Virginia Folklife Program Announces Summer Tour of Argentinian Bluegrass Band Che Apalache

Charlottesville, VA – The Virginia Folklife Program at Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) announces the summer tour of Argentinian bluegrass band, Che Apalache. The band will perform across North Carolina and Southwest Virginia, in communities including Galax, Floyd, and Abingdon. The tour runs from Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, August 20; see full tour dates and sample media links below.

The Che Apalache tour offers a unique opportunity for the social and cultural integration of the fast-growing Latino community in Galax and surrounding counties. Mexicans and other Latinos are of the largest and fastest-growing immigrant communities in Southwest Virginia. While these groups have a large presence in the communities, there has been up to now limited cultural interaction between them and longstanding residents. The tour’s goal is threefold: to expose the Latino community in Southwest Virginia to the region’s music in a relatable, accessible way; to give three talented Latin-American musicians the chance to experience their adopted tradition on its native soil; and to expose Appalachian people to the cultural traditions of Latin America.

Notable tour spots include the Old Galax Fiddler’s Convention, the Fries Fiddler’s Convention, Heartwood, and Floydfest. The band will also perform across several schools in Galax and Grayson County, coordinated by the Chestnut Creek School for the Arts.

About Che Apalache: Che Apalache was formed in Buenos Aires by North Carolina-native Joe Troop, who has lived in Argentina teaching music for the past 10 years. Troop, who plays fiddle and sings lead, came into contact with local multi-instrumentalists and singers through his teaching. Other band members include: Pau André Barjau Mateu from Tepoztlan, Mexico, who plays banjo and sings bass; Martin Bobrik from Buenos Aires, who plays mandolin and sings tenor; and Franco Martino, also from Buenos Aires, who plays guitar and sings baritone.

Che Apalache carries a clear Argentinian root in the word che, which in Argentina, is used in casual conversation as a term of endearment toward a friend or loved one. The word’s meaning is equivalent to the American English terms “brother,” “sis,” or “homie.” Apalache means Appalachian, thus the band’s name can be roughly translated into “my Appalachian homeboy.” Che Apalache symbolizes the band’s hope of achieving unity in the Americas from North to South.

Tour Dates and Locations:

Thursday, July 20th – 1:30pm
El Buen Pastor (discussion & presentation) – Winston-Salem, NC

Thursday, July 20th – 5:00pm
Scuppernong Books (discussion & presentation) – Greensboro, NC

Friday, July 21st – 10:00am
The State of Things (WUNC radio interview with Frank Stasio) – Durham, NC

Friday, July 21st – 7:30pm – Triad Stage – Greensboro, NC

Saturday, July 22nd – 5:00pm – Fernandez home (house concert) – Durham, NC

Sunday, July 23rd – 6:45pm – Rooster’s Wife – Aberdeen, NC

Wednesday, July 26th – 7:00pm – Ted’s Fun on the River – Wilmington, NC

Thursday, July 27th – 7:00pm – Vimala’s Curryblossom Café- Chapel Hill, NC

Friday, July 28th – 7:00pm – The Bullpen – Durham, NC

Saturday, July 29th – 7:00pm – The Blue Ridge Center – Galax, VA

Sunday, July 30th – 10:15-11:00am (VIP Stage)

Sunday, July 30th – 3:15-4:15pm (Healing Arts)

Sunday, July 30th – 6:15-7:00pm (Workshop Porch), Floydfest – Floyd, VA

Monday, July 31st – Saturday, August 5th – The Appalachian String Band Festival – Clifftop, WV

Sunday, August 6th – Sunday, August 13th – The Old Galax Fiddler’s Convention – Galax, VA

Wednesday, August 9th – 1:00pm – Chestnut Creek School for the Arts (discussion and presentation) – Galax, VA
Thursday, August 10th – 6:30pm – Heartwood – Abingdon, VA

Tuesday, August 15th – 6:00pm – The Bywater – Asheville, NC

Thursday, August 17th – Friday, August 18th – School visits in Galax and Grayson Co, VA

Friday, August 18th – Sunday, August 20th – Fries Fiddler’s Convention – Fries, VA

Sunday, August 20th – 2:00pm – Muddy Creek Music Hall – Winston-Salem, NC; 6:00pm – El Buen Pastor – Winston-Salem, NC

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About the Virginia Folklife Program: The Virginia Folklife Program, a public program of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, is dedicated to the documentation, presentation, support, and celebration of Virginia’s rich cultural heritage. For more than twenty-five years, the program has documented the Commonwealth’s music and material traditions and shared those histories through hands-on workshops, performances, exhibitions, audio and video recordings, and apprenticeships across Virginia. For more information, visit VirginiaFolklife.org.

About VFH: Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) connects people and ideas to explore the human experience and inspire cultural engagement. VFH reaches an estimated annual audience of 23 million through community programs, websites and digital initiatives, grants and fellowships, radio programs and podcasts, the Virginia Folklife Program, and the Virginia Center for the Book. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.