Incredible String Band
at Woodstock 1969
The Scottish folk group refused to play in the rain on Day 1, giving Melanie her Woodstock slot. They performed the following day to a significantly diminished crowd.
Incredible String Band — Woodstock 1969
The Incredible String Band emerged in 1965 in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Clive Palmer and Robin Williamson as an acoustic folk duo. When guitarist Mike Herron joined, they adopted their now-famous name and released a self-titled album. The group maintained momentum even after Palmer departed to explore the Hippie Trail through India and Afghanistan, releasing two additional albums during this period.
A pivotal moment came at Woodstock 1969. The band refused to perform in the rain on Day 1, causing their slot to be reassigned to Melanie. Though they performed the following day, the crowd atmosphere had deteriorated significantly. This decision had lasting consequences: the ISB was not featured in the iconic Woodstock documentary.
Their colorful and exotic dress, poetry, and psychedelic folk arrangements had made them hugely influential in the British folk scene. Artists from Jimmy Page to Bob Dylan cited them as an influence. However, following Woodstock, the group experienced a dramatic loss of popularity. Albums released after the festival were seen as disappointments in comparison to their early work.
Internal conflicts led to constant lineup changes until their final breakup in 2006, following a hiatus from 1974 to 2003.
Today, audiences remember them as musicians who made great music, were ahead of their time, and simply hit a wall after their peak years.