Muse: Milton Keynes National Bowl hosts first gig in seven years

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Muse gig at MK BowlImage source, David Keller/BBC
Image caption,

British rock band Muse became the first act to play at the venue since 2016

A music venue described as a "cultural icon" has held its first concert in seven years, but had a number of complaints about parking problems.

British band Muse played at the 65,000-capacity National Bowl in Milton Keynes on Sunday, which has previously hosted rock royalty such as Queen and Oasis.

Some concertgoers told BBC Three Counties Radio about traffic issues and pre-paid parking being oversubscribed.

A venue representative said there was "learning" to be had from the show.

Ticketholder Steve Screech told the BBC he missed the start of the show, including support act Royal Blood.

He said: "About 16:00 BST, only about three miles (5km) from the venue, we hit some traffic and thought 'fair enough'. But three hours later we'd only moved half a mile (800 metres)."

Image source, David Keller/BBC
Image caption,

Matt Bellamy, the frontman of Muse, praised the venue multiple times during the concert

Mr Screech said he eventually decided to park in a residential area before "legging it" to the venue.

MK Dons chairman Mr Winkelman, who is director of a consortium developing the bowl, said there was "learning" to be had, adding: "I'm hugely embarrassed by it [the parking issues]."

Image source, David Keller/BBC
Image caption,

Muse are best known for songs including Supermassive Black Hole and Starlight

"There are various reasons. I apologise, but I don't want to take anything away from what was an amazing thing.

"The bowl is important in Milton Keynes, it's one of our cultural icons and you can see from last night why it's that."

Image source, David Keller/BBC
Image caption,

Tens of thousands of people poured into the National Bowl on Sunday evening

Muse were supported by Royal Blood and The Warning and treated tens of thousands of fans to a hit-packed set, including Supermassive Black Hole, Time is Running Out and Knights of Cydonia.

The open-air amphitheatre was built in 1973 and held its last concert in 2016.

League Two side MK Dons have permission to develop two full-sized training pitches at the venue later this year, with plans to still hold concerts at the site in future.

Image source, Toby Friedner/BBC
Image caption,

Support on the night came from Royal Blood (pictured) and The Warning

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