{"id":1730,"date":"2026-06-20T18:16:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T23:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=1730"},"modified":"2026-07-03T11:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T16:44:12","slug":"quotes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/quotes\/","title":{"rendered":"Quotes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cI\u2019m a Stage 5 lifer.\u201d<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Tom Knowlton (The Fretliners) during his 1st ever set on Stage 5, Saturday night 2025<\/em>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

*     *     *     *     * <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe play festivals all over the country and nobody has anything like this .. this is cool, this is unique. You have something very special here.\u201d<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Liam Purcell during his 1st ever set on Stage 5, Saturday night 2025<\/em>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

*     *     *     *     * <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA small miracle born 39 years ago from the far-sighted vision of Russell Brace who decided to turn his 1954 Chevrolet 4100 farm truck into a small stage and make it available to anyone who wanted to perform in the heart of the Walnut Valley Festival campground in Winfield, Kansas.\u201d<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Beppe Gambetta – Long time performer at Walnut Valley Festival & Stage 5<\/em>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

*     *     *     *     * <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach year, musicians clamor to get a 30-minute spot on the back of the old green truck. Stage 5, once it is experienced first-hand, it is not likely soon to be forgotten\u201d<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Orin Friesen – IBMA Broadcaster of the Year 1990<\/em>, <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award 2012<\/em>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

*     *     *     *     * <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Excerpt from a February 1998 Bluegrass Now Magazine interview by Don Kissil.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Don: Finally, are there some particular interesting experiences you have had while playing in America?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beppe: Yes, there are many stories, but one I can remember well. Stage 5 is a special stage for non professional performers that is in the middle of the campground at the Winfield, Kansas Festival. It has a special, I don’t know, power, because goes on till two, three, five o’clock in the morning. When the main stage shows are finished, everyone who is really interested in music goes to this little place that has incredible power. The first year I went to Winfield, and I played at Stage 5 with a thousand people in front of me, I had some the maximum moments of intensity of my playing at this little stage. Because there people say, I don’t care if you are a professional or not, I would just like to visit with you and hear you play. That was one of many great moments I have experienced with American audiences. Beppe Gambetta<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

*     *     *     *     * <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

\u201cStage 5\u201d & the \u201c5 Pick\u201d design are registered trademarks of Stage 5.
<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI\u2019m a Stage 5 lifer.\u201d Tom Knowlton (The Fretliners) during his 1st ever set on Stage 5, Saturday night 2025. *     *     *     *     *  \u201cWe play festivals all over the country … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","spay_email":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P2xiwY-rU","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":653,"url":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/picks\/","url_meta":{"origin":1730,"position":0},"title":"Picks","date":"August 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Each year, except for two, 1987 our 1st year, and then again in 2020 the pandemic year, Stage 5 has given out hundreds of Stage 5 picks. Every year is a different color or script or logo .. some are five year\u00a0anniversary issues and some are printed on both sides.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_0623-scaled.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":637,"url":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/swag-stuff\/","url_meta":{"origin":1730,"position":1},"title":"Swag & Stuff","date":"August 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the years we have made some fun swag for our Winfield friends. 15th Anniversary Patch Stage 5 15th Anniversary Invitation - front 15th Anniversary Invitation - middle 15th Anniversary Invitation - back Stage 5 Motel matchbooks. Koozies 25th anniversary Stage 5 Motel room key tag .. room 5 of\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/DSC05651.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":439,"url":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/stage-5-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":1730,"position":2},"title":"Historically","date":"August 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We just recently came across this picture (who are the two guys?) But we are pretty confident this is from the third year of Stage 5 ... see the rudder attached to the back of the truck, the life ring is new, as is the Stage V sign .. and\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/240892943_2056448401189669_760103909035052826_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":522,"url":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/memorially\/","url_meta":{"origin":1730,"position":3},"title":"Memorially","date":"August 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"This page is dedicated to the Stage 5 Crew members who are no longer with us. We loved them all and we will forever miss them. Arthur \"Art\" Charlet, \u00a0Art was an integral part of Stage 5, he was father-in-law to Jim Nix whom Russell bought the truck from. Art\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/10572268_10152340231372157_9177284798430160880_o.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":432,"url":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/","url_meta":{"origin":1730,"position":4},"title":"More Than Just A One Mic Stand.","date":"August 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 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\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/38EA03EF-EB0B-404A-9C58-10E1590FF4A8_4_5005_c.jpeg?fit=580%2C344&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":467,"url":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/visual\/","url_meta":{"origin":1730,"position":5},"title":"Photographically","date":"August 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We believe this is one of the earliest know images of Stage 5, Circa 1987. That young lady near the campfire is Sherry Merry (now Sherry Brace). The stage faced into our camp. This photo was taken by Jim Paul Blair from 14th Street. Stage 5 - The Early Years\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/545542_10151090823422157_1691460129_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1730"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1730"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2130,"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1730\/revisions\/2130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cyberstage5.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}