BELLE & SEBASTIAN

When Stuart Murdoch launched his indie pop band Belle & Sebastian in Glasgow nearly 30 years ago, it was part of a social project for the unemployed — Murdoch himself had been unable to work for a long time due to a chronic illness and was therefore looking for an occupation he could manage. Nevertheless, he established himself as quickly as he did unintentionally as an outstanding visionary of the entire British indie scene.

Belle & Sebastian—whose lineup has remained virtually unchanged since the turn of the millennium, consisting of Murdoch (vocals, guitar), Stevie Jackson (guitar), Chris Geddes (keyboard), Sarah Martin (vocals, violin), Dave McGowan (guitar, bass), Bobby Kildea (guitar, bass), and Richard Colburn (drums)—have long been among the most important representatives of this genre and enjoy enormous international success. Nearly every one of their twelve albums to date has charted in the Top 20 of the UK and the Top Ten of the Scottish album charts. Yet commercial success is certainly not a priority in their artistic work; far more crucial is the ongoing development of their distinctly unique sense of songwriting and aesthetics. The seven-piece band made its debut in 1996 with the album “Tigermilk.” That same year saw the release of “If You’re Feeling Sinister,” which, due to its timeless grandeur, was voted by many music publications as one of the “best albums of the 1990s.”

Belle & Sebastian achieved commercial success two years later with their third studio album, “The Boy With The Arab Strap,” for which they were honored with a BRIT Award for Best British Band, among other accolades. Further music awards followed, as their subsequent albums achieved similar success in Europe, as well as in Australia and the U.S. And rightly so: Stuart Murdoch has always demonstrated a unique knack for turning emotions into melody, oscillating between profound melancholy and an optimistic spirit of renewal. These emotions meander through their music with a sense of gravity, lending it an almost hymnal quality. This gives their songs and lyrics a depth that makes every line feel sincere and authentic. Not only on record, but especially live on stage, the septet creates a unique atmosphere. This was also demonstrated by their 2019 compilation “What to Look for in Summer,” whose tracks were recorded live during a U.S. tour for good reason. 

Back in March, Belle & Sebastian performed two phenomenal concerts in Berlin and Cologne, respectively, and to mark the 30th anniversary of “If You’re Feeling Sinister,” they played through the entire album chronologically, supplemented by some of the biggest fan favorites; In early December, audiences in Munich and Frankfurt will once again have the opportunity to experience this unique setlist live.