Paul McCartney live: Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kyiv – 14 June 2008

Saturday 14 June 2008 | Live Performance | Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Kyiv, Ukraine

On Saturday 14 June 2008, Paul McCartney performed a free concert at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv, Ukraine, watched by an estimated 350,000 people. The event — dubbed the Independence Concert — was broadcast live on Ukraine's Novy TV and on outdoor screens across the country. It was one of the largest concerts of McCartney's career.

The concert was promoted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which also exhibited 40 of McCartney's paintings at the Pinchuk Art Centre in Kyiv in conjunction with the event.

McCartney previewed the concert in a video message:

I'm very excited because on the 14th of June I've been invited to play a concert in Independence Square, Kiev. Me and the band are going to be there and we're going to have a great evening and we hope to see you there. So come along, it's going to be a great evening hopefully for the Ukraine. Pull together, groove, rock and roll – all together.

— Paul McCartney

Dave Grohl

The concert featured a celebrated guest appearance by Dave Grohl — founder of Foo Fighters and former drummer of Nirvana — who joined McCartney on guitar for 'Band on the Run' and on drums for 'Back in the USSR'. The sight of two of rock's greatest drummers sharing a stage — Grohl on kit, McCartney on bass — was one of the most memorable moments of the evening.

The Band

• Paul McCartney — vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, piano
• Paul 'Wix' Wickens — vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, harmonica
• Brian Ray — vocals, guitar, bass
• Rusty Anderson — vocals, guitar
• Abe Laboriel Jr — vocals, drums
• Dave Grohl — guitar ('Band on the Run'); drums ('Back in the USSR')

Soundcheck Setlist

1. 'Coming Up'
2. 'Matchbox'
3. 'Honey Don't'
4. 'Honey Hush'
5. 'Midnight Special'
6. 'San Francisco Bay Blues'
7. 'Celebration'
8. 'C Moon'
9. 'Dance Tonight'

Concert Setlist

1. 'Drive My Car'
2. 'Jet'
3. 'All My Loving'
4. 'Only Mama Knows'
5. 'Flaming Pie'
6. 'Got to Get You into My Life'
7. 'Let Me Roll It'
8. 'C Moon'
9. 'My Love'
10. 'Let 'Em In'
11. 'The Long and Winding Road'
12. 'Dance Tonight'
13. 'Blackbird'
14. 'Calico Skies'
15. 'I'll Follow the Sun'
16. 'Mrs Vandebilt'
17. 'Eleanor Rigby'
18. 'Something'
19. 'Good Day Sunshine'
20. 'Penny Lane'
21. 'Band on the Run' (with Dave Grohl on guitar)
22. 'Birthday'
23. 'Back in the USSR' (with Dave Grohl on drums)
24. 'I've Got a Feeling'
25. 'Live and Let Die'
26. 'Let It Be'
27. 'Hey Jude'
28. 'A Day in the Life'
29. 'Give Peace a Chance'
30. 'Lady Madonna'
31. 'Get Back'
32. 'I Saw Her Standing There'
33. 'Yesterday'
34. 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)'
35. 'The End'

Maidan Nezalezhnosti

Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) is the central square of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city, and one of the most historically significant public spaces in the country. It was the site of the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Euromaidan protests of 2013–14, which led to the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych. The square has a capacity for hundreds of thousands of people and has hosted major public events throughout Ukraine's post-independence history.

McCartney's 2008 concert — drawing 350,000 people to the square — was one of the largest events ever held there, and one of the most celebrated moments in the history of rock music in Ukraine. In the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, the concert has taken on additional resonance as a symbol of Ukraine's cultural openness and its connections to the wider world.

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation is a Ukrainian philanthropic organisation founded by businessman and art collector Victor Pinchuk. The foundation promotes cultural exchange, education, and civil society in Ukraine, and operates the Pinchuk Art Centre in Kyiv — one of the most significant contemporary art venues in Eastern Europe. The exhibition of 40 McCartney paintings at the Pinchuk Art Centre during the concert week reflected McCartney's longstanding interest in visual art, which he has pursued seriously since the 1980s.

Key Facts: 14 June 2008

• Date: Saturday 14 June 2008
• Venue: Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Kyiv, Ukraine
• Attendance: 350,000
• Event name: Independence Concert
• Broadcast: Novy TV (live); outdoor screens across Ukraine
• Promoter: Victor Pinchuk Foundation
• Guest: Dave Grohl (guitar on 'Band on the Run'; drums on 'Back in the USSR')
• Exhibition: 40 McCartney paintings at Pinchuk Art Centre
• Concert songs: 35
• Soundcheck songs: 9

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Paul McCartney play Kyiv in 2008?

Yes — Paul McCartney performed a free concert at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv, Ukraine on 14 June 2008, watched by an estimated 350,000 people. The event was broadcast live on Novy TV and on outdoor screens across Ukraine.

Did Dave Grohl perform with Paul McCartney in Kyiv?

Yes — Dave Grohl joined McCartney on guitar for 'Band on the Run' and on drums for 'Back in the USSR' at the Kyiv concert on 14 June 2008.

How many people attended Paul McCartney's Kyiv concert in 2008?

An estimated 350,000 people attended the free concert at Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv on 14 June 2008, making it one of the largest concerts of McCartney's career.

What did Paul McCartney play in Kyiv in 2008?

A 35-song concert setlist including 'Drive My Car', 'Jet', 'All My Loving', 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Something', 'Penny Lane', 'Band on the Run', 'Back in the USSR', 'Live and Let Die', 'Let It Be', 'Hey Jude', 'A Day in the Life', 'Yesterday', and 'The End'.

What is Maidan Nezalezhnosti?

Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) is the central square of Kyiv, Ukraine. It was the site of the Orange Revolution (2004) and the Euromaidan protests (2013–14). McCartney's 2008 concert, drawing 350,000 people, was one of the largest events ever held there.

Who promoted Paul McCartney's Kyiv concert?

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation, a Ukrainian philanthropic organisation that also exhibited 40 of McCartney's paintings at the Pinchuk Art Centre in Kyiv during the concert week.

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