CELEBRATING 39 YEARS IN THE PECAN GROVE
Welcome to Stage 5 … it truly is “More than just a one mic stand.” Born in Winfield, Kansas, in the Pecan Grove of the Cowley County Kansas Fairgrounds on September 16th of 1987.
Hosting acoustic music enthusiasts from beginners to professionals from all across planet Earth. Our emphasis is on amateur acoustic musicians … folks who otherwise would not get an opportunity to play on a stage at the prestigious Walnut Valley Festival and the National Flat-picking Championships. That being said, Stage 5 is the stage every acoustic musician wants to play … so we “sneak in” a few of the paid performers to entertain the masses.
Stage 5 is a hip little campground stage built on the bed of a 1954 4100 Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton flatbed farm truck. Stage 5 has taken on three iterations through the years. The original sailing ship, complete with sails and lots of nautical flags, an anchor, a rudder, and even a ski rope from time to time. Then the stage changed to a gypsy wagon with lots of draperies and bling. And, our current theme of the Stage 5 Motel … More than just a one mic stand. Come visit the band, they can be seen playing in the windows of Room 5 at the Stage 5 Motel.
WANT TO PLAY STAGE 5? HERE’S HOW.
There are two ways to get signed up. The traditional sign-up day and Stage 5 Picks.
Let’s begin with the traditional sign-up.
On the Wednesday at 9:00 AM before the festival begins, each act sends a representative to Stage 5, your representative will fill out a provided card and put their band or acts name in the draw hopper. Once that is done, and all cards are in the hopper, the Stage 5 crew will begin to draw cards one at a time from a hopper at which time the representative will select a day and time on the official schedule. When the schedule is full, we revert to the standby list and all additional acts that want to be, will be placed on that list.
The Standby list is used when a band cannot make their scheduled performance time. There are lots of different reasons why this can happen … “My favorite band is playing Stage 1 and I can’t miss them.”, “Our lead singer over sang last night and now can only squeak.” Our bass players wife is having a baby.” When we get the info that an act cannot make it, we start at the top of the standby list, making phone calls until we find someone that can fill the slot. A good monitored phone is important because if we do not get anyone to answer we move to the next person on the standby list. Yes, we have used the standby list every year to fill slots that have been relinquished.
Stage 5 Picks
Stage 5 Picks, is a process where the crew selects acts for selected time slots (generally, but not limited to Saturday evening/night). Here is how this happens … if we hear your act during the year, we will offer you a time slot in the Stage 5 Picks, or you can send a link to your music to the Stage 5 Facebook page, we will listen to it and get back with you if you are selected.
If you are selected you will still need to send a representative to Stage 5 on Wednesday at 9:00 AM before the festival begins where we will work out the details of performance day/times. If you are not selected you may still sign up in the traditional sign-up or be added to the standby list.
Daily schedules will be posted here after sign-up day.
THE FUTURE IS HERE
I love this photo for so many reasons … aside from the fact of how cute this little music lover is. I do not know her name, her daddy was playing on stage with the Fast Food Junkies (Saturday afternoon 2021). She danced and twirled and sang to all the songs. She held the flowers for the whole set (they were remnants from a proposal the night before) She helped me put the WVA 2022 50th year sticker on the Stage 5 sign. The Stage V sign is the original stage sign (39 years old now + one for 2020). This little girl represents the future of acoustic music, and it makes me think that the future of acoustic music is very bright.
Russell Brace – Owner – Stage 5 – 2021. (updated 2026)
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WALNUT VALLEY FESTIVAL
Here we go again … it’s September in Kansas and all roads lead to the Cowley County Fairgrounds in Winfield, Kansas for the Walnut Valley Festival and the National Flat-Picking Championships. It happens the 3rd full weekend in September every year.
CLICK FOR OFFICIAL WALNUT VALLEY INFORMATION
An event like no other … so much music happens here in a two week time frame that it would take the whole next year to listen to it all … and of course … make plans to do it all again … next year.
Musicians and artisans from the world over, gather in this little Kansas community under the shade of the pecan, walnut, and oaks … to simply make music. And make music they do … 24 hours a day from around campfires and motorhomes and tents and canopies, out on the road, rain or shine, on a stage or in a secret little cove along the Walnut River, sharing music and the love of it with 10,000 of the greatest neighbors you will ever have.
So … Yeah … Here we go again … and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
I CAN’T … I’M GOING TO WINFIELD!!!
“Stage 5” & the “5 Pick” design are registered trademarks of Stage 5.
Also visit Stage 5 on Facebook.
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