Winehouse cleared to perform in Dubai

Amy Winehouse has set a concert date of February 11 at Gulf Bike Week in Dubai. Also playing the event: Mike Posner, and Pharrell Williams and N.E.R.D.

DUBAI // The British pop star Amy Winehouse will be the headline act at Gulf Bike Week.

Also appearing at the show in Dubai Festival City, which runs from February 10-12, will be the singer and record producer Pharrell Williams with his band N.E.R.D, along with the singer Mike Posner.

Winehouse has almost completed her new album and will tour Brazil (four concerts in eight days) before coming to Dubai. She has been cleared to perform by the authorities despite her past problems.

Winehouse, who has battled substance abuse during her career, was looking forward to performing in Dubai, said Thomas Ovesen, the chief executive of the concert organiser Done Events.

"She has left her problems behind her and she is now just finalising her new album, which by all accounts is looking very good," he said. "We would not have approached her to perform if we felt there might be a problem with the authorities, and that is definitely not the case."

Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003 and was followed three years later by Back to Black, which included the hit single Rehab.

Winehouse has had a battle with alcohol and drugs. She was hospitalised in August 2007 for a reported overdose on a cocktail of drugs including heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol. She and her former husband were arrested in Bergen, Norway, later that year for marijuana possession. Winehouse went into drug rehabilitation in 2008.

Gulf Bike Week will feature daily motorcycle exhibitions, stunt bike shows, entertainment and a special stage with local and regional bands performing.

Winehouse will perform at the 15,000-capacity Festival City concert arena on February 11. N.E.R.D and Posner will open the festival on February 10. The festival attracted more than 30,000 bike fans and 14,000 concert fans last year.

"Having Pharrell Williams with his band N.E.R.D, Mike Posner and the amazing Amy Winehouse performing over the same weekend is a real scoop," Mr Ovesen said.