From Ski Lifts To Stadiums, The String Cheese Incident Has Wowed Colorado For 25 Years

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Photo: String Cheese Incident at Planet Bluegrass in 1997
The String Cheese Incident performing at the Wildflower Theatre on Planet Bluegrass in March 1997.

Colorado is a destination for jam bands. Groups like The Grateful Dead, Phish and Widespread Panic perform here regularly for big crowds. Colorado is also the birthplace of one of the best known jam bands out there: The String Cheese Incident. They formed 25 years ago in Crested Butte.

Since then, the band has played its improvisational jams—blending bluegrass, rock, folk and electronica—around the world. The String Cheese Incident recently worked with former Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison on the album "Believe," recorded in the band's Louisville studio.

Founding member and guitarist Bill Nershi joined Colorado Matters before the String Cheese Incident's performance at the Colorado Kind Festival in Lyons this weekend. He discussed his early musical career in Telluride, the lore behind the group's name and how he manages to perform for hours at a time.