Newark woman pays tribute to music legend Amy Winehouse through tribute act performance

A performer who puts soul, humour and heart into her tribute acts says her greatest joy is helping people rediscover the real Amy Winehouse.

Nicola Harris, of Newark, has performed tribute acts to Shania Twain and Madonna since the 90s, but it was her Amy Winehouse tribute that was born from curiosity 18 years ago.

She used to hear Amy’s hit song Rehab on the radio, but with no idea who the singer was at the time, she thought it was an old jazz recording from the 50s due to the ‘timeless quality’ of Amy’s voice.

When performing in clubs across the country, Nicola was told on several occasions that she sounded and looked like Amy Winehouse, which she said intrigued her about who Amy was.

She said: “We didn’t have the internet at our fingertips like we do today, so I had to do a bit of digging. Eventually, I joined the dots; the voice I had fallen in love with belonged to Amy Winehouse, and the song was Rehab, the very one I’d been asking my dad to track down.

“It all started to align: the compliments from strangers, the uncanny visual similarity, and the fact that I had already been hooked on her voice without even knowing who she was.

“I took that as a sign.

“From there, I threw myself into studying her — not just her sound, but her spirit, her music, and her story. I don’t take tribute work lightly; I only ever perform tributes to artists I can genuinely connect with and represent with 100% commitment.

“And Amy Winehouse? She just felt right.

“That’s how it all began — a combination of coincidence, curiosity, and a deep admiration for an extraordinary artist.”

After an intense research into Amy’s music, life and inspirations, Nicola’s Amy Winehouse tribute started in 2007, and quickly escalated from UK stages to global showcases after she signed with TED UK, a leading entertainment agency that books acts for luxury resorts worldwide.

For 12 years, she performed weekly Amy Winehouse tribute performances in some of the world’s most luxurious holiday destinations such as Egypt, both Fethiye and the city of Side in Turkey, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ibiza, and Cyprus.

Over the years, Nicola has met Amy’s mother, Janis Winehouse, when she was performing at charity events as Madonna or Lady Gaga.

“I also had the honour of meeting her late husband, Richard, who once invited me to their home to listen to some of Amy’s unreleased tracks, songs he loved even more than the ones that made it onto albums,” added Nicola.

“Sadly, I never took up the offer, and it’s something I truly regret to this day.

“Janis is incredibly high-spirited — she’s the kind of person who lifts everyone around her. Her love for Amy shines through every time she speaks of her.”

The artist got the chance to reunite with Janis at Unity Fest 2025 at Newark Showground earlier this month, celebrating legendary women in music, where Nicola performed as Madonna and Lady Gaga and described Janis being ‘as gracious and encouraging as ever’.

She added: “For me, the greatest joy in performing my Amy Winehouse tribute is helping people discover, or rediscover, the real Amy.

“Not the version portrayed by tabloids, but the soulful, funny, brilliant woman behind the music.

“To see people walk away as new fans of her music and her personality is something I’m deeply proud of.

“I’ve done my homework. I’ve spent years getting to know Amy’s story, understanding who she really was — and that care comes through in every performance.”

One of the highlights of her career, Nicola said, was meeting a woman on a cruise ship who was a close friend of Amy’s.

After seeing Nicola’s show, the woman was said to be overwhelmed and stated: “You are Amy”.

The woman, later on, told her family about it and the family secretly booked Nicola to perform at the new fan’s 50th birthday.

“When I arrived, she was shocked, and her husband said it felt like they had Amy back in the room,” Nicola said.

“That moment really grounded me. It reminded me that this tribute is more than a performance, it’s a way of keeping Amy’s true spirit alive, honouring her memory with heart, humour, and honesty.

“I always say: I’m doing Amy my way, and, for me, that’s the right way.”

Nicola describes her performances as having a lot of cheeky humour and charming energy that lifts the room; however, she admits to staying away from the darker parts of Amy’s life, being very conscious and respectful of her legacy.

The artist is now touring with her original country show — Newark to Nashville — where she gets to showcase her love for her hometown and country music as a singer-songwriter.