Madonna makes her UK live return

Madonna has played her first UK show of the year, closing the opening night of Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

Dressed all in black, the Queen of Pop performed a 40 minute set at Mote Park in Maidstone, pleasing fans with number one single 4 Minutes.

She also played a number of songs from her recent studio album Hard Candy, including Candy Shop and Miles Away.

The show came as part of a trio of live performances to launch the album, the other two being in New York and Paris.

Later in the set, Madonna reworked Hung Up for electric guitar, ending the song with a wall of noise. The show ended with another single, Music.

However, the singer didn’t play any of her well known hits from the 80s and 90s.

Speaking to Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley before her performance, Madonna explained why she wanted to play the songs she picked.

She said: “Obviously, I want to do new stuff because I’m very excited about it.

“I feel that’s what people come to hear but I also want to do a few of my oldies but goodies.

“I chose Hung Up because that was the biggest hit from my last record and I chose Music because it’s a crowd pleaser, it’s anthemic and it brings people together.”

The tent was full to capacity for the show. Extra monitors played the set to fans outside.

As Madonna disappeared behind a stage prop made to look like a tube train at the end of the show, most fans left happy.

31 year old Gerard Sutton told Newsbeat: “It was great for Maidstone, she looked like she loved being here and everyone loved it.”

19 year old Georgina Finch from Hastings added: “She was good but she should have sung some older stuff and should have been on for longer. She was awesome though.”

Radio 1’s Big Weekend is the biggest free ticketed music festival in Europe and has previously been held in Dundee and Preston.

30,000 people are expected over the two days, and more than half a million people applied for tickets.

From the BBC.

Images from AP and Reuters via Yahoo! News.