Band Biography

Jay Stanek Acoustic Guitar, Vocals (Banjo and Mandolin)	Chris Meier Mandolin, Harmonica, Vocals (Guitar)	Dick Mallory Bass	Brandon Cochran Electric Guitar, Vocals	Zach Malasto Drums
The seeds of the Big Sky Stringband were planted in 1996 during a chance meeting between Jay Stanek and Chris Meier at an open mic night. After a year of acoustic music together, the two formed Kai Mera, an eclectic pop/rock band with many influences. After signing with Hammerhead Records for their self-titled debut album, the band continued to play diverse and entertaining live shows to a large group of loyal fans at the University of Illinois, garnering Best Local Band honors from Champaign's alternative weekly, The Octopus. Jay and Chris formed Big Sky Stringband with Dave Johnston (Bluegrassholes, Yonder Mountain String Band) and Ken Wilson (Bluegrassholes) as a sideproject in 1997. With the departure of Dave to Colorado to form Yonder Mountain, Chris and Jay dissolved Kai Mera in 1998 to focus on Big Sky's stripped down roots sound. The duo recorded a 10-song, self-titled, acoustic album in 2001, and shortly thereafter, the band's line-up was expanded to five pieces with the addition of Chris' bass-playing father-in-law, Dick Mallory, and his brother-in-law, Matthew Mallory, on lead guitar, along with Bob Bechstein (Daphne Willis & Co.) on drums. 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. In 2006 the band added Brandon Cochran (Moonrays) on lead guitar and vocals to replace Matthew Mallory who had relocated to Arizona to further pursue his education. Mark Sensor (Outlaw Family Band, Super Mini Trio) also briefly joined the band on drums at this time, with Zach Malasto replacing him in early 2007. In February 2007, the band unveiled Turning of the Wheel, Big Sky's first proper studio release. The six-song EP—recorded at SHIRK Music & Sound in just four, four-hour sessions—includes five Meier/Stanek compositions and a Brandon Cochran-penned instrumental. Commonly refered to as the "stalker album" by fans because of the many proper names used as song subjects and titles (Eric Heywood, Rich Koz, Sherman Hemsley), the EP was released in conjunction with the band's headlining spot at the WXRT Local Anesthetic Live Show at Cubby Bear Chicago.