The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters

      The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters have been playing Oldtime Mountain Music in the Galax, Virginia area since 1986.  Dennis Hall is the founder of the band, and continues to serve as band leader to the present day.  Named for the small stream in Galax where Dennis grew up and still resides, as well as in honor of Uncle Eck Dunford, a member of the original Bogtrotters band from the 1920’s.  The original Bogtrotters consisted of Uncle Eck Dunford, Wade Ward, Crocket Ward, Fields Ward, and Doctor Davis, and won the very first Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax Virginia in 1935.  Doctor Davis was instrumental in keeping the contest alive throughout the years.  The present-day line up consists of Dennis Hall – band leader and guitarist, Eddie Bond – Fiddle and Vocals, Bonnie Bond – Bass and Vocals, Josh Ellis – Banjo and Vocals, and Caroline Noel Beverley – Mandolin and Vocals.  Fiddler Eddie Bond was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2018, the highest award given to a folk artist by the U.S. Government.  The “Bogtrotters” as the band is locally known, enjoys playing for local square dances and festivals and occasionally plays on larger stages.  They band has performed for the Smithsonian Folk Festival, Chicago Folk Festival, Great Lakes Folk Festival, Montana Folk Festival, the Kennedy Center, and in Gainesboro England for the festival there to name a few.  Several of the band members have played internationally in Scotland, England, Ireland and Australia.  Over the years since 1986 the band has placed first in the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention a total of ten times.