August 2, 2025 Issue, Page 12 of 20

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12• SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2025 The Elk City News The Tyler Wilhelm Band played first at 2025's Wild Plum Jam in Sayre. Tyler, facing in, played Red Dirt Country The parade included 33 entries, including tractors, horses, firetrucks, police cars, trailers and antique cars songs the crowd liked Stoney LaRue played “Forever Young,” “You Oughta Know Me By Now,” Tyler Wilhelm Band's energetic home town sound kicked off the Wild Plum The first night of 2025's Dust Bowl Days Festival offered a tractor cruise “Down In Flames,” “Walkaway” and other songs at 2025's Wild Plum Jam Jam with song favorites County Line, Better Off Alone and more in, food, games and music by the Mackynzie McKedy Band in Sayre The boys from Western Oklahoma rock Wild Plum Jam By Richard Stephens, Jr. Yanush, Oklahoma, he honed The crowd next to the stage his song-writing and guitar swayed, danced, and sang In-between other Dust playing skills in Stillwater’s along. Most of the songs Bowl Days (DBD) Farm & music scene with Jason Bo- played were from the Cross Ranch Festival events from land and Cody Canada. He Canadian Ragweed period. July 18 – 20, the 4th Wild performed at the “The Boys Jeremy Plato, playing bass Plum Jam brought 1,750 at- from Oklahoma” concert at guitar, sang back-up vocals tendees – double last year’s Boone Pickens Stadium in and a couple of songs on his count – to hear three popular Stillwater, Okla., in April, own, like “To Find My Love.” Red Dirt country bands on where he, Cross Canadian Vocalist Graycie York accom- July 19 at Sayre’s City Park. Ragweed, Jason Boland and panied many songs. Tyler Wilhelm, Stoney the Stragglers and The Great The tempo and decibels Larue, and Cody Canada & Divide were inducted into increased over time, with The Departed gave power- the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. throbbing electric guitar ful, satisfying performances. As LaRue switched be- riffs and the bass guitar and Tickets cost $35 (early bird) tween acoustic and electric drums driving songs along. or $40 (at gate). The DBD guitars, fans enjoyed “For- Yet, it all blended. The De- festival ended with graceful ever Young,” “You Oughta parted played for almost two gospel singing on July 20, Know Me By Now,” “Down In hours, giving fans the songs also in the City Park. Flames,” “Walkaway” (writ- they love to hear. ten with Cody Canada) and TYLER WILHELM many more favorites. They SUNDAY SINGING Tyler Wilhelm Band’s en- played slower paced songs On July 20 at 7:00 p.m. at ergetic home town sound too, like “Velvet” and “Emp- the same location, gospel kicked off the night’s music ty Glass.” The band added a songs and hymns inspired at 7:00 p.m. with favorites rock and roll tune, “Spirit in 100 people to sing with solo- like “County Line,” “Cocaine The Sky.” ists and church groups. & Whiskey,” and “Better Off Yes, the band’s three gui- Soloists included Joe Burch Alone.” Jason Wilhelm (fa- tars and drums resulted in a (“There Is Love” by Peter, ther) played lead guitar, Lane driving rhythm and lots of Paul and Mary) and Kooper Wilhelm (son) laid down a licks, yet the audience clearly Twyman (energetically sing- strong bass rhythm and Aus- heard LaRue’s baritone song ing “Two Wooden Beams”). tin Rios (drummer) kept the lyrics over those. Duelists Sandra Hunter and songs moving to support Ty- Attendees enjoyed the Kendra Akins (“Trust in ler Wilhelm’s (older son) vo- show. Tiffani DeWitt from God”) and Westin Wood- cals and rhythm guitar. Pampa, Texas, advised “Keep ruff and Danielle Tucker Before they played, I asked bringing good lineups and (“Because He Lives”) sang. Tyler Wilhelm how the past more advertising to keep Members from the Trinity year has gone. “It’s been the momentum.” Tera Ham- and Refuge Churches sang great. We’re going to the stu- man from Cheyanne came too. dio next week” to record new because of the “…quality Credit goes to Mireya songs including “Curtain of musicians, the price was Cotts for organizing the Sun- Call” and “Everything” (pre- good and it’s my birthday!” day Singing event. Regard- miered at Plum Jam). Wil- Headliner Cody Canada ing the high turnout of the helm said his life and music from Yukon started at 10:00 Wild Plum Jam, Joe Merrick, have been inspired by his p.m., his band playing a a music coordinator, said, fiancée, Becky Kelln, from mix of hard-edged Red Dirt “We’re excited about the fu- Shattuck. country blended with rock ture of the event.” The multi-generational and roll music. Kathy Schones of Canute crowd was pumped for more Fans enjoyed and often is a Board Member of the music. sang along with “17” (“You’re Oklahoma Route 66 Associ- always 17 in your home- ation. She wrote, “The Dust STONEY LARUE town”), “Boys From Okla- Bowl Days event is good for Stoney LaRue took the stage homa,” “Maybe I Miss Your Route 66 in Sayre, bringing at 8:20 p.m. in a black cow- Body,” the still new “Paper in a lot of area residents and boy hat and tee-shirt. Born Moon (”On the edge of a the band line up for the Wild Cody Canada kept up a steady stream of Red Dirt music that the 1,750 crowd enjoyed at Sayre's Wild in Taft, Texas, and raised in freakout”) and many more. Plum Jam is excellent.” Plum Jam ical bloodmobile, staff from tivities, Red Dirt music lov- year. But attendance doesn’t Allen thanked the people 5th DBD Festival – it’s es- DUST Our Blood Institute were ers at the Wild Plum Jam and drive Kay Allen, DBD Fes- who provide financial and tablished now – and looks Continued from page 11 happy that more than 20 do- religiously oriented folks for tival Chairperson. “I don’t in-kind support. The “Dust forward to an even better nors gave blood. Sunday Singing and Dinner measure the success of DBD Bowl Days Festival Planning one in 2026. Next year’s interesting depression era Allen’s committee of 13 On the Ground (see The boys by the number of people or Team appreciates our loyal event is also the 100-year recipes like “Liver Pudding,” planners and “doers” deserve from Western Oklahoma revenue received but rather and generous sponsors and celebration of Route 66, “Stewed Squirrels” and “Fried credit for attracting differ- rock Wild Plum Jam article). by the excitement that you donors for making this annu- which runs through Sayre Rabbit.” ent community sub-groups Attendance at this year’s see in the people who were al festival possible. We could for 4.25 miles. Outside in a mobile med- to attend DBD: the general downtown events totaled 800 there,” she said. She said not do it without them.” population for downtown ac- people, 50 fewer than last their excitement showed. She feels good about the