Having read the reviews about Barrels there is really not so much to add. Billy was just as good and humorous as I remembered from last year. To understand all the jokes I had to start reading English tabloids though. When I stepped off the ferry on Friday the 20th of July, I had never heard the name Jeffery Archer, at least not that I can remember. Then several singers were referring to him, dedicating songs to him, joking about him. I had to find out who this peculiar fellow could be. So I did some quick research (The Mirror and The Sun). "Walking the dog" (or "Woking the dog") should be recorded. Has Billy made any CDs on his own? Otherwise it has to be one of the tracks of a BT4 to come. Preferably recorded live at a place like Barrels.

I went to see The Happy Cats because of the Lindisfarne connection. I was not disappointed. In Sweden most pub bands play covers of The Rolling Stones and other blues/rock artists. The Happy Cats can make the music swing just as much with a very different set of instruments. They have a very good mix of song you can sing along with and also wonderful songs that you don't hear very often elsewhere. One of the highlights in my view was "The lily of the west".

I went to see them the following Friday at the Wooden Doll in North Shields. That made me understand more why Barrels is such a good place for live music. The Wooden Doll is a lovely place on a warm late July Friday evening; you can have your beer outdoors and watch the sunset. But when it comes to music Barrels is way ahead. The Happy Cats made a good job and managed to work up an atmosphere at The Wooden Doll. At Barrels the atmosphere was there from start, you knew instantly that people had come for the music just as much as for the beer.

The Barrels was really a night to remember. The people working at Barrels have a great sense of hospitality. Before I went to bed that night they provided me with an "early breakfast" (guess what time?)

Hope to see you again.