Larry Bellorín, the legend of Llanera music, and Grammy-nominated bluegrass and old-time musician Joe Troop are back with their sophomore album, Manos Panamericanos, set for release on September 13. Despite their hectic touring schedule, the duo found time to reward fans with a second album, delivering an inspired collection of original and traditional songs featuring their signature musical mashup of “Latingrass.”
A worthy follow-up to their successful debut album, Nuevo South Train, the new songs on Manos Panamericanos expand on the duo’s unique ability to interpret traditional music spanning multiple Pan American genres: música llanera, calypso, vallenato, old-time, tango, waltz, jazz, R&B, pop, merengue, and bluegrass. Eight noteworthy guest musicians from Venezuela (José Rendón, Nelson Enchandía), Peru (Grammy-winning Salsa producer Tony Succar), Argentina (Mati Mormandi), the United States (Beverly Botsford, Sophie Wellington), the Dominican Republic (Ramón Ortíz), and Ireland (Dermot Sheedy) contribute to this rich, collaborative effort.
Larry and Joe initially came together with little in common musically except for the joy that performing and writing brought to this unique partnership and their fans. Joe first learned of Larry while working with asylum-seeking migrants. Larry, who had come to Raleigh, NC, with his family a few years ago to escape the cultural upheaval in Venezuela, found a kindred spirit in Joe. This unlikely pairing sparked a powerful musical journey, with each musician seamlessly blending their inherited folk traditions into a vibrant mosaic of diverse musical textures and styles they’ve mastered along the way.
The new album deftly illustrates their passion for musical discovery and affirmation, featuring six original arrangements of classics from Venezuela, the United States, Colombia, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic. These evocative songs are infused with deeply personal meanings and backstories from Larry and Joe. The remaining four tracks are originals: an instrumental written by Larry in a contemporary música llanera style, and three songs by Joe addressing themes such as new love, growing pains, natural disasters, and climate change.
Larry and Joe’s first single, “Runnin' from the Weather” feat. Sophie Wellington, is a hybrid of bluegrass and cumbia with a dash of psychedelic folk. You can even hear the percussive dance steps of their good friend Sophie Wellington, adding rhythmic energy to the track.
Fiddle player Joe Troop says, “‘Runnin’ from the Weather’ is one I wrote as Larry and I watched wildfires ravage mountains across the U.S., breathing in the toxic smoke. Our concept is that of the Latingrass messenger: speaking truth to power from Appalachia to the hills of Colombia, inviting the Stanley Brothers and Los Corraleros de Majagual into joyous communion.”
“Ya Volveré a la Sierra Blue Ridge” is a fresh take on the Delmore Brothers’ song “Going Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Joe plays the fiddle while Larry plays the cuatro, and they trade vocals in both Spanish and English.
Their respect and admiration for each other have grown through this unique creative partnership. Joe introduced Larry to bluegrass, and he cites Larry as a performing ‘encyclopedia of Latin American folk traditions.’ As NPR put it, “their group launch back in 2022 also served as a poignant reminder of what Larry left behind” (he owned a music academy in Venezuela before the government collapsed, forcing him to move his family to Raleigh, NC, where he worked in construction to support his family while recording their first album).
This new release marks the first time in Larry’s U.S. artistic career that he can earn a living solely from his talent and focus on music. The album arrives as a proud co-production between Larry and Joe, along with their trusted engineer Jason Richmond. A genre-bending tour de force, the album takes the listener on a spirited musical journey, buoyed by Larry and Joe's eclectic chemistry and providing ample evidence of the deep roots that strengthen their brotherly bond.
Album Title Meaning: "Manos Panamericanos" means "Pan American Brothers" in Venezuelan Spanish. “Manos” is short for “hermanos,” but it also means “hands.” However, since “hand” is a feminine noun in Spanish, if this album meant “Pan American Hands,” it would be written as “Manos Panamericanas.” The album title is thus a clever play on words, intentionally suggesting a playful interpretation of the language.
About Larry & Joe: Larry Bellorín hails from Monagas, Venezuela, and is a legend of Llanera music, a sub-genre of Joropo. Forced into exile, Larry sought asylum in North Carolina, where he initially worked as a construction worker. Joe Troop, originally from North Carolina and a Grammy-nominated bluegrass and old-time musician, spent a decade in South America before finding himself back in his hometown during the pandemic. With his acclaimed "Latingrass" band Che Apalache on hiatus, Joe teamed up with Larry, and together they formed a powerful musical duo.
Currently based in the Triangle of North Carolina, both men are versatile multi-instrumentalists and singer-songwriters whose mission is to prove that music knows no borders. As a duo, they perform a fusion of Venezuelan and Appalachian folk music using harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, upright bass, and whatever else they throw in the van. Their performances feature a unique blend of musical heritage and storytelling about how music and social movements coalesce.
Manos Panamericanos will be available on all streaming platforms on September 13. For CD pre-orders and more details, click here. Vinyl will be available at concert dates.
MANOS PANAMERICANOS TRACK LISTING
1. Golpe de Garza
2. Silver Lining
3. Festival en Guararé
4. Adiós Muchachos
5. La Partida
6. Move on and Let Live
7. Arpa Banjo Merengue
8. Ya Volveré a la Sierra Blue Ridge (Going Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains)
9. Como Llora una Estrella
10. Runnin’ from the Weather
TOUR DATES
August 3 Thomas, WV - Purple Fiddle
August 8 Elkins, WV - Live and Drive Summer Concert Series
August 10 Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest 2024
August 11 York, PA - Susquehanna Folk Festival 2024
August 30 Mill Spring, NC - Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2024
Sept 4 Tarpon Springs, FL – Unitarian Universalist Church of Tarpon Springs
Sept 6 Fort Pierce, FL - Fort Pierce Levitt Amp Series
Sept 7 Jacksonville, FL - Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Sept 15 Winston-Salem, NC - Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts
Sept 19 Knoxville, TN – Pellissippi State Community College
Sept 20 Cleveland, TN – Museum Center at 5ive Points
Sept 22 Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
Sept 25 Nashville, TN - The Station Inn
Sept 27 Fort Smith, AR - Fort Smith Levitt Series
Sept 28 Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Living Arts
Oct 2 Waco, TX - Waco Levitt Amp Series
Oct 3 Austin, TX – TBA
Oct 9 Corpus Christi, TX – Texas A&M’s Performing Arts Center
Oct 11 Baton Rouge, LA - Baton Rouge Levitt Amp Series
Oct 25 Rocky Mount, NC – North Carolina Wesleyan College Dunn Center
Oct 26 Raleigh, NC - Stewart Theatre
