Blab Music
Mark Seymour to Perform Orchestrated Hunters & Collectors Set at Melbournes Palais Theatre on 26 November
On November 26, 2026, the Palais Theatre will host a night that turns the familiar sounds of Hunters & Collectors into sweeping orchestral landscapes. Former frontman Mark Seymour will stage a one‑off concert titled Mark Seymour Orchestrated: Hunters & Collectors The Hits & 40 Years Of Songs & Stories, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the band’s landmark 1986 album Human Frailty.
The show is a joint effort between Seymour and Classical Music Australia. Director Chris Howlett described the production as a fusion of “Australian contemporary songwriting with orchestral performance.” The Canberra Symphony Orchestra premiered the show in Canberra under conductor Ryley Gillen, with arrangements crafted by Ross Irwin. The Melbourne performance marks the first time Seymour will bring this orchestrated vision to his hometown.
Seymour explained that the set balances well‑known Hunters & Collectors tracks with solo pieces that lend themselves to orchestral treatment. He said the arrangements lift the songs into a “larger, cinematic landscape.” The setlist will feature classic numbers such as “Holy Grail,” “Still Hangin’ Round,” “When The River Runs Dry,” “Do You See What I See?” and “Throw Your Arms Around Me.” The concert also reflects Seymour’s four‑decade songwriting career.
Human Frailty debuted on 7 April 1986 and became the band’s first Top 10 album, peaking at No. 10 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 5 in New Zealand. The album spawned singles including “Say Goodbye,” a re‑recorded “Throw Your Arms Around Me,” “Everything’s on Fire” and “Is There Anybody in There.” Its success cemented Hunters & Collectors as a major Australian act and left a lasting imprint on the country’s rock canon.
Hunters & Collectors formed in 1981 and were fronted by Seymour until the group disbanded in 1998. They re‑formed in 2013 with the 1998 line‑up and have continued to tour. The band’s catalogue has been interpreted by other Australian and international artists, underscoring the breadth of Seymour’s songwriting.
The 2026 anniversary year has already seen other celebrations of Human Frailty. In October, four musicians associated with the album will perform as The Engine Room at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel, although Seymour is not part of that project.
Tickets for the Palais Theatre concert go on pre‑sale on Wednesday 2 September and general public sales begin Thursday 3 September via Ticketmaster and the official event website markseymourorchestrated.com.au. The event is a single‑night show, with no additional tour dates announced.
Seymour’s return to Melbourne’s Palais Theatre marks a significant moment for Australian music fans. The orchestral re‑imagining of classic tracks offers a fresh perspective on a beloved catalog while celebrating four decades of songwriting. The event also highlights the continued relevance of Hunters & Collectors’ legacy within the broader context of Australian rock history.
As the anniversary year progresses, fans can look forward to the Palais Theatre performance and other commemorative events. Ticket sales are underway, and the concert is expected to attract listeners who have followed Seymour’s work from the 1980s to the present.
The show is a joint effort between Seymour and Classical Music Australia. Director Chris Howlett described the production as a fusion of “Australian contemporary songwriting with orchestral performance.” The Canberra Symphony Orchestra premiered the show in Canberra under conductor Ryley Gillen, with arrangements crafted by Ross Irwin. The Melbourne performance marks the first time Seymour will bring this orchestrated vision to his hometown.
Seymour explained that the set balances well‑known Hunters & Collectors tracks with solo pieces that lend themselves to orchestral treatment. He said the arrangements lift the songs into a “larger, cinematic landscape.” The setlist will feature classic numbers such as “Holy Grail,” “Still Hangin’ Round,” “When The River Runs Dry,” “Do You See What I See?” and “Throw Your Arms Around Me.” The concert also reflects Seymour’s four‑decade songwriting career.
Human Frailty debuted on 7 April 1986 and became the band’s first Top 10 album, peaking at No. 10 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and No. 5 in New Zealand. The album spawned singles including “Say Goodbye,” a re‑recorded “Throw Your Arms Around Me,” “Everything’s on Fire” and “Is There Anybody in There.” Its success cemented Hunters & Collectors as a major Australian act and left a lasting imprint on the country’s rock canon.
Hunters & Collectors formed in 1981 and were fronted by Seymour until the group disbanded in 1998. They re‑formed in 2013 with the 1998 line‑up and have continued to tour. The band’s catalogue has been interpreted by other Australian and international artists, underscoring the breadth of Seymour’s songwriting.
The 2026 anniversary year has already seen other celebrations of Human Frailty. In October, four musicians associated with the album will perform as The Engine Room at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel, although Seymour is not part of that project.
Tickets for the Palais Theatre concert go on pre‑sale on Wednesday 2 September and general public sales begin Thursday 3 September via Ticketmaster and the official event website markseymourorchestrated.com.au. The event is a single‑night show, with no additional tour dates announced.
Seymour’s return to Melbourne’s Palais Theatre marks a significant moment for Australian music fans. The orchestral re‑imagining of classic tracks offers a fresh perspective on a beloved catalog while celebrating four decades of songwriting. The event also highlights the continued relevance of Hunters & Collectors’ legacy within the broader context of Australian rock history.
As the anniversary year progresses, fans can look forward to the Palais Theatre performance and other commemorative events. Ticket sales are underway, and the concert is expected to attract listeners who have followed Seymour’s work from the 1980s to the present.
