DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (CelebrityAccess) — We Fest, long a country music staple of the Minnesota music scene, will take a hiatus for 2020 while the festival retools, according to its new owners Live Nation.
In a statement posted to the festival’s website, organizers wrote:
“We are so excited to embark on this new journey with WE Fest. With 37 years under its belt, we know this festival is an important part of the Detroit Lakes community and so, our goal is to continue to honor and build upon this special event. In order to do the best possible job we can, we will be using 2020 as a planning year. We are excited to continue the tradition and bring an even bigger and better festival to country music fans in the summer of 2021. We look forward to seeing you then!”
The three-day country music fest is a fixture in the local music scene after it debuted in 1983 and now takes place at Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota during the first week of August.
Brian O’Connell, president of country touring for Live Nation made similar remarks to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press, noting that the promoter had decided to postpone the event until August 2021..
O’Connell also took the opportunity to try to dispel rumors that the promoter was weighing a move for the venerable festival.
“All of the rumors that are flying around that we’re going to move the festival and all that kind of stuff are not true,” O’Connell told the Pioneer Press. “We want to take the time to get to know the 37-year tradition of WE Fest and talk to as many people as we can who have been involved with it. … There is a lot of history that we need to be respectful of, and a lot of people who are very invested in this festival.”
Live Nation acquired the festival brand from Townsquare Media earlier this year for a reported $10 million, less than half of $21.5 million Townsquare paid for the festival for in 2014.
