Well-played red-dirt country music from three Oklahoma- based bands on Saturday, July 20, for the 3rd Wild Plum Jam and graceful gospel singing on Sunday closed-out the Dust Bowl Days (DBD) Farm and Ranch Festival in Sayre’s City Park.
Caroline Faith and the Wild Horses band started first. From Elk City, she’s 20 years old, plays guitar and sings catchy country songs with a clear, on-key voice. Jordan Cain of Elk City, Max Smith, Blake Cheek and Cody Brewer play with her.
She sang three new songs: “Country Rose,” “Could be Love,” and “Old Cowboys and Young Horses.”
The music got louder and songs got rougher as Jason Wilhelm (father), playing lead guitar, Lane Wilhelm (son), laying down a strong bass rhythm, and Austin Rios, with a mean drum beat, supported Tyler Wilhelm’s (older son) vocals and rhythm guitar for his band.
The crowd appreciated “Beckham County,” “Cocaine & Whiskey“ and “Better Off Alone.” Tyler told me about “Goodbye,” a new song. “It’s a good old country heartbreak song about saying goodbye to a lost love.”
The Great Divide band, consisting of Mike McClure (song writer, lead singer), Scott Lester (rhythm guitarist and back-up singer), Kelley Green (bassist), JJ Lester (drummer), and Bryce Conway (keyboard player), rewarded 700 attendees with favorites.
Their songs included “Help Me (Get Over This Mountain),” “Dragon’s Heart,” and “Break in the Storm.” A swaying crowd in front sang along.
McClure told me what “Good Side” (2022) is about. “The song is ‘…for what everyone struggles through…All these songs are how I work out my emotions and dreams and hopes.”
On July 21, gospel songs and hymns brought 125 people at 7:00 p.m. Groups included the Trinity Church Trio and Refuge Church (“How Great Thou Art”) and soloists Westin Woodruff (energetically singing “I’ll Fly Away”) and Meridian Bales (“Oh My Soul”).
Major donors included Hutch’s, The Wheeler General Store, and 54 others.
Joe Merrick, the DBD’s Music Chairman, summarized both events. “We had a great turnout, music and weather…We’re so thankful for community support and all the volunteers. We couldn’t do it without them.”
