On Thursday 22 October, The Amy Winehouse Band took to the stage at York Barbican.
By Katie Stewart
Their performance was a delightful tribute to the late Amy Winehouse, honouring her incredible ability to write about modern life in a way that touches the soul, much like the jazz and blues greats of the 1950s and 60s.
As lead vocalist Beth Morris beautifully made a point of recognising throughout the show, this is no easy feat. The music of those distant generations, artists like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Dinah Washington, had an almost inhuman ability to move and shake listeners through poetic imagery, honest storytelling and layered arrangements.
Dinah Washington in particular was one of Amy’s heroes. Speaking to the BBC in 2006, Amy praised her ability to effortlessly move between styles – “She could do a jazz song and make it her own, then, when she went back to the blues, back to what she knows, she could kill people.”
Amy clearly had such admiration for the generations of musicians before her, and she had that same gift. She was able to express her honesty, humour and modern-life experiences through songs that felt both contemporary and timeless. As Morris lovingly mentioned throughout the evening, that’s exactly why her music has stood, and will continue to stand, the test of time.
Morris humbly highlighted the honour she felt getting to perform with Amy’s band every chance she could (professing how much of a fan of AW she is during every song break). The contrast between her calm, soft-spoken demeanour between songs and her through-the-roof vocals was striking. An ideal ambassador for such a trailblazer, Morris handled the responsibility with reverence and awe-inspiring talent.
Amy’s original band honoured Amy’s legacy without skipping a beat. As you’d expect from complete masters of their craft, already beyond legendary when they played alongside Amy in the 2000s, the musicianship was a class act from start to finish.
Though it should have been no surprise that the music seemed to bleed from the musicians, it was still striking just how good this band was.
Trumpeter Henry Collins and saxophonist Frank Walden felt central to each song, providing that polished, next-level jazz and blues sound that became such a defining part of Amy’s music. Their playing harmonised beautifully with Morris’s unearthly powerful vocals. A complete vocal gymnast, she brought edge and grit, mixing a smooth Estuary twang with a punchy rasp and growl that added texture to every performance. Together, the brass arrangements and vocals felt pitch-perfect.
The keyboardist didn’t play around. Well, he did, gliding over the keys with finesse and a lighter-than-air quality. A true professional, he oozed joy throughout the show. Smiling from ear to ear, you got the sense he was simply having the best time playing music he respected with musicians he respected even more.
Amy’s beloved backing vocalist Adeleye Omotayo was his usual burst of energy and charm, toe-tapping and arm-swinging through the set. Though it was the first night of the band’s 20th anniversary UK tour, you got the feeling he’d be bringing that same energy to each and every performance, putting on the best show possible night after night. He took a couple of solo songs, too, which was welcome every time. His voice is just gorgeous, and each song was delivered with flair and charisma.
Towards the end of the night, Beth and the band rolled off one banger after another, working through Amy’s most well-known hits. Earlier in the evening, when Beth kicked off the show with some casual crowd-work, one audience member had, candidly, requested Back to Black. Bassist and musical director Dale Davis – one of Amy’s most trusted musical collaborators, a true pro, and the living embodiment of ‘cool’ – jokingly replied that they were “skipping that one tonight”.
When it finally did come around, it didn’t disappoint.
The crowd was already on its feet following Tears Dry on Their Own and remained there for the rest of the night. From that point onwards, the show became one big party-style celebration of Amy’s legacy.
The Amy Winehouse Band are touring more than 50 venues across the UK as part of their 20th anniversary celebrations, and if they’re coming to a venue near you, it’s a show you don’t want to miss.
The performance not only captured the wit and fire of Amy Winehouse, but also took audiences back to the jazz, blues and soul traditions that inspired her. In doing so, the band reminded everyone why Amy’s music, and the music that shaped her, continues to inspire.
The Amy Winehouse Band played at York Barbican on Thursday 22 October 2026.