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Amy Winehouse booed at Bestival

Pic: Danny North

Pic: Danny North

Grace Jones, Hot Chip and The Specials also play the rain-lashed bash

Amy Winehouse was booed at Bestival this weekend (September 6) after arriving on stage 40 minutes late, marking an ignominious end to the singer's final performance of 2008.

The long delay angered Bestival festival-goers, who had endured high winds and muddy conditions all weekend at the rain-soaked Isle Of Wight bash.

Winehouse's late arrival meant she had to cut her set short, telling the crowd after 35 minutes: "Bestival, I have been told I've got to wrap it up after the next song."

The singer then performed her cover of The Zutons' hit 'Valerie', but cut the song short, telling her band to play 'Rehab' instead.

Adding to revellers' displeasure, the sound on the main stage was unusually quiet, leading to repeated cries of "turn it up!".

Winehouse's late arrival mirrored events at V Festival in Staffordshire (August 16), where she was also booed.

The singer recently pulled out of the Rock en Seine festival in Paris (August 29) just hours before she was due to go onstage, due to illness.

Winehouse's Bestival setlist was:

'Addicted'
'Just Friends'
'Tears Dry On Their Own'
'Cupid'
'Back To Black'
'Wake Up Alone'
'Love Is A Losing Game'
'You Know I'm No Good'
'Me And Mr Jones'
'Valerie'/'Rehab'


The singer's headline set capped an eventful Saturday at Bestival, which had earlier witnessed a surprise appearance from ska legends The Specials, playing their first gig together in 27 years.

Grace Jones also made an unannounced appearance on the main stage, playing hits including 'Slave To The Rhythm' and 'Pull Up To The Bumper.

The 60-year-old disco veteran's set was witnessed by comedian Alan Carr, who later joked to Bestival organiser Rob da Bank: "When Grace Jones came on and sang 'Nightclubbing I thought I was gonna come!"

Many acts honoured the festival's tradition of fancy dress. Hot Chip's vocalist Alexis Taylor took to the stage wearing a medieval knight's outfit, while keyboardist Joe Goddard wore a green dinosaur costume.

The electro act delighted a huge main stage crowd – the biggest of the weekend – with hits 'Ready For The Floor' and 'Over And Over', as well as a climactic cover of Prince's 'Nothing Compares 2 U', made famous by Sinead O'Connor.

Elsewhere, Florence And The Machine generated an ecstatic crowd response with a set that climaxed with a cover of The Source feat. Candi Staton's 1991 hit 'You Got The Love'.

As previously reported on NME.COM, this year's Bestival suffered from appalling weather conditions, which caused many acts to be cancelled, including Sam Sparro, Lykke Li and Black Kids.

Bestival organiser Rob da Bank has been blogging exclusively for NME.COM all weekend. Check the NME Festival Blog to read his Bestival musings.

Comments (6)

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whatawasteoftime 

Sep 8, 2008

Why can't the vapid, talentless crackhead just FUCK OFF and die quietly in a skip somewhere.

Soundedd 

Sep 8, 2008

Just an awful awful solo artist. You want a good female singer? It's all about Duffy and Sara Bareilles, pure pure brilliance, plus there good role models, which is what you want really not Winehouse the........

weaguey 

Sep 8, 2008

Whoa she is by no means talentless, she's got an amazing voice, she just needs to sort herself out.... thats all...

makeitfunky 

Sep 8, 2008

Well all I can say is that she sounded pretty good from where I was. Having said that I was back in the camp site by then having given up waiting for her after 35 minutes. Lazy moo. For me she was eclipsed by Grace Jones' luscious performace and the sexy George Clinton backing singer on roller skates! Now George Clinton and Parliament THAT is show and a half. George in a black cloak, two pimps, an old man in a nappy (yes, seriously), roller girl and every other word ending in funk. Oldies huh? showmanship and timekeeping. Something to think about Amy.

Rach313 

Sep 11, 2008

I Love You Amy!!!

qcardy 

Sep 28, 2008

Duffy is a pathetic Amy knock-off.

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