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Episode details

Radio 3,14 Jun 2026,60 mins

Stuart Murdoch's Listening Chair

Unclassified

Available for 27 days

Elizabeth Alker welcomes Belle and Sebastian’s lead singer and songwriter Stuart Murdoch to the Unclassified Listening Chair to share a track that transports him elsewhere. Belle and Sebastian formed in Stuart’s home city of Glasgow, and since then, his has become one of the most distinctive and best-loved voices in British art-pop music. He’s also the author of two books: the memoir ‘The Celestial Cafe’ and the novel ‘Nobody’s Empire’, inspired by his years living with ME and also by his love of singing in a choir. Elsewhere in the programme, we'll hear from emerging independent producers whose work plays with orchestral textures and classical form as well as the latest sounds from a new generation of contemporary composers who look to embrace the spirit of rock, pop and electronica. Produced by Geoff Bird A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3 To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play Unclassified”.

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