Music critic Jon Bream reports from Detroit Lakes:

The last day was the best — from start to finish. The weather was sunny, then overcast, then sunny, then cloudy but pleasant all the day. The music was more consistent on Saturday.

Newcomer Trent Tomlinson came across like the Next Big Thing. The women will tell you he’s hot. The title of his debut tells you what you need to know about his music: “Country Is My Rock.

Music critic Jon Bream reports from Detroit Lakes:

The weather presented a challenge on Friday. It rained in the afternoon. As the sun was going down, high winds blasted Big & Rich with storms threatening. Fearing rain, Brooks & Dunn took the stage early and battled big wind but the big rain never happened. Credit Big & Rich for that because they led a no-rain chant during their set.There was plenty of rock with Friday’s country. Josh Gracin, the former “American Idol” finalist, did Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” and Trick Pony, subbing for Sugarland, dusted off Bonnie Tyler’s “It’s a Heartache.” Big & Rich cover all the musical bases in their “music without prejudice.” They even did the Pledge of Allegiance and set off the loudest sonic bombs heard at We Fest (maybe that was their version of “bombs bursting in air”?)

In the confetti department, Brooks & Dunn outdid Rascal Flatts from Thursday with red, white & blue during “Only in America” — as well as bringing out three Marines to salute the crowd. Ronnie Dunn’s red hair was blowing in the wind (maybe he needs old-school hair-care products) and his shirttails were flopping around. But somehow he managed to have his huge belt buckle gleam between the shirttails.

The music on the mainstage ended relatively early — about 11:30. Hey, it’s the weekend and it’s We Fest; people want to party. The late-night sounds of the Bryce Niemiller Project, a Fargo group playing on the smaller Ranch House stage, were heavy on bar-band rock. I preferred watching inebriated Fest-goers play Hammer Schlagen (in which people bet who can pound a nail into a tree stump using a hacket-like head on a hammer with one hand) than listening to “My Sharona” and “I Love Rock n Roll.”

Touring the campgrounds was much more fun. There are some seriously elaborate places (with corporate sponsors) in the VIP area. Some late-night dancing with major sound systems (some playing country, some rock and one even hip-hop). Lake Sallie campground has the Power Hour @ 2 p.m. daily with the crowd doing shots every 60 seconds. The Watermelon Patch has its annual free samples at noon on Sat from 22 watermelons, each spiked with a different bottle (and brand) of booze.

The big question for Saturday: Which famous spouses will show up? Will Trisha Yearwood bring Garth Brooks along? Will Keith Urban escort his new bride Nicole Kidman to Detroit Lakes?

“I wouldn’t put any money on either one of them,” said We Fest emcee Tom Katt.

Critic Jon Bream reports from Detroit Lakes:

It was sunny and hot and Terri Clark, who went onstage at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, told me afterward that she’d never before witnessed a wet T-shirt contest during her “She Didn’t Have Time.” Yes, the girl flashed her guy.

Speaking of flashes, here’s a hot news flash: Sugarland has bowed out of its appearance on Friday (today) at We Fest due to singer Jennifer Nettles’ illness. Trick Pony will take Sugarland’s place in the 5:45 p.m. slot.

Back to Thursday: Josh Gracin, who performs on Friday, showed up a day early to watch Rascal Flatts on the side of the stage along with Gary Allan, who stuck around after his Thursday set.

Martina McBride played between Allan and Rascal Flatts. What does it say when her best received tunes were covers of rocker Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best” and North Dakota country singer Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden”?

Having played at three previous We Fests, Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts understands the essence of this 24-year-old institution. He told the crowd that the fest is misnamed. “They should change it to To Hell with the Music. Take a look around: It’s the Finest Women Fest.”

And he probably could see only the women near the stage in the VIP seats. The real party people — and great people watching — were in the general-admission area in the back of the concert bowl at the Soo Pass Ranch.

Did any of you We Fest-goers check out the new free wi-fi on-site? Strib photographer Cheryl Guerrero did but I didn’t have a chance to. I will on Friday (today).

Check it out and please post your We Fest comments here. Tell us who your favorite act has been so far and what’s the most striking oufit you’ve seen — onstage or in the crowd.

Now if I could just get my cellphone to work at the We Fest site. Apparently, Sprint is the affiliation for the site’s new cellular tower.

The Becker County Sheriff says that more than 30,000 people had arrived in Detroit Lakes by late Wednesday. That means those driving to the Soo Pass Ranch today shouldn’t encounter heavy traffic.

With four of today’s top seven acts in country at We Fest (and no one expected Shania or the Tim/Faith tour at the Soo Pass Ranch this year), is this the best We Fest lineup ever?

Please post your opinion here and look for more reports from We Fest…