The Big Sky Stringband performs a broad collection of original American roots music and unique covers. Founded by Jay Stanek (acoustic guitar/vocals) and Chris Meier (mandolin/vocals), the band builds a new generation of folk rock music around its core strengths: solid songwriting and textured grooves.
Initially formed in Champaign, Ill., in 1997, by current members Chris Meier and Jay Stanek, and former members Dave Johnston and Ken Wilson, the group played a limited number of shows around Champaign before Johnston relocated to Colorado to start Yonder Mountain String Band, and Meier and Stanek returned to their native Chicago. The latter duo continued to play as Big Sky Stringband, and in 2001 expanded the line-up to include drums, electric guitar, and bass.
The band concentrates its efforts on creating energetic and diverse shows that span the musical landscape from folk, rock, blues, and country to funk, jazz, and bluegrass. The quintet of Meier, Stanek, Brandon Cochran (electric guitar/vocals), Zach Malasto (drums), and Meier’s father-in-law, Dick Mallory (bass), create a unique form of roots music. With train wrecks, clotheslines and broken fences as the backdrop, the group weaves stories of mill workers, first loves, and mine fires into a tapestry of Americana. But these songs are more than a glimpse at American life, they are the quest for the American Dream embodied in song.
In 2005, Big Sky Stringband released Flyin’ Blind, a live album featuring 12 original compositions and the band’s distinctive take on 2 traditional songs. The collection highlights the energy of a Big Sky show and features the looseness that defines the Big Sky sound. Available for purchase at iTunes or CDBabyhe album’s release was celebrated at Chicago’s musician’s heaven, The Hideout, in August 2005.
The band’s song “Centralia,” a straight-ahead bluegrass chronicle of the real-life underground mine shaft fires that caused the evacuation and near-condemnation of Centralia, PA brings perspective to the heartbreak and helplessness of the city’s citizens. The song’s dead-on message and easy hook have been featured in documentaries on both PBS and NPR.
In February 2007, the band released Turning of the Wheel, a six-song EP, and the band’s first proper studio release. Recorded at SHIRK Music & Sound in just four, four-hour sessions, the EP features the band’s take on jam-rock (“Slow Train”), folk (“Eric Heywood”), folk-rock (“Dialog with John”), hillbilly surf music (“Sherman Hemsley”), country (“Get Down Boys”), and eclectic bluegrass (“Rich Koz”). For a limited time, Turning of the Wheel is available at live shows or through iTunes, myTracks and CDBaby.com.
The EP's song "Slow Train" was featured on Coke's entertainment site during the summer of 2007. Increasing the band's exposure to a national and international audience.
Capable of a variety of live settings and situations, the band has performed shows in Michigan, Wisconsin, central Illinois, and at venerable Chicagoland venues including Martyr’s, Cubby Bear, Kinetic Playground, and Wise Fools Pub, and performed multiple sets on the 2006 Chicago Auto Show’s Emerging Artist Stage. The band has headlined the past five Barrington Brew Festivals, and performed at other outdoor festivals throughout Chicagoland including the 2007 Sheffield Garden Walk & 2008 Taste of Lincoln Avenue. Dynamic and powerful, these live performances cause the audience to get caught up in down-home Midwestern music. The stage presence displayed from the outset entertains the listeners while the Stringband lays down songs that captivate the audience and make them feel like they could be characters in each song, in each story, in each truly American moment.
The band has shared a stage with Sam Bush, Backyard Tire Fire, Lubriphonic, Leadfoot String Band, Two Cow Garage, Greensky Bluegrass, Cosmic Railroad, Covert Operation, Woodbox Gang, Devil in a Woodpile, Bill Malonee, Cosmic Railroad, Ruby Harris, The Station, Michael Glabicki (of Rusted Root), SLM, Catfish Haven, Tangleweed, Indigenous, The Otis Problem, SLM, Cowboy Mouth, Trampled By Turtles, Katie Todd, Bill Smith, The Radiators, Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra, The Super American Happy Fun Good Time Jamband (aka The Soup), and many other stellar bands.
FGC's got two hometown area shows this weekend! Friday is an all ages extravaganza at the House Cafe in Dekalb, and Saturday is a hometown throwdown at the Abbey Pub in Chicago (Ages 18+). Fans that attend both shows can pick up a FREE FGC album of their choice at Saturday's show (just grab the Free Album Coupon at the House Cafe and redeem it at the Abbey Pub)!
In other news, FGC is also excited to announce that the band will be celebrating New Year's Eve 2009 at the Redstone Room in Davenport, IA. Our third New Year's in a row at this incredible venue, we will once again be pulling out all the stops! Stay tuned for more information on this year's theme, advance tickets, and other details.
And finally, don't forget to check out the band's new Video Blog, a weekly series featuring a behind the scenes look at FGC performances and touring. Check out the YouTube playlist for the last few editions, and stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!
FGC's got a great weekend coming up! On Saturday, we open up for Umphrey's McGee at Exposition Gardens in Peoria (FGC @ 7pm), and Sunday, we head over to the Riverview Music and Arts Festival in South Elgin (FGC @ 6pm). The Riverview Fest goes on all weekend, and Sunday's lineup features FGC, as well as The Everyone Orchestra (with Michael Kang from SCI, Brendan and Andy from Umphrey's, Jordan and Janis from FGC, Allie from Cornmeal, and many more!). Visit www.riverviewmusicfest.com for full lineup and tickets!
Looking beyond, FGC's fall schedule thus far hits tons of our favorite Midwest spots, kicking off with the annual Halloween Masquerade Ball at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, where FGC will be sporting the musical costume of Green Day!
10/17 - Halloween Masquerade Ball, Chillicothe, IL (All Ages) 10/23 - Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, IA (Ages 21+) 10/29 - Miramar Theater, Milwaukee, WI (All Ages) 10/31 - City Nights Theater, Springfield, IL (Ages 21+) 11/6 - The House Cafe, Dekalb, IL (All Ages) 11/7 - The Abbey Pub, Chicago, IL (Ages 18+) 11/9 - WIU, Macomb, IL (All Ages) 11/13 - Canopy Club, Urbana, IL (Ages 18+) 11/14 - Yacht Club, Iowa City, IA (Ages 19+)
The students are back here in Kalamazoo and last week was their first chance to hear the show. Figured playing one of your tracks would introduce em to some damn fine music and start the year off right!
Who would've thought you could help save planet Earth while
rockin' out at a show!? The first annual Little Turtle Music and Arts Festival
and Environmental Expo needs your help. Gather your friends and family and help
support the green paradigm through education, community and the arts by
spreading the word and feeding the need to be Green! Join us on Labor Day
weekend at the Little Turtle Music and Arts Festival! www.littleturtlemusicfestival.com Please download and play OUR commercial to
all your friends and your friend’s friends.
FGC’s only Chicago appearance of the summer is coming up on Friday July 17th at the Abbey Pub. This will be an Ages 18+ show with special supporting acts: Lobster Newberg and The Rubblebucket Orchestra. This Hometown Throwdown is a show not to be missed…hope to see you there!!
In the meantime, check out all three of our Summer Camp Festival sets on the Live Music Archive for free stream/download! Visit our MySpace blog for the links.
We also want to invite our Myspace friends to connect with us on Facebook. Click the links for the FGC Group and FGC Page, both great ways to stay in touch with the band and link up with other fans.
Hi men ;-) Hey Hey & Hi Hi Hello BIG SKY Brothers I knock at your door to send you my congratulations for your music&songs
GREAT TRACKS ON YOUR MySpace PAGE IT’S A GOOD SOUND, I APPRECIATE IT I’m a journalist/collaboractor of “BUSCADERO” the very best italian rock magazine, and other, desultorily I wrote on the “FB Folk Bullettin” (folk magazine).
I’m very interested in the good roots’n’rock american music scene and I’m interested in Americana / Rock / Country / Songwriting / Blues / Folk / Soul & R.’n’B. / Tex-Mex / Punk / Bluegrass & Old Time music / Jazz / Rock’n’Roll / Cajun & Zydeco..etc.. music products, they are cheap and they have a good quality… My last reviews: BUSCADERO June 2009 Alecia Nugent “Hillibilly Goddness” cd Dirk Hamilton “More Songs From My Life” cd Rusties “Move Along” cd BUSCADERO May 2009 Massimo Priviero & Band + Davide Buffoli & Habladors review live concert at Rolling Stone, Milano march 28, 2009 Commander Cody “Dopers, Drunks and Everyday Losers” cd Various Artists “Country Greats Masterpieces” 2_dvd BUSCADERO April 2009 Sons Of The San Joaquin “Live Western Jubilee Warehouse” cd BUSCADERO March 2009 The Dixons “Still Your Fool” cd Norman Blake, Nancy Blake & Boys Of The Lough… “Rising Fawn Gathering” cd Lou Dalfin “Remescia” cd (negative review) BUSCADERO February 2009 Beausoleil (Michael Doucet) “Alligator Purse” cd Various Artists: “2000 Papaveri Rossi – Fabrizio De André Tribute” cd BUSCADERO January 2009 FLOGGING MOLLY interview (3 pages + live-photos) Sarah Pierce Band + Davide Buffoli & Habladors + Little Angel & Bonecrashers - review live concert at Auditorium School, Cavaria con Premezzo (VA) 11,22,2008 Cisco: “Il Mulo” cd The Blazers: “Dreaming A Dream” cd
I send you my best and brotherly rockin’ rootsy regards. ROOTS & RESPECT = LOVE & HAPPYNESS ON YOUR STREET God bless You and your dreams
DEADHEADS GET READY TO PARTY HEARTY WITH FAMILY GROOVE COMPANY~ROOTSTAND~IFDAKAR,AND MORE! Hey now! The 3Gs ('aka Grateful Garcia Gathering), is returning back to the Camp NCN Venue in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin July 30th though August 2nd 2009 where it all began over 6 years ago! A grateful place where Garcia fans will be gathering! It also marks the celebration of Jerry Garcia's 67th Birthday, plus the 14th Anniversary of Jerry's untimely passing. We have leased the campground venue for July 30th though August 3rd 2009 for our 6th annual music festival.
Other great music festivals have hosted at this venue such as Weedstock, Farmapalooza, Big Wu Family Reunion, Campout Roots Festival,just to name a few!
Artists included: Family Groove Company, Rootstand, Ifdakar, Boney Fingers, Baghdad SCUBA Review, Fungus Garden Reverb, Jam and the Playground Kids, In the Dark, MMC Trio, Elf Lettuce, Vinny Weible & Soul Logic, Groovitational Pull, The Reggie, Grateful Beth and the Volunteers, The Bar Tab Band, John Statz, Mr. Cab Driver, Brok'n Arrow, Greyleaf, and more Jambands to be added soon!
Our friends at Mystix Toyz will be on board at the 3G's for tons of family fun with juggling demonstrations, including juggling workshops, face painting, kids parades, plus drum circles and fire dance jams every night
Summer is near and so is the Harvest! Get ready for a jammin' good time as the music echoes across these beautiful Ozark Mountains! Tickets are on sale now!
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