MUSIC
Dawn McGee
Ambient, intuitive, and grounded in natural rhythms — her playing evokes the quiet power of Montana’s landscapes, with an emphasis on spacious phrasing, resonant tones, and emotional presence. Rather than rigid composition, Dawn favors an improvisational approach that allows for spontaneity and connection with the moment, often weaving in meditative pulses and harmonic layering that create a sense of journey or unfolding.
Stylistic influences include:
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Nature-inspired improvisation
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Contemplative soundscapes rooted in healing, breath, and stillness
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Grounds the group with tonal center and tempo
Steve Kalling
Steve Kalling is a seasoned upright bassist based in Missoula, MT, known for his soulful and grounded performances with the Steve Kalling Trio and BIGSKYLIGHT Music. His style draws from jazz, folk, and improvisational roots, anchoring the band's ambient soundscapes with warm, resonant low-end tones.
Highlights include:
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A deft ability to bridge genres—from contemplative jazz interludes to organic, nature-inspired improvisation
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A signature approach that melds nuanced rhythmic foundation with melodic sensibility, complementing handpan, string, and ambient textures in BIGSKYLIGHT's ensemble.
Caleb Yeats
Caleb “Neutrino” Yeatts is a gifted multi‑instrumentalist whose primary discipline is playing the handpan. He seamlessly blends haunting melodies with complex rhythmic patterns—straddling composed passages and pure improvisation .
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Atmospheric & Meditative: His playing often conjures a drifting, dreamlike soundscape—perfectly aligned with BIGSKYLIGHT’s ambient ethos.
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Rhythmically Intricate: Layering syncopated pulses beneath ethereal overtones, he creates both grounding structure and flowing movement.
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Compositional-Improv Balance: Caleb moves effortlessly between structured melodic lines and spontaneous, responsive playing.
Beth Youngblood
Beth Youngblood is an accomplished violinist and fiddler with an expansive musical palette, now a key part of BIGSKYLIGHT’s ensemble.
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Versatile Performer: Trained classically and equally fluent in rock, pop, country, bluegrass, Celtic, and old-time fiddling
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Adds expressive, lyrical lines that float gracefully above the ambient textures.
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Offers rich melodic nuance and folk-inspired coloration.
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Balances classical precision with improvisational warmth, enhancing the group’s meditative, nature-inspired sound.
Bethany Joyce
Bethany Joyce s a classically-trained cellist rooted in Missoula, MT, whose artistry spans traditional orchestral realms to adventurous, improvisational landscapes:
She is passionate about blending composition with spontaneous creativity — a hallmark of her collaborative style which comes through in her playing by
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Anchoring ambient soundscapes with warm, resonant cello tone
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Crafting emotive, weaving lines that enhance the band’s nature-inspired, meditative atmosphere
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Moving fluidly between supportive textures and lyrical solo passages