By Alan Wilson, Rocktalk writer

PERTH’S NEW concert hall was opened in fine style last night by Scots band Belle and Sebastian.

The £20 million venue provided a spectacular setting for an excellent concert by the band, which featured Perth’s own Richard Colburn on drums.

Trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Mick Cook is also from Dundee.

The 1600-capacity hall was filled to the brim with fans eager to sample both the new venue and the band’s first gig of the year.

Lead singer Stuart Murdoch led them through a near two-hour set comprising material from their extensive back catalogue, which stretches back 10 years, along with some new songs from their forthcoming album, which they recorded over the summer in Los Angeles.

The biggest cheers of the night were reserved for top-10 hit The Boy With The Arab Strap and first encore I am Cuckoo.

Running them a close third was a cover of Elvis Costello’s Oliver’s Army, which was requested by the audience and sung by guitarist Steve Jackson.

The support band for the night also came from Perth, Michael Rattray and the Allstars who provided the perfect warm-up.