Che Apalache

Che Apalache (“Che” means buddy or pal) is an international roots music phenomenon blending traditional mountain tunes from Appalachia, where founder Joe Troop grew up, with the street music he discovered when he migrated to Argentina: cumbia, tango, and candombe. The band Franco Martino and Martin Bobrik, both Argentinian, and Pau Barjau from Mexico sing powerfully of the immigrant experience (both directions). At the same time they smash musical traditions together to create a highly energetic, compelling sound.
“Sometimes we get standing ovations in the middle of a song,” Troop told Rolling Stone this summer.
They’ve been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, rocked the mainstage at RockyGrass 2019, and launched their new album, Rearrange My Heart, Aug. 9. It’s produced by roots music luminary Bela Fleck, who signed the band the first time he heard them.