The Happy cats arrived on the Isle of Arran to play at the Aldersyde Hotel, Lamlash on the Friday. The range of songs and the quality of performance put them well above anything prior or since.  The quality of music and range of instruments, songs by Bob Dylan, The Saw Doctors, the Pogues, Shania Twain and of course some of their own stuff made for a very enjoyable evening.  They were so good that I went to the now famous (well if you ask them it's now famous) "Lamlash Boat house gig" on the Saturday afternoon.  This gig was original in that the boys were playing to an audience that included kids with painted faces, old men with dogs, a dog who tried to "up stage" them, babies in prams and as the photos show the gig was actually in a boat house.  Mind you the acoustics were incredible!. Because they were so good I went again to see them at the Aldersyde Hotel on the Saturday evening. I would have made the Sunday performance but had to work.  This group really are a cut above the rest and if you can you should get out to see them.  They are hoping to come back to Arran first weekend in January 2004 to again play at the Aldersyde hotel.  If you fancy a really great weekend on Arran then book the ferry now you will not be disappointed. George Nicholson