Amy Winehouse was forced to abandon her live comeback last night (May 8) over apparent technical difficulties.
The ‘Back To Black’ singer made a shaky return at the 18th St Lucia Jazz Festival as technical problems and forgotten lyrics hampered her 45-minute set.
Bad weather also put paid to Winehouse‘s headline slot, rescheduling meaning her set was sandwiched between ’70s funk outfit KC & The Sunshine Band and zouk founding-fathers Kassav.
Taking the stage at 10:15pm local time to screams from the 5,000 strong crowd, Winehouse opened with a rusty run-through of ‘Know You Now’ before going on to tell the crowd “I am short and I don’t give a fuck” as she took off her stiletto heels.
Winehouse then ploughed through ‘You Sent Me Flying’/’Cherry’, from her 2003 debut ‘Frank’, halfway through proclaiming that she was “kinda bored” of it. But it was outside elements that cut short ‘Love Is A Losing Game’, as lighting was lost on stage for several minutes.
The gig then went rapidly downhill for Winehouse after she had tried to leave the stage following the power cut. ‘You Know I’m No Good’ saw her finish the song slumped over a monitor, before being helped up by one of her backing singers.
Launching into a slowed version of ‘Valerie’, Winehouse stopped singing almost immediately and The Zutons cover had to be finished without her. The once patient paying punters then proceeded to boo once they realised the show was over.
A spokesperson for the singer said: “Amy would like to express her disappointment that weather forced the abandonment of her show at the St Lucia Jazz Festival last night. The set started well, but as the heavens opened, a number of technical difficulties occurred on stage, culminating with the lighting rig failing for two songs. In addition, rain began to flood the technical wings at the side of the stage which caused sound problems. Amy and the band tried to soldier on but the set had to be cut short.
“Amy is very disappointed as St Lucia has been wonderful to her and its people have welcomed her with open arms, but circumstances beyond anyone’s control meant that this special show did not go as planned.”
The singer is set to play live on May 31 at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire as part of the Island Life series of gigs, celebrating Island Records‘ 50th Birthday.
Amy Winehouse played:
‘Know You Now’
‘Addicted’
‘Just Friends’
‘Tears Dry On Their Own’
‘Cupid’
‘You Sent Me Flying/Cherry’
‘Back To Black’
‘Wake Up Alone’
‘Some Unholy War’
‘Love Is A Losing Game’
‘Monkey Man’
‘Me and Mr. Jones’
‘You Know I’m No Good’
‘Valerie’