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Madonna and Usher Shine at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend

BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend proved to be an explosively good time for fans across the board, due to its extremely diverse lineup and incredible stage shows. Now, this was a radio show! In a bombastic headline set, Madonna closed out Saturday night. She tore through a set heavy on Hard Candy, her most recently released album. With 30,000 fans screaming and dancing, the real "Queen of Pop" simply owned the stage, belting out infectious and vibrant tracks like "Candy Shop" and "Miles Away." Meanwhile, "Hung Up" got the audience really going and saw Miss Madonna stretching her voice to heights of utter pop ecstasy. The combo of "Give It 2 Me" and "Music" proved just as rapturous for the crowd, and they more than became "Hung Up" on America's foremost pop songstress.

Usher kicked off the Main Stage Saturday, infusing a large amount of R&B style and hip hop edge into the show. Mr. "Yeah" got down, and he knew justfv how to keep the crowd moving and grinding. Also on Saturday, Duffy got a chance to shine on the Main Stage, while Fatboy Slim took over the Outdoor Stage with his classic, bombastic techno. Even though Saturday was colossal in terms of pop power, Sunday held up just as well for the massive crowd at Mote Park in Maidstone. The Kooks, Goldfrapp and OneRepbulic brought diversity to the Main Stage, as each had a distinct and powerful set. However, Nelly stood out letting the crowd "Ride Wit" him into the Sunset with a combination of slick raps and solid production. The Raconteurs dominated the In Music We Trust Stage on Sunday, as Jack White ripped through blues lick and lead after lead. The techno and electro fans got a heavy fix with DJ sets by Justice and Pendulum at the Outdoor Stage.

Woodstock, eat your heart out. The UK's got one of the most diverse and fun festivals out there. Check it out again by viewing highlights on BBC One and BBC interactive, now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
05.15.08