summer Time' on July 12 by The National, Tom Odell, Caitlin Rose, Phosphorescent and Flyte.