Belle and Sebastian’s concert at Bierhübeli in Bern on 24 February felt like stepping into a pocket of time where sincerity, humour and nostalgia all coexisted. The evening was dedicated to Tigermilk, the band’s 1996 debut album that was recorded in just a few days at CaVa Studios in Glasgow and originally released in a tiny run of one thousand vinyl copies. The songs, written by Stuart Murdoch between 1993 and 1996, still carry the fragile confidence and literary charm that shaped the band’s early identity. Hearing them live gave the night a sense of returning to the source.
Stuart Murdoch arrived on stage in a noticeably bright mood. He spoke to the audience with the ease of someone greeting familiar faces. He joked about leaving grey Scottish weather behind and arriving in Bern to sunshine and mild air. He described how he had spent the day in a park, soaking up the light. At one point Murdoch insisted that the mountains visible from the city must be painted on because they looked too perfect to be real. The room responded with laughter that felt like shared relief after a long winter.
The crowd itself was a mix of locals and dedicated travellers. People had come from Geneva, Zurich, Glasgow, Leeds and Berlin. The atmosphere felt communal rather than crowded, and Stuart Murdoch's remark about how the world needs more humanity settled over the audience like a reminder of why nights like this matter.
One of the most memorable moments came during Lord Anthony. Murdoch pulled out a bag of mini Toblerones and began handing them to people in the front rows while continuing to sing. He wandered through the audience, disappearing into the sea of bodies before suddenly reappearing on the balcony above.
The encore added another layer of intimacy. Murdoch announced that they would play one more song. Someone in the audience called out a request for “the long song”. The band responded by playing This Is Just a Modern Rock Song, the seven‑minute centrepiece of their 1998 EP. The track was originally intended for an album but never found a home there.
Following the performance, the band remained in the venue to speak with fans and sign records. I stayed far longer than planned, long enough to miss my train home and end up spending the night at the station. Even so, it felt entirely worth it. Some concerts end when the lights come on. This one stayed with me long after the doors closed.
