David McAlmont @ Kendal Calling

Kendal Calling’s House Party venue is exactly that: a tent crammed with beds, sofas, dining tables and even the kitchen sink. And in the midst of this shabby chic was David McAlmont.

If ever there was a man at odds with his surroundings it was the flamboyant singer. In a crisp black suit, crimson shirt and tasteful bling, he looked every inch the star attraction. And so it proved as he cheerily posed for photographs with the fans huddled in front of the stage.

With no barriers or security guards, his set was an intimate affair: just McAlmont, his keyboard player and the fans at his feet. He gave them a performance worthy of their adulation.

A sensual cover of My Funny Valentine opened proceedings, accompanied by exactly the kind of theatrical eye rolling and gesturing one might expect from such a flamboyant performer. When the singer self-mockingly asked the audience, “Do you want some camp?” it was unclear quite where he had left to go. In retrospect it was obvious that Diamonds Are Forever would follow.

Clearly keen to dispense with ‘& Butler’, the 90s group’s biggest hit Yes was thrown into the set surprisingly early – much to the joy of the dancing crowd. It was followed by a touching tribute to Amy Winehouse: a beautiful acapella version of Tears Dry On Their Own.

With the short set of just eight songs drawing to a close, McAlmont toyed with the idea of playing another track and finally, like a kid with a secret he can’t keep, decided to announce an upcoming group featuring himself and keyboardist Guy Davies. As if to deliberately showcase his new bandmate’s skills they performed a cover of Tom Waits’ Grapefruit Moon which featured some trademark swooping vocals from the singer and some extremely impressive playing from Davies – keep your eye on David McAlmont’s website for an official announcement on their collaboration soon…

Amy Winehouse Found Dead

I was there when Amy Winehouse punched a fan at Glastonbury. I was on my way to watch Jay-Z and cut across the Pyramid Stage as she performed, catching the limp-wristed jab on the big screens. I eventually abandoned my mission thanks to a dangerous crush – opting instead to watch Massive Attack.

If only Winehouse had made a similar decision to steer clear of apparent danger. Gripped by drink and drugs, the 27 year old singer chose the wrong path, the wrong men and the wrong career choices, culminating in tragically early death.

Prodigiously talented, Winehouse burned brightly but briefly. With only two albums under her belt she will never release another. Back to Black will forever remain the high-water mark in brief career: it rightly bagged her award after award for her autobiographical lyrics and smouldering, sensual voice.

Her demise has been a long time coming. Her wasted frame has been seen lurching in and out of the tabloid press for years, each stint in rehab being immediately followed by yet another relapse or cancelled concert appearance. Divorces and reconciliations with uber-rogue Blake Fielder Civil were a sure sign that the Londoner was making bad decision after bad decision – with every one documented and photographed by the gutter press and paparazzi.

It’s a sad fact that the public’s demand for scandal feeds the media frenzy around figures such as Winehouse. Whether they contributed to her downward spiral is impossible to ascertain, but it’s sure that they cannot have contributed anything positive to her struggles with addiction. Maybe her state of mind and substance abuse would have eventually led to her demise regardless of the press coverage. But in the coming days it will be interesting to see exactly how those who capitalised on her weaknesses in life will lionise her in death.