SIR Paul McCartney thrilled 36,000 music fans on Sunday night (01Jun08) after playing a sensational homecoming gig in his native Liverpool, England.

The former Beatle headlined the show at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to celebrate the English city being crowned as the European Capital of Culture for 2008.

McCartney kicked off the show singing Chan Romero's Hippy Hippy Shake to the ecstatic crowd before jaunting into a mixed musical set, including songs from his days with The Beatles as well as his solo work.

And the singer was happy to be back performing in his hometown: "I was born just down the road and I lived not far from here. Every time I come back to Liverpool all the memories come flooding back."

McCartney was joined onstage by Foo Fighters rocker Dave Grohl, who played guitar while the former Beatle sang a Wings track.

The evening also attracted McCartney's former bandmate John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, who watched his set from the audience.

Other bands to take part in the celebration included fellow Liverpudlian musicians The Zutons, who originally wrote and recorded Amy Winehouse's track Valerie, and British rockers Kaiser Chiefs.