2016 will mark 30 years for Stage 5.  It’s been a long and pleasurable musical journey. Even though there have been a few hiccups along the way, Stage 5 keeps rolling along and filling the Pecan Grove in Winfield at the Walnut Valley Festival with the sounds of some of the most talented “non-professional” musicians from around the country.  We have literally watched some of these bands progress from their first performance in front of an audience to becoming hired for the festival to play the main stages. (The Wilders, Scenic Roots, Nickel Creek just to mention a few.) It has been great to watch these bands progress in their musical careers .. from humble starts in the campground at Winfield.  There will undoubtably be more new beginnings and some bands that are well on their way to careers in acoustic music. As we watch the last two days of our 29th year unfold keep your eyes and ears open to the acoustic performers of tomorrow.

We are already planning for Stage 5’s 30th year .. so be sure to keep watching this page and our Facebook page for information, opportunities, plans, and surprises.

Above all .. we  offer our heartfelt thanks to all who have watched shows, offered help or played Stage 5.  We do it for you … but we couldn’t have done it without you.

The entire Stage 5 Crew

Movie night was a huge success!  the whole crowd sang, jeered, cheered, recited lines and generally had a fantastic time.  After a little El Kabong and Bugs Bunny we settled in for the feature presentation .. O Brother, Where Art Thou.  Special thanks to Kirby Guinty and Mark Sheltgren for producing and setting up movie night. Also thanks to our talented neighbor Thomas Trapp for putting together a stellar band to close out the evening.

“Let’s go out to the lobby and get ourselves a treat”!