The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail presents Che Apalache, an Argentina group, in concert on Thursday, August 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Heartwood in Abingdon.
This concert is part of The Crooked Road Music Series at Heartwood, and is the first international presentation in the history of this series.
Che Apalache, which means “my Appalachian homeboy,” is a four-man string band based in Buenos Aires with members from Argentina, Mexico and the United States.
The group is led by North Carolina native Joe Troop, who immigrated to Argentina in 2010. While making a name for himself in the local music scene, Troop made a living teaching bluegrass and old time music. Over the years, he and his students became picking buddies, and in 2013, it was time to hit the stage.
Che Apalache began as a traditional Appalachian string band, but eventually incorporated Latin American styles into their repertoire. The result is an authentic South-Americana cambalache (mishmash) reminiscent of the Port City melting pot it came out of.
Band members are: Troop (fiddle, vocals), Pau Andrés Barjau Mateu (banjo, vocals), Franco Martino (guitar, vocals), and Martin Bobrik (mandolin, vocals).
The Crooked Road Music Series takes place each Thursday at Heartwood. The series features youth artists each second Thursday, along with open jams on the 1st, 3rd, 4th (and 5th) Thursdays to showcase Southwest Virginia performers.
The Crooked Road Music Series is sponsored by Heartwood, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Heartwood – Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon and features food, music, and craft of Southwest Virginia.
Admission to the concert is free and donations will be accepted for Crooked Road Traditional Music Education Program (TMEP).
More information is available at www.thecrookedroad.org, and at www.heartwoodvirginia.org, call (276) 492-2409 or email info@thecrookedroad.org.
Members of Che Apalache, an Argentina group, will present a concert in Abingdon August 10. (Contributed photo)
