Music on the Mountain: Esterbrook Church’s Summer of Hope concert series feeds stomach, soul

Musicians Diane and Steve Frame, along with drummer Steven Williams (not pictured) play and sing a variety of songs at Esterbrook on the evening of Aug. 7. (Cinthia Stimson/Glenrock Independent photo) 

Montey Crummer strums his guitar as he sings ballads and love songs to the Esterbrook audience Saturday night. (Cinthia Stimson/Glenrock Independent photo)

By: 
Cinthia Stimson & Trey Stewart

By Cinthia Stimson

& Trey Stewart

 

“Hey! Howdy, friend, how’ve you been?”

The tall man with deepset wrinkles on his face, those lines marking nearly a century in this country, put out his hand to the man standing alone in the middle of the two-track.

“Been a long time, Dan,” he replied as he gripped the other’s hand firmly.

“Yep, John, it sure has,” the other fellow said.

The two elder cowboys stood in front of the Esterbrook Community Church Saturday night, visiting a mile a minute. At the same time, musicians tuned their instruments on a stage, built on a big ‘ol flatbed trailer.

As the sun drew long shadows, others grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on a barbecue.

“Dinner’s on!” hollered one lovely lady, who was working hard to be heard above the twang of the guitar and the plucking of a fiddle as the sounds of the rehearsal filled the drowsy evening.

It was a beautiful night on the mountain in a series of beautiful nights, during the Esterbrook church’s Summer of Hope concert series.

Folks showed up for a free dinner, but even better, they showed up for an evening of beautiful music and friendship.

The church’s pastor, Kirby Kudlak, said this is the congregation’s first year putting on the summer concert series in the Esterbrook community just a short drive outside of Douglas.

“I’d say it’s been a success so far. People love an evening of music and a picnic type of thing,” he said. It’s just the church wanting to say, you know, ‘Here’s a little hope for you.’ It’s something we thought we could do for the people of the community.”

And, that’s just what they did.

The concerts started in July, with Josh Hopkins and the Saggy Bottom Boys, and Byron and Nancy Miesse followed by the Merchant Family. Aug. 7 featured Steve Frame and his Western Rebels – the rebels consisting of Frame’s wife, Diane Frame, who played a mean violin and drummer Steven Williams – and Montey Crummer, who opened for the Frame crew.

The musical menu consisted of a variety of styles, to appeal to all types of tastes. In fact, the last concert in the series, Aug. 28, will be a night of gospel music with Inspirational Country Music Chart Artist Tommy Brandt, who has had more than a dozen no. 1 hits. Kirby Lynn will perform as the opening act that night.

“Each concert is different than the last, because each person plays a different style of music. I think that keeps it interesting for everyone,” Kudlak said.

The gospel concert starts at 6:30 p.m., with dinner served at 5 p.m.

In addition to the summer concerts, the church is also raffling off a whole beef from Falkenburg’s Finest, including processing. Tickets are $20 each and deals are available for multiple ticket purchases at one time. The drawing will be Aug. 28 at the gospel concert and one needs not be present to win.

“Esterbrook is a very special place. You sit down in the pews (in the church) and look out into the mountains, and creation is just so evident,” the pastor said.

For more information on purchasing a raffle ticket for the whole beef, visit the Whistlestop, This N That, the Plains Hotel, Converse County Bank, or text Kudlak at 307-351-4792.

Category:

Glenrock Independent

Physical Address:506 W. Birch, Glenrock, WY 82637 Mailing Address: PO Box 109, Douglas, WY 82633 Phone: (307) 436-2211

The Glenrock Independent is located in the Bronco Building

Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday - 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Subscriber Login