Strawbs

Strawbs emerged from the English folk revival of the late 1960s, initially as a bluegrass-influenced acoustic outfit before morphing into one of progressive rock's more idiosyncratic acts. Founder Dave Cousins, whose distinctive warbling vocal became the band's signature, steered the group through numerous personnel changes and stylistic shifts. Their 1973 album Hero and Heroine represented their commercial peak, blending pastoral folk with symphonic arrangements and conceptual ambition. The anthemic "Part of the Union," a satirical jab at labour politics, became an unexpected hit despite Cousins' reservations about its simplicity.

The band's musical approach combined traditional English folk instrumentation with rock dynamics and classical structures, situating them alongside contemporaries like Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention yet never quite achieving their commercial stature. Guitarist Dave Lambert and keyboardist Rick Wakeman (pre-Yes) contributed to their evolving sound. Their cultural footprint remains modest but devoted, appealing to listeners who appreciate prog's literary tendencies without its occasional bombast. They continue performing, a reliable presence on the heritage circuit, reminding audiences of British rock's bucolic possibilities.