Amy Winehouse - British jazz and R'n'B singer _158
SINGER Amy Winehouse threw the second day of the Summer Pops into chaos last night by cancelling her sold-out show.
Organisers were told at 6.55pm the Brit award-winning jazz star was pulling out of the concert on doctor’s orders.
But it was not until after the doors opened at 7pm, when a capacity audience of 4,500 were on their way to the Aintree racecourse pavilion, that word began to spread.
Thousands of fans were turned away at the gates. Many were from Merseyside area, but others had travelled from as far away as Spain and Germany.
Chloe Griffin, from Walton, and her friend Rachel Denton, from Aigburth, were among those disappointed.
“We invited two of our friends over from Cologne for the concert and we’re absolutely gutted,” said Ms Griffin.
Abi Rowlands and her friend Laura Lloyd, from Southport, said: “We’re both avid fans and can’t believe she’s cancelled.”
The singer’s band is understood to have completed a soundcheck before the show.
Summer Pops organiser Chas Cole of CMP Entertainment said the singer of Rehab cancelled after being seen by doctors backstage.
He added: “It is regrettable Amy had to cancel her concert and I send out apologies to all those who queued up to see her tonight.
“The concert will still go ahead at another date, however, so her fans will still get to see her sing.” Office worker Franky Francis, 42, from Birmingham, took his girlfriend to the concert for a birthday treat. He said: “It took us three-and-a-half hours to get here driving down the M6 so it’s very disappointing.
“We had front row seats so to be let down like that is annoying.”
Sarah Freron, 24, from Walton, said: “I heard Amy Winehouse could be unreliable but didn’t believe it. Now I do.”
Winehouse, 23, is as famous for her tabloid lifestyle as she is her critically acclaimed music.
He latest album Back to Black, including singles Rehab and You Know I’m No Good, topped the charts and won several awards.
Winehouse has previously admitted her love of performing in the city and recently played a sell-out concert at the Liverpool Academy.
The show will go ahead on July 18 and all tickets will remain valid or will be refunded.
