Belle and Sebastian played an impromptu concert in a park in Perth, Australia, after being forced to cancel their concerts in the area.
The Scottish band, which formed in 1996, had been due to perform at the Astor Theatre in the area on Thursday (17 September) as part of their 30th anniversary tour.
But after the gig was cancelled “due to freight delays from the East Coast affecting critical equipment for the show”, frontman Stuart Murdoch posted on Facebook on Thursday asking fans to gather in Langley Park near the venue.
“Hi guys, Stuart here. Sorry about the news below,” he wrote, attaching a screenshot of a map with a cross drawn over a specific spot.
“If anyone fancies it, we could meet up at 7pm at Langley Park, bottom of Hill Street. I don’t know if anyone close by has a guitar, or any instrument really, we could chat and play a couple of tunes?”
He continued: “Sorry again. If you have anything you wanna sign we could do that. I was in the park last night, it was nice under the stars!”
Hours later, a picture was posted in the comments showing a group of fans sat on the grass in the park while Murdoch stood with a guitar case at his feet.
“We did it! Well done everyone, that was fun,” he wrote.
The missed date in Perth marked the “Another Sunny Day” band’s fifth show in Australia as part of their 30th anniversary tour, and the only show in the region when they were due to celebrate their first studio album, 1996’s Tigermilk.
The Friday night show in Perth was dedicated to the album If You’re Feeling Sinister, which was released in the same year.
In the comment section beneath Murdoch’s post, fans were quick to praise the 58-year-old musician as a “class act” and “legend”.
“How many bands would do that for their fans? Fantastic offer and hopefully everyone takes advantage of an intimate chilled out impromptu show,” one fan wrote.
“This is why Belle and Sebastian are just the best,” another echoed.
A different comment read: “I haven’t heard the name Belle and Sebastian in at least 20 years and wouldn’t say I’m a fan, BUT this is one of the greatest gestures a band could make for their fans. Most would be bummed about the cancellation, accept it, and move on. None would offer a compromise.
“I hope everyone who attended had an amazing time. Waking up today expecting a venue show, end up getting a more intimate, camp-fire type show. Absolutely bravo Belle and Sebastian.”
