Named for a children’s book, Belle & Sebastian was founded in 1996. Led by singer-songwriter Stuart Murdoch, the group released its debut that same year. Despite its limited (1000 copies) release, Tigermilk was a hit with audience and critics. Over the five subsequent years, B & S crafted an œuvre at once artisanal and erudite, evoking Nick Drake and the Smiths, with the added melodic felicity of the pop goldsmiths of the 1960s – released in 2003, Dear Catastrophe Waitress is hailed as their artistic peak. The group’s subsequent high-quality albums and tours have consolidated their reputation.