Larry & Joe - Gavilán Tocuyano
Please enjoy What the Forest Grows’ first field recording, Gavilán Tocuyano performed by Larry & Joe.
Larry Bellorín - Cuatro
Joe Troop - Fiddle
Music by Pablo Canela
Performed by Larry & Joe - @larryandjoe
Filmed by Greg Inda
Edited by Lindsey Marks
Mixing and Mastering by Bill "Netherlands" Holland
I first saw Larry & Joe play at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival (Clifftop) in 2024. They were scheduled to play the Cajun tent and there was so much buzz around their upcoming set. Everyone kept talking about them in hushed tones as if saying their name too loud would jinx it and they wouldn’t play. It had a very punk rock vibe that maybe we hadn’t earned a Larry and Joe performance. Their set started with Larry on harp and Joe on banjo and despite the already high bar that had been set, every expectation I had was shattered. They were instantly incredible.
This is a complement that might be too niche: I have always felt the late Stan Rogers sang with a certain vitality that can’t be matched. The vigor or intensity was seemingly limitless. And listening to songs like Barrett’s Privateer’s or Northwest Passage you get wrapped up in that vitality. The second (or third) song Larry & Joe played in their set at Clifftop was Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms and featured Larry on maracas. He played those maracas with that same vitality. Unmatchable.
The rest of the show was amazing and it’s a memory I’ll treasure.
As Larry & Joe started their 2025 tour, I lucked out and saw them play two more times in both Chicago (January) and Madison (February). When I saw they would be playing at John C Campbell Folk School at the end of March, I really wanted to photograph the show and invite them into this project. And we made it happen.
At the show in Madison, Joe introduced the song Gavilán Tocuyano almost exactly how you see in the video. And I thought it was a perfect reflection of birds inspiring song. Enjoy!
Selection of images from Larry & Joe’s performance at John C Campbell Folk School March 31, 2024
Click on images to view in a lightbox.
