Christian band, Sidewalk Prophets come to El Dorado

Musical Benefit: Sidewalk Prophets will perform on Saturday, benefiting the E Dorado Boys & Girls Club.
Musical Benefit: Sidewalk Prophets will perform on Saturday, benefiting the E Dorado Boys & Girls Club.

Contemporary Christian band Sidewalk Prophets will make a stop on their “These Simple Truths” tour this Saturday in El Dorado. Frontman Dave Frey said they’re excited to play the West Side Baptist chapel.

“The only thing I know about El Dorado is the lost city of gold,” Frey said. “I’m excited to see y’all.”

Based in Nashville, Sidewalk Prophets first formed around 2003 with Frey on vocals and Ben McDonald on rhythm guitar. But for Frey, the call started much earlier, when his parents got divorced during his junior year of high school.

“It was really, really hard. I didn’t expect it,” he said. “The world kind of fell out from under my feet. I was in a bad place.”

While it was a trying time for Frey, he was able to grow from it, personally, spiritually and musically.

“I was so blessed by God making sure I knew I wasn’t all alone,” he said. “I remember vividly going to school and a girl coming up to me and she asked ‘what do you have that I don’t?’ She said ‘my parents just divorced and I don’t know what to do.’ … I was able to invite her to church. In the midst of this tragedy and sorrow and grief, God still used me.”

Frey said that incident strengthened his faith and inspired his music.

Now the band is celebrating the release of their first full-length album “These Simple Truths,” which was released 10 years ago. Frey said the tour has gone well so far, and has allowed the band to connect to their fans.

“We’re making it kind of family-room style,” he said. “You never know who’s going to show, but we want people to feel almost like it’s a living room show. The guys have these unique acoustic instruments — we’ve got dulcimers, banjos, bouzoukis. … We enjoy this smaller, intimate vibe.”

Frey said the band plans to play the classics from “These Simple Truths,” as well as some of their newer material, including their new single “Smile,” which was released last month.

When El Dorado residents leave the Sidewalk Prophets’ concert Saturday, Frey said he hopes their hearts are light with joy.

“We need to choose joy every day,” Frey said. “We want people to be ready to open up their hearts, laugh and choose joy.”

Sidewalk Prophets will perform Saturday, Oct. 26 at West Side Baptist Church at 2400 W. Hillsboro St. at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at sidewalkprophets.com. Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado.

General admission tickets cost $15. Early entry tickets can be purchased for $25, and for $50, one will also be able to attend a VIP pre-show party. Group rates are also available; contact [email protected] for more information.

“I’m excited,” said David Lee, executive director of the BGCE. “I’m excited at a chance to raise some funds for the Boys and Girls Club. I think it’s really cool that we’re able to bring in one of the top Christian contemporary bands to El Dorado.”

For more information about the concert, contact Sean Martin, music minister at West Side Baptist, at 870-863-4113 or Lee at 870-863-8753.

“We’re going to have fun and play songs and do it all for the ministry, all to see God’s kingdom move,” Frey concluded.

Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].

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