Rains didn't stop WE Fest kickoff concert Wednesday night

Corey Kent.jpg — The lawn in front of the Barn Stage was standing-room-only by the time headliner Corey Kent took the stage for the WE Fest Kickoff Concert at Detroit Lakes' Soo Pass Ranch on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

August 01, 2024 at 6:56 AM

鈥� WE Fest 2024 is officially underway.

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The 2024 kickoff concert went on as scheduled on Wednesday, July 31, despite gentle, intermittent rains that never really picked up steam 鈥� unlike the storm that blew through the lakes area earlier that afternoon.

The crowd started slowly gathering when the Joe Stamm Band got the music started around 7:30 p.m., playing an entertaining set that included rockers like "Country Gold" and "Dollar General Sign."

Joe Stamm Band.jpg — Country rocker Joe Stamm, who hails from a small town in Illinois that he described as having "one stoplight that blinks yellow all day long," brought his band to Detroit Lakes' Soo Pass Ranch on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, where they opened for headliner Corey Kent at the WE Fest 2024 kickoff concert on the venue's Barn Stage.

After a short intermission, Corey Kent took the stage, keeping the crowd entertained with songs including a fun cover of the Beatles' "Come Together" as well as a few songs off their upcoming album, which Kent announced would be released in September. By the time the sun sank down below the horizon, the lawn in front of the Barn Stage was packed with campers, as well as quite a few local residents who had purchased a ticket for the festivities.

WE Fest officially gets underway Thursday afternoon, Aug. 1, with the gates opening at 2 p.m. each day, Thursday through Saturday.

Corey Kent 2.jpg — Corey Kent was the headliner for the 2024 WE Fest Kickoff Concert, which took place Wednesday night, July 31, at the Barn Stage. The 41st annual festival continues through Saturday, Aug. 3 at Detroit Lakes' Soo Pass Ranch, which has been the country music festival's home since it started in 1983.

Here's a little look at the lineup:

Thursday, Aug. 1: Lauren Watkins takes the Main Stage at 2:45 p.m.; The Bellamy Brothers at 4 p.m.; Warren Zeiders at 6 p.m.; Koe Wetzel at 8:15 p.m.; and headliner Jelly Roll at 10:30 p.m. The Bacardi Country Club Stage will feature Taylor Goyette at 5 p.m. and Lauren Watkins at 7 p.m., while Goyette will also be playing a second set on the Barn Stage at 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug; 2: Stephen Wilson Jr. takes the Main Stage at 2:45 p.m.; Lonestar at 4 p.m.; Trace Adkins at 6 p.m.; Carly Pearce at 8:15 p.m.; and headliner Parker McCollum at 10:30 p.m. The Bacardi Country Club Stage will feature Dakota Hale at 3:30 p.m., Emma Zinck at 5 p.m.; and Stephen Wilson Jr. at 7 p.m., while Zinck will also be playing a second set on the Barn Stage at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 3: Tanner Adell takes the Main Stage at 2:45 p.m.; Jackson Dean at 4 p.m.; Paul Cauthen at 6 p.m.; Elle King at 8:15 p.m., and headliner Eric Church at 10:30 p.m. The Bacardi Country Club Stage will feature Dakota Hale at 3:30 p.m., Perham's own Patrick Murphy at 5 p.m.; and Tanner Adell at 7 p.m., while Murphy will also be playing a second set on the Barn Stage at 9:30 p.m.

Joe Stamm Band 2.jpg — The Joe Stamm Band performs at the 2024 WE Fest Kickoff Concert on Wednesday night, July 31, on the music festival's Barn Stage. The 41st annual country music festival continues through Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at Detroit Lakes' Soo Pass Ranch.

A reporter at Detroit Lakes Newspapers since relocating to the community in October 2000, Vicki was promoted to Community News Lead for the Detroit Lakes Tribune and Perham Focus on Jan. 1, 2022. She has covered pretty much every "beat" that a reporter can be assigned, from county board and city council to entertainment, crime and even sports. Born and raised in Madelia, Minnesota, she is a graduate of Hamline University, from which she earned a bachelor's degree in English literature (writing concentration). You can reach her at 218-844-1454 or vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com.