photo: L. Banks
www.StarTribune.com
by: Jon Bream
DULUTH – “Willie Nelson for President 2024? proclaimed the $5 bumper stickers in the official merchandise tent Thursday night at Bayfront Festival Park.
The country music legend came to Duluth for the first time since 2011, giving his usual stump speech, er, concert. He started with the pleading “Whiskey River” and ended with the tongue-in-cheek “It’s Hard to Be Humble.”
If you’ve seen Willie in recent years, you’ve likely heard these same songs before. But there were many first-timers on Thursday like singer/songwriter Geno LaFond from Grand Marais and mining heavy equipment operator Allen Pangrac from Embarrass, Minn.