Amy's Shoddy Set

Amy disappoints and The Specials and Grace Jones surprise Bestival

07 September 2008 - Amy Winehouse disappointed fans at Bestival with a lack lustre headline performance on the main stage last night (Saturday 06 September).

The singer turned up 45 minutes late and mumbled her way through half a set.

Onlookers said Amy appeared bored and miserable: "She looks dreadful and she can’t sing any more it's very, very sad," commented one fan.

And another joined the chorus of disappointment: "It was awful. She needs to go straight back to rehab. I've never seen her before but it struck me as quite solemn and sad."

When Amy finally did make it to the stage she looked frail and sounded incoherent and stumbled her way through the first few tracks with patchy applause.

"It was awful. She needs to go straight back to rehab. I've never seen her before but it struck me as quite solemn and sad." Bestival punter on Amy Winehouse

People shouted out encouragement from the crowd and things seemed to pick up during Back to Black but it was the only highlight of her 45 minute set.

Curiosity seemed to hold most of the audience in place, but, as Amy herself shouted at the crowd, they weren't really bothered whether or not she finished the performance.

One festival goer insisted her live show has taken a turn for the worse as her personal problems continue to affect every aspect of her life: "She’s not as good as she was 18 months ago," he said.

"I feel worried for her to be honest. Going out there she was struggling and I saw her up close – her face didn’t look brilliant.”

Elsewhere at Bestival members of The Specials reformed for an impromptu set.

Organiser Rob da Bank had been teasing punters with the promise of mystery guests and both The Specials (albeit without Jerry Dammers) and Grace Jones made surprise appearances.


Elizabeth Alker