Amy Winehouse has spoken for the first time about her recent festival performance in Portugal, which was branded “miserable”.

Winehouse arrived over an hour late for her scheduled appearance at the Rock in Rio festival last Friday (May 30th).

She then disappointed fans by singing poorly and appearing incoherent throughout much of her set.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper about the show, Winehouse said she had been suffering from a sore throat and didn’t cancel because she “was determined to show my fans that I was back and working.”

The singer also rejected claims that she sacked her band following the performance.

“I was really upset that anyone would suggest that I would act that way to my band. My band are my family and I did not ‘scream’ at my horn players and would never be ‘sick of the sight of them’.

“We have been through a lot together and I would never lose my temper in that way with them.”

The festival was the first of a number of summer dates that Winehouse is schedule to play this year.

(by Jason Gregory)