Basic Folk Podcast: Joe Troop of Che Apalache

Joe Troop, frontman for the Buenos Aires “Latin-Grass” group Che Apalache, has loved bluegrass since he was 15. He kind of discovered that fact almost at the same time he discovered his attraction to men. As a North Carolina native, Troop is a proud out gay man in a world that doesn’t always accept him: the rural south. Through his travels throughout Spain, Japan and Argentina, he’s become and advocate for gay and for immigrant rights. Joe talks about all this and more: how he can expertly subvert a hot topic in his songs and in his life to a crowd that might not be openly ready to talk about it.

Joe Troop has a very interesting mind! It’s wonderful to hear about his experiences living abroad, being out in the bluegrass world, working with Béla Fleck and his relationship to both liberals and conservatives.

Please enjoy and subscribe!