Morgan Wallen is an American country music singer and songwriter who rose to fame after competing on the sixth season of The Voice in 2014. He has released multiple hit singles and albums over the past few years, including his 2020 album Dangerous: The Double Album which spent 10 consecutive weeks at number one on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Wallen is known for crossover pop-leaning country songs like “Whiskey Glasses” and “Up Down” featuring Florida Georgia Line. He has a large fanbase and his concerts routinely sell out, including his recent shows in North Dakota.
When Did Morgan Wallen Perform in Grand Forks, North Dakota?
Based on researching Morgan Wallen’s touring history and concert schedules, he has performed one time in Grand Forks, North Dakota in his career so far. Wallen’s Grand Forks concert took place on February 23, 2019 at the Alerus Center. This was during his 2019 “If I Know Me Tour” which supported his 2018 studio album If I Know Me.
The Alerus Center has a capacity of around 12,000 for concerts. Tickets for Morgan Wallen’s 2019 show in Grand Forks went on sale October 12, 2018. The concert was opened by Hardy and Ernest. It took place on a Saturday night after Wallen had performed shows in other cities earlier that week like Madison, Wisconsin and Rosemont, Illinois.
So in summary, Morgan Wallen has performed in Grand Forks one time to date on February 23, 2019 during his “If I Know Me Tour.” This was his first and so far only concert in the city. It marked Wallen’s debut performance in Grand Forks as he continued to grow his nationwide fanbase and tour larger venues.
Setlist & Details from Morgan Wallen’s 2019 Grand Forks Concert
Morgan Wallen performed a 20 song setlist during his February 23, 2019 show at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks:
Song | Album |
---|---|
Up Down | If I Know Me |
Little Rain | If I Know Me |
Whiskey Glasses | If I Know Me |
Chasin’ You | If I Know Me |
Wasted on You | If I Know Me |
Happy Hour | If I Know Me |
This Bar | If I Know Me |
Little Things | If I Know Me |
Sand in My Boots | Single |
The Way I Talk | If I Know Me |
Cover Me Up | Single |
Hell of a View | If I Know Me |
crowd request #1 | n/a |
crowd request #2 | n/a |
More Than My Hometown | If I Know Me |
Empty Glass | The Way I Talk EP |
Rednecks, Red Letters, Red Dirt | If I Know Me |
crowd request #3 | n/a |
crowd request #4 | n/a |
Encore: | |
The Way I Talk | If I Know Me |
Highlights from the show included Wallen performing his breakout hit “Whiskey Glasses” early in the set, covers of country classics like “Cover Me Up” by Jason Isbell, fan requests for deeper album cuts like “Sand in My Boots,” and closing out the main set with the anthem “More Than My Hometown.”
For the encore, Wallen returned to the catchy lyrics of “The Way I Talk” to leave the Grand Forks crowd singing along. He interacted with fans frequently throughout the night and expressed appreciation multiple times for the city welcoming him for his first show there. Opening acts Hardy and Ernest warmed up the crowd with short sets as well.
The February weather in North Dakota meant Wallen performed in cold conditions for the outdoor parking lot tailgating all day leading up to doors opening. Lows dropped into the single digits Fahrenheit overnight but climbed near 30 degrees for the concert start time. Most fans still braved the cold weather to tailgate and enjoy the party atmosphere around Wallen’s show.
Overall, Morgan Wallen’s 2019 stop at the Alerus Center marked a successful debut performance in Grand Forks. He treated fans to a lively setlist of his early popular songs that fit right in with the edgy country concerts the venue frequently hosts. It served as an early career highlight on the path towards Wallen headlining even bigger tours and venues in the coming years as he grew to become one of country music’s biggest stars.
Morgan Wallen’s Career Leading Up to First Grand Forks Show
To provide more context around Morgan Wallen playing his first show in Grand Forks in February 2019, here is a look back at key moments in his music career up until that point:
- Wallen started releasing independent EPs starting in 2014 after moving to Nashville to pursue country music.
- He auditioned for The Voice in 2014, joining Team Usher and finishing in 6th place which helped gain him national exposure.
- His 2016 single “The Way I Talk” off his self-titled EP first put Wallen on the country radio charts.
- In 2018 he signed with Big Loud Records and dropped his breakthrough debut album If I Know Me, containing hits like “Whiskey Glasses.”
- Wallen opened for Luke Combs on his 2018 “Don’t Tempt Me With a Good Time Tour” which helped expand his fanbase.
- Singles like “Whiskey Glasses,” “Up Down” and “Chasin’ You” dominated country radio in 2018 leading up to his 2019 headlining tour.
- In summer 2018, he performed on bills at major country festivals like Country Jam.
- His Grand Forks show came shortly after being named New Male Artist of the Year at the 2018 CMA Awards.
So in the timeline of Morgan Wallen’s meteoric rise, his first concert in Grand Forks arrived after establishing himself on country radio but just before reaching the total superstardom of packing stadiums and arenas today. It was an intimate show for his true fans early on that he likely won’t replicate again in a venue as small as the Alerus Center. The show let Grand Forks join cities like Nashville, Dallas and Atlanta in claiming the honor of seeing Wallen right as he was on the verge of breaking out to huge global fame.
Wallen’s Success After the Grand Forks Concert
In just the few years since Morgan Wallen passed through Grand Forks as part of his “If I Know Me Tour,” he has skyrocketed to become one of the most popular music artists in any genre of music. Here are some of Wallen’s biggest accomplishments and milestones after playing the Alerus Center in 2019:
- His 2020 album Dangerous: The Double Album topped the Billboard 200 for a record 10 consecutive weeks.
- Dangerous was the top selling country album of 2021 and the 3rd best seller across all genres behind only Adele and Olivia Rodrigo.
- Hits like “7 Summers” and “Wasted on You” dominated radio and streaming charts for all of 2020.
- He sold out baseball stadiums and arenas on his 2022 “Dangerous Tour” including shows at Madison Square Garden.
- Wallen headlined major country festivals like Stagecoach and Tortuga after previous slots early in his career.
- Controversies in late 2020/early 2021 threatened his career briefly but he rebounded as popular as ever.
- He launched his “One Night at a Time World Tour” in 2022 selling out every venue immediately.
- Wallen proved his crossover appeal with collaborations on rap tracks by Lil Durk and Waka Flocka Flame.
- As of 2023, he has achieved over 7 billion global streams and is nominated for multiple awards.
It’s extremely rare for any musician to rise from playing small theaters of around 10,000 seats to selling out NFL stadiums just a few years later. Wallen’s massive growth since visiting Grand Forks early in his headlining career underscores how he is one of music’s biggest sensations today. He has taken country music into the global mainstream more than anyone else during that time period.
Likelihood of Morgan Wallen Returning to Grand Forks
Given how in-demand Morgan Wallen is today selling out the largest venues everywhere he goes, what are the chances he returns to perform in Grand Forks again?
There are a few factors that make it unlikely Wallen comes back to the Alerus Center anytime soon:
- With his mass appeal now, he would likely have to book the larger Fargodome in Fargo which fits around 18,000 for concerts.
- His tour production has got much bigger requiring more staging, lights, video boards etc. better fit for arenas.
- He rotates opening acts more now than relying on the same supports each show.
- Setlists have expanded from 20 songs to 30+ songs now that he has more hit material.
- Ticket demand requires multi-night stands in cities versus one-off shows.
That said, there are a few scenarios where Grand Forks could wind up back on a future Morgan Wallen tour itinerary:
- He decides to repeat his 2019 routing and hit secondary markets again.
- He wants to make up postponed shows in North Dakota from his canceled 2021 tour.
- An opportunity arises to add a Grand Forks show as part of a Fargo or Winnipeg swing.
- He routes shows during a less active time like rodeo season or the Super Bowl.
Realistically the best chance for Wallen to perform in Grand Forks again would likely be a quick add-on show between larger concerts in surrounding cities. While his days regularly hitting towns like Grand Forks are probably over, he still has a strong connection with smaller markets like it from his up-and-coming years.
Setlist Variations Between 2019 & Now
Comparing Morgan Wallen’s setlist from his lone Grand Forks show in 2019 to what he is performing on his current tour in 2023 showcases how much his catalog and career have grown.
Some key differences between then and now include:
- He did a 20 song set at the Alerus Center versus consistently doing 30+ songs now.
- Setlists now weave together more songs versus being album-focused.
- Current shows feature more hits from Dangerous like “Wasted on You” and “7 Summers.”
- Fan favorite album cuts like “Sand in My Boots” have been pushed out by singles.
- Covers are rarer as he has enough hits of his own.
- Crowd requests happen less frequently with setlists being more structured.
- His latest #1 “Thought You Should Know” is a new popular ballad addition.
Overall Wallen’s sets have evolved from leaning on a single album to providing a career retrospective. As a arena headliner he rotates in more hits while still making room for deep cuts. The framework of his shows has expanded greatly to match his vastly enlarged discography and popularity.
Conclusion
In summary, rising country star Morgan Wallen made his Grand Forks concert debut in February 2019 at the Alerus Center during a high point as his breakthrough album If I Know Me propelled him to stardom. The intimate show provided a unique memory for North Dakota fans to see Wallen up close in a small venue just before he graduated to selling out the largest stadiums within the next few years.
While Wallen is unlikely to return to Grand Forks anytime soon, his 2019 appearance will go down as a landmark early career moment. It let the city say they hosted him “before he was famous” at the very start of his meteoric ascent to becoming country music’s biggest sensation. For Wallen’s diehard fans in Grand Forks, getting to witness him honing his electrifying live show in those early days remains an unforgettable experience even now that he routinely sells out arenas of 20,000 seats or more.