Larry & Joe's Venezuelan and Appalachian Folk Music Has No Borders

Interviewed by John Schaefer for WNYC’s Soundcheck
7.21.25

Larry & Joe is a duo that blends the traditional folk music of Venezuela and Appalachia. The duo consists of Larry Bellorin, who has mastered the folk harp of Venezuela, and Joe Troop, who led the Latin-tinged bluegrass band Che Apalache. Larry, a legend of Llanera music, came to America in 2016 as an asylum seeker and describes his current immigration status as “limbo.” Joe Troop is a banjo, fiddle and guitar player who has written songs about migration, and works with asylum seekers; he relocated to North Carolina to be in this duo with Larry. 

Together, they’ve blended their musical inheritances and traditions performing on harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, maracas, guitar, and upright bass. Their latest is called Manos Panamericanos, and they’re on a mission to show that music has no borders. Larry & Joe play in-studio.

Set list: 1. Golpe de Garza 2. Silver Lining  3. The Dreamer

Click here to listen to the session.