You don’t want to miss this!

Due to popular demand, we’ve invited superstar Joe Troop and his Latingrass ensemble back to The Fruit for another round of weekly performances this April. We’re thrilled and honored that he accepted.

Follow the Facebook event for updates and announcements – including a few surprises.

If you don’t already know him:

Multi-instrumentalist and Winston-Salem native Joe Troop recently returned to North Carolina after spending a decade in Buenos Aires, teaching old-time & bluegrass music. With his very best students, he founded GRAMMY-nominated string band Che Apalache who created a sound all their own: Latingrass. The South meets the Even More South.

Just months after gaining major traction at the GRAMMYs, the group disbanded in the wake of COVID. Joe found himself back in Carolina, alive and alone. The music poured out of him.

He wrote and recorded his debut solo album, Borrowed Time, co-produced by Jason Richmond (The Avett Brothers, Branford Marsalis) and featuring musical luminaries like Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Tim O’Brien, and Charlie Hunter. Despite these heavy-hitters, the visceral songwriting speaks for itself and reflects lived experience.

Joe prides himself on being an “artivist.” Committed to learning direct action from stalwart progressive organizers, his music is deeply embedded with and inspired by his activism, like helping migrants, ending cash bail with Dreama Caldwell, and saving the whole dang USPS.

Last December, Joe’s residency at The Fruit inspired the formation of a new ensemble with two friends:

Omar Ruiz-Lopez is a classically trained violinist/violist born in Panama and raised in Puerto Rico. A longtime resident of Durham, he melds his Caribbean musical heritage and noteworthy virtuosity with the Appalachian string band tradition.

Rounding out the house band is Mexican American jazz bassist Ramon Garcia, hailing from Wilmington, NC. Ramon is finishing up his musical studies at UNC Greensboro’s legendary music school and demonstrates musical prowess well beyond his years.

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GUEST MUSICIAN SCHEDULE
Thurs, April 7th – Larry Bellorín

Thurs, April 14th – Sophia Enriquez

Thurs, April 21 – Charlie Hunter, Brevan Hampden

Thurs, April 28 – Reed Stutz

Want more Troop?
Joe’s teamed up with local nonprofit Pinecone to offer a songwriting workshop April 23rd at The Fruit. This workshop ($50) is included in the series VIP package, but you can also register separately if you wish.