This is a brief history of the origins and the
original concept of Stage 5.  The conclusion is a quote
by Stage 5's "International Ambassador"
Beppe Gambetta



Stage 5 is a 1954 Chevrolet, one and a half ton,
flatbed grain truck.  It has around 65,000 original
miles.  It is owned by Russell & Sherry Brace of
Wichita, KS.  They are the 3rd owners.

Russell bought this old truck in 1987 because he
was tired of being crashed into, on the streets of
Wichita.  He thought that if he drove the biggest
vehicle he could find then other drivers would be
able to see him.  He also liked the old classic
Chevy trucks.

In September of 1987 Russell made his yearly
pilgrimage to the Walnut Valley Festival (WVA)
in Winfield, KS.  There he met up with friends
Bob Ennis and Steve Keen from Ponca City, OK
for a week of camping and making music with
friends and strangers.

During the week before the festival started,
Russell, Bob and Steve were taking it easy by
the campfire when Russell said ..."Hey, let's
build a stage on the back of the old truck."
A list of materials was made and off they went
to the lumber yard.  Upon arriving at the lumber
yard they realized that they had no list, so,
a second list was quickly made, and finally with
materials in hand the boys were headed
back to their Pecan Grove camp.

The construction began immediately and
in just a few hours with some 2x4's, an old tarp,
a couple of flags for color, about a mile of rope,
and the "Hopelessly Lost At C" band banner
the stage had been born.

Only one thing remained ... what to name it.
There were already four stages at the Walnut
Valley Festival so the obvious choice was
"Stage 5".  Russell quickly painted up an old piece
of plywood that read "Stage V" (Roman numeral)
and as they were hanging the sign on the new
stage, Sherry Merry (now Sherry Brace)
pulled in to camp.  The band was assembled
and took the stage for it's maiden voyage.



Stage 5 won the best campsite award in
1987 & 1988.  In 1989 Stage 5 was made
an official part of the Walnut Valley Festival,
from Stage 1 the Stage 5 crew received an
official WVA sign complete with the
official WVA logo, "Feisty", that read "Stage 5".

Through the years Stage 5 has gone through
many changes and continues to change to
cater to acoustic musicians and fans.



September 2001 marked the 15th year
for Stage 5.  Although, stunned by the attacks
on our homeland we continued on the best
we knew how, with a little more caring,
a little more loving and a lot more
patriotism and prayer.

We are looking forward to many more
years of fine acoustic music.



From the article;
BEPPE GAMBETTA IN AMERICA: AN INTERVIEW
bluegrass now magazine

"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 it goes on till two,
three, or 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 this 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 of the maximum moments of intensity
of my playing at this little stage.  Because there
people say, I don't care if you are professional or not,
I would just like to visit with you and hear
you play.  That was just one of many great moments
I have experienced with an American audience."

                                                        BEPPE GAMBETTA
                                                              Italy



Carlo Aonzo & Beppe Gambetta
on Stage 5 - Sept. 1997