My final gig of the year. And rather than my more typical diet of folk, glam rock and heavy metal, it’s the Amy Winehouse Band.

The project brings together musicians who played with Amy Winehouse over the course of her spectacularly promising career, which tragically came to a premature end back in 2011. The band members include Dale Davis, her musical director and bass player; Hawi Gondwe, Winehouse’s guitarist from 2007-11; drummer, Nathan Allen; backing vocalist, Adeleye Omatayo, and the brass section, Henry Collins and Dave Temple. The aim of the band, of course, is to perform and celebrate Winehouse’s music and to be much more than just another tribute act through retaining that very direct link to the late artist, herself.

The first part of the set was very much focused on the soulful jazz influences of the Frank album and vocalist, Beth Morris, (one of a couple of alternating female lead singers for the band) did a devastatingly good job at performing Winehouse’s material and really embodying the spirit of those songs. The musicians are on top form, too, and with the spotlights and dry ice the De La Warr stage takes on the vibe of a smoky, intimate jazz club.

The tempo and the mood change as the band move on to material from Winehouse’s second album, the soul-pop masterpiece that is Back to Black.

We are soon being invited by Morris to get to our feet and boogie and within seconds the entire De la Warr audience are bopping along to the likes of ‘Back to Black’, ‘Me and Mr Jones’ and, of course, ‘Rehab’. Not only did male backing vocalist, Adeleye Omatayo, take the lead vocal on a handful of songs himself, he also wowed the crowd with some impressive dance moves of his own, too.

The Amy Winehouse Band do a tremendous job in celebrating Winehouse’s legacy and keeping her music alive in a live performance setting. It’s a really impressive show and well worth seeing if you have the opportunity.

https://www.theamywinehouseband.com/

Setlist:

Know You Now
October Song
Mr Magic (Through the Smoke)
In My Bed
Stronger Than Me
Moody’s Mood for Love
You Sent Me Flying
Addicted
Cupid
He Can Only Hold Her
I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know
Love Is a Losing Game
Tears Dry on Their Own
Back to Black
You Know I’m No Good
Me & Mr Jones
Rehab
You’re Wondering Now
Monkey Man
Valerie