Winehouse to play at Mandela gig

Winehouse won an Ivor Novello songwriting award last week

Singer Amy Winehouse has been added to the bill for the concert marking Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday in June.

The Back to Black star will join Leona Lewis, Queen and Dame Shirley Bassey at the London event, which will raise funds for Mandela's 46664 Aids charity.

"We are delighted Amy will be appearing at Hyde Park," said Tim Massey, 46664's international director.

On Friday, Winehouse made her first full stage appearance since November at Portugal's Rock in Rio Lisboa festival.

"Hey Lisbon," she said, "I'm sorry I'm late," as she turned up more than half-an-hour behind schedule.

Winehouse starts summer in Lisbon

During her 55-minute set, she suffered from hoarseness, apologising for her weak voice and brandishing throat pastilles.

Cancelled

Nelson Mandela will be in Hyde Park for the 46664 concert on 27 June, which will also feature appearances from Simple Minds, Razorlight and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Hollywood actors Will Smith, Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker will also be in attendance.

Prior to Friday, Winehouse last played a full live set in November, shortly before her 2007 tour was cancelled.

Since then she has performed at the Brit and Grammy Awards. The beehive-wearing star sang live at a Paris Fashion Week event at the beginning of March.

As well as the Mandela concert, the headline-grabbing 24-year-old is also scheduled to perform at the Glastonbury, V, T in the Park and Bestival music festivals later this summer.

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