Belle & Sebastian

Overview

Equal parts indie-pop and '60s nostalgia, the world of Belle & Sebastian is one of bookish girls, lovelorn boys and shy awkward teenagers who skip school, hide behind their hair and practice in secret as part-time punks. Now the beloved Glaswegian musical collective are back in Sydney for one night and one night only, and playing the Opera House Concert Hall to boot.

Last year saw the release of their eighth album, Write About Love, drawing on the music of '60s girl-groups, '80s indie and classic pop, and marking a return to the sounds of Tigermilk and If You're Feeling Sinister, which made their name in the mid-'90s. Long-term fans will be pleased to know that the earlier stuff is promised to be included in the set list.

I'm going to throw objectivity to the winds and come right out and tell you that I saw Belle & Sebastian when they were last in Sydney in 2006, and it was without doubt the best gig I have ever seen. Lead singer Stuart Murdoch performs with the kind of awkward charm that makes you want to leap up and hug him. They pull girls up on stage to act out role plays and romance with the band as they play, and make you understand why their consistently brilliant music has inspired over a decade's worth of adoration. You should go see them.