Belle And Sebastian - If You’re Feeling Sinister 30th Anniversary Tour
Belle and Sebastian at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne
12th of September 2026
Belle and Sebastian brought something a little different to the Palais Theatre on Saturday night. Thirty years after the release of If You’re Feeling Sinister, the Scottish indie favourites were back in Melbourne to play the album in full, along with a selection of fan favourites from across their career.
The night opened with Melbourne's own Bananagun, whose psychedelic and groove-heavy sound was a great fit for the room. They brought plenty of character to their set and gave the crowd a taste of something completely different before Belle and Sebastian took over.
There’s something pretty cool about hearing If You’re Feeling Sinister played live three decades after it was released. The album has developed such a strong following over the years, and hearing the songs in their original running order gave the set a real sense of occasion without making it feel like a history lesson.
Belle and Sebastian have always had a way of making indie pop feel detailed without becoming overly serious. The songs are full of little stories, humour and emotion, and that came through naturally in the live setting. The band’s arrangements also gave the music a lot of depth, with the softer moments sitting comfortably alongside the more upbeat parts of the set.
Stuart Murdoch brought plenty of personality to the stage too. There was a relaxed quality to his presence that suited the music, while the rest of the band created a full, layered sound around him. It felt like a group that has spent a long time figuring out exactly how they want their songs to sound live.
After working through the album, the set opened up into more of the band's catalogue, giving longtime fans plenty to enjoy beyond the anniversary material. It also showed just how much music Belle and Sebastian have built around those early records.
The Palais was a great setting for the show. The theatre's character suited the band's sound, and there was something fitting about seeing an album with such a long history played in a venue that has its own history with Melbourne audiences.
Thirty years on, If You’re Feeling Sinister still holds up remarkably well. Belle and Sebastian didn't need to turn the night into a huge spectacle. The songs have more than enough personality of their own, and with a crowd that clearly knew and loved the material, the result was a warm and genuinely enjoyable night at the Palais.
Thank you to Belle And Sebastian, Destroy All Lines, Morsecode PR and the Palais Theatre for having us along.
Review & Photos by Naga Kasu for Music Kingdom Australia
