32 Below better not live down to their name today. The Fargo-Moorhead’s country group plays the second slot (4:445 p.m.) here on the first day of WE Fest. (Another local band, Silverado, opens. Problem is, the weather here is freezing! Almost as cold as the group’s name – mid 40s this morning!

The cold isn’t much of a concern for WE Fest promoters as temps are supposed to peak in the mid-70s and neither is the forecast of rain through Saturday night when Tim McGraw closes out the festival.

"Tim McGraw usually brings rain," Chryll Sparks, co-owner and VP of the festival said yesterday.

Probably not quite the definition of "rainmaker" festival organizers were hoping for.

Rain or not, Sparks and co. aren’t too worried.

"We’ve never cancelled a show here," Sparks said. She talked about a 2003 McGraw show that was delayed until after storms moved through. When the music started again after midnight revelers came out even as lightning was sees in the distance.

Lots of overhead

Part of the reason Sparks isn’t too concerned with rain is the new permanant stage, a major investment for the festival.

Sparks wouldn’t say how much the new rig cost, but says it took 13 semis and a week to put up and tear down when it was a touring stage. As a permanant structure it can withstand winds up to 120 miles an hour when the wind scrrens are down.

With such an investment in the Soo Pass. It seems unlikely organizers are still trying to sell WE Fest and 10,000 Lakes Festival.