The 1967 Monterey Pop Festival in the United States is frequently recognized as the first rock festival, but just weeks prior, another significant event unfolded in Lincolnshire, England, that laid the groundwork for future festivals. This event, known as Barbeque 67, drew thousands of fans to a humble shed where some of the biggest names in music performed, marking a pivotal moment in rock history.

On May 29, 1967, the Tulip Bulb Auction Hall in Spalding, Lincolnshire, became an unexpected venue for a groundbreaking music festival. Alan Barnsdale, a record shop owner who was present that day, recalls the venue's unassuming appearance. 'What you've got to remember is this was a shed,' he explains. 'It was an auction house for selling off flower bulbs and commodities like that. No windows. There was nothing there.' Yet, it was here that legends like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and The Move took to the stage, performing in front of an eager crowd.

Barbeque 67 often goes unnoticed in the annals of music history, but its significance cannot be overstated. Bev Bevan, the drummer for Electric Light Orchestra and The Move, asserts, 'It was the first British rock festival, really, although nobody knew it at the time. It was groundbreaking.' This festival not only brought together renowned artists but also helped to shape the future of rock music festivals in the UK.

Among the headliners was the iconic Jimi Hendrix, but the day was not without its challenges for him. 'He was not happy with the sound at all,' recalls Bevan. 'He just couldn't get his guitar to sound like he wanted it to.' Local historian Doug Kendall, who witnessed the performance, noted that it might have been 'the only time in history that Hendrix was heckled.' This frustration led Hendrix to a rather dramatic display: after kicking his amplifiers in frustration, he famously set fire to his guitar using lighter fuel and threw the remnants off the stage. Regrettably, that very instrument ended up at a local landfill, a lost treasure that, had it been preserved, could be worth thousands today.

Interestingly, the event was not only memorable for Hendrix's antics. Pink Floyd performed to a crowd of only a few hundred due to insufficient turnstiles to accommodate the throng of fans eager to see them. Some audience members were so packed into the auction house that they found themselves watching the performance from beneath the stage, peering through cracks in the floorboards. The unusual nature of the festival contributed to its charm, as it was clear that no one had quite mastered the art of organizing a rock festival at that time.

Singer Geno Washington, who headlined the event with his band, expressed fond memories of the festival, stating, 'It was one of the best festivals I ever did, and the people running that festival... had it down, man. It was fantastic.' He expressed confusion as to why the festival did not become a recurring event, emphasizing its popularity and impact.

Although estimates suggest that Barbeque 67 attracted between 4,000 and 6,000 attendees, the event did not garner significant media attention. Just days before the festival, the Beatles released their iconic album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' which overshadowed the Spalding event in the rock press. Doug Kendall reminisces, 'Sgt. Pepper was released and it took over the rock press. So, a little event in Spalding didn't raise the same interest.' Consequently, many people remained unaware of Barbeque 67's significance even at the time.

The site of the auction hall has since been demolished, replaced by retail stores such as Halfords and Argos. Today, most residents of Spalding are unfamiliar with Barbeque 67. When inquired about the event, some mistakenly think it relates to barbecue sauce or an American-style barbecue restaurant. Despite a Blue Plaque commemorating the hotel where Hendrix stayed, the town's rich musical heritage remains largely unrecognized, leaving many oblivious to the legendary guitar that may still be buried in a nearby landfill.