U2 performed five songs for Radio 1 from their Dublin studio tonight.

Performing to a very select audience, including three competition winners from Radio 1, the band had rigged up speakers on the street outside the studio so that hundreds of other U2 fans, who had heard they were around, could also hear the new songs.

Vertigo was followed by All Because of You before Bono introduced Miracle Drug, a song, he explained, inspired by the life of the poet Christopher Nolan, who attended the same school as the band.

With a clutch of Radio 1 DJ's in the audience - Jo Whiley, Chris Moyles and Zane Lowe - Bono then introduced Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, a song inspired his opera-singing father.

The band closed the 25 minute set, the global premiere live debut of songs from the new record, with Beautiful Day.

'This must be the smallest gig we have played since the Hope and Anchor in London,' said Adam to Zane Lowe, just before the set.

'We had eleven in Bristol,' joked Bono.

The audience were completely knocked out - particularly the competition winners.

'How can you possibly put that into words?' said Jordan Pryce Lewis, a competition winner who had travelled from Scotland.'I'm completely speechless'

'That was overwhelming, unbelievable,' said Rachel Jones, who had travelled from Wales. 'I think I am in shock. Those new songs are unbelievable!'

More on this show soon. Plus Exclusive interviews about U2 with Jo Whiley, Chris Moyles and Zane Lowe - with the launch of the new site next week!