Walt Peterson and the Ditchwater Bullfrogs

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 2:00pm in the Betty Strong Encounter Center auditorium, come listen to The Ditchwater Bullfrogs, a Sioux City, Iowa-based, multi-instrumental roots band. With over 125 years of combined musical experience, the four-piece group playfully refuses to fit into a single musical genre, blending upbeat bluegrass, folk, Americana, Blues and original songs. Admission is free, but freewill donations are encouraged. A defining trademark of the band is that all members take turns on lead vocals, utilizing a massive arsenal of instruments including guitars, mandolin, harmonica, banjo, dobro and Bass. Their current and former lineup includes Walt Peterson (Mandolin, harmonica, vocals); Bob Larson (Guitar, songwriter, vocals)l; Scott Griffith (Banjo, dobro, singer-songwriter, vocals); and Austin Aufrance (Guitar, bass, singer-songwriter, vocals) The Bullfrogs are a staple of the Siouxland regional music scene. They have been featured at local mainstays such as the River-Cade Bluegrass Music Fest at the Anderson Dance Pavilion, the Alley Art Festival in downtown Sioux City, and regular gigs at Vangarde Arts and Jackson Street Brewing East. The band evolved from a local group called the “Central Time Band”. After the tragic passing of their main vocalist and guitarist, Rick Borg, in early 2021, the surviving members took a hiatus. In 2022, a jam session at Vangarde Arts open mic helped breathe new life into the project. They needed a name for a fast-approaching festival, so they adopted “Ditchwater Bullfrogs;” a title derived from an original song written by Central Time’s Bob Larson in tribute to Rick Borg before he passed away. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc.