Frank by Amy Winehouse at The Blues Kitchen review: Celebrating an icon
The Blues Kitchen celebrated the 20th anniversary of Amy Winehouse’s Frank. Amy Williams went to check it out, here’s what she thought.
Date published: 8th Dec 2023
Classy, intimate, exquisite. They’re the three words that best describe the album Frank by Amy Winehouse, which was released 20 years ago on the 20th December 2003. Two decades later, Amy Winehouse fans gathered for an evening of soul, blues and rhythm, singing along to classics from the album. There’s no better place to host a night like this than The Blues Kitchen in Manchester: a venue that matches the characteristics of Amy Winehouse’s music, being classy, intimate and exquisite, too.
The Blues Kitchen is a perfect venue for a cosy, mid-week boogie in December. When you walk through the glass doors, you automatically feel disconnected from the outside world; segregated from the cold weather and crowds of chaos in a busy month, you enter into an immediate lively atmosphere, in a quirky interior delight. The tentative staff and the captivating live music make Blues Kitchen not just a venue but an experience.
Amy Winehouse is famous for her unique, expressive vocals, and is an absolute icon within the genre of soul, blues, and rhythm. The band set up in the upstairs room of The Blues Kitchen and didn’t disappoint when they began playing classics from the Frank album, such as You Sent Me Flying and (There Is) No Greater Love. With the disco ball gently spinning and the crowd gathering around the stage, everyone swayed and sang along in unison, enjoying the evening with a drink in hand. Although the energy was high, the atmosphere was still laid back and relaxed. You could tell everyone was there to have a chilled night with a good dance and sing-along - that was something The Blues Kitchen definitely offered effortlessly.
Later in the set, it was time to provoke more crowd energy. Moving on from the Frank classics, we were treated to Amy Winehouse’s well-known hits, which got the crowd surging to the front and nearer the stage. You couldn’t help but sing along with encouragement from the band, and eventually, the floor of Blues Kitchen was a sea of people dancing. Everything from Rehab, Back To Black, and Valerie was played with rich vocals and decadent beats from the band.
Photo: The Blues Kitchen Manchester / Instagram.com
You should never say no to a Wednesday dance, but when Blues Kitchen is offering one, whether you're up to it or not, you just have to check it out. With £6 cocktails offered every Wednesday evening alongside a soul night in the upstairs room, it’s something you don’t want to miss out on to celebrate getting halfway through the working week. This event had everyone smiling and leaving with feel-good soul vibes… There’s no better way to break up the week, and The Blues Kitchen definitely passed the vibe check.
Celebrate more classic albums and iconic discographies at The Blues Kitchen in Manchester. Click or tap here to see the venue’s upcoming events including shows honouring Lauryn Hill, Frank Ocean, Oasis, Nina Simone, Drake, Beyoncé, David Bowie, and more including artists performing their own original music.
Or click or tap here to see what's on at The Blues Kitchen in Brixton, London.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
Header image credit: Amy Winehouse / Facbeook.com