Spotlight Series brings two concerts to Kent in October

Two concerts are on Kent’s Spotlight Series schedule for October, each showcasing unique and accomplished touring musicians from around the world.

Che Apalache performs their blend of Latin and bluegrass music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. California Guitar Trio and Montreal Guitar Trio present an evening of virtuosic guitar music at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. Both performances are at Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St.

Che Apalache is a four-man “Latingrass” string band based in Buenos Aires with members from Argentina, Mexico and the United States. The group’s founder is Joe Troop (fiddle), a North Carolinian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and composer who moved to Argentina in 2010. While patiently carving out a niche in the local music scene, Troop taught bluegrass and old-time music for a living. That’s how he met Pau Barjau (banjo), Franco Martino (guitar), and Martin Bobrik (mandolin), his most dedicated students. They quickly became picking buddies and in 2013 decided to form Che Apalache and hit the stage.

The group began as a bluegrass band, but eventually incorporated Latin American styles into their repertoire, according to a city of Kent news release. Combining instrumental prowess with tight vocal harmonies, they have created an authentic blend of genres evoking images from Appalachia to the Andes. Their music is a testament to powerful cultural and musical exchange.

California Guitar Trio and Montreal Guitar Trio feature six virtuoso guitarists from four countries (Japan, Canada, Belgium, and the United States). The two trios fuse over 45 years of combined performing experience into one unique ensemble. CGT’s steel-stringed guitars blend naturally with MG3’s nylon-stringed guitars on original compositions and new arrangements of progressive rock, world, jazz and classical music.

Inspired in 2010 by an impromptu studio session together in Montreal, CGT and MG3 have proceeded to release a live recording (2011) and sustain frequent co-bill touring throughout North America.

Tickets for Che Apalache are $26 general, $24 senior, and $15 youth. Tickets for California Guitar Trio + Montreal Guitar Trio are $28 general, $25 senior, and $15 youth.

Tickets may may be purchased online at kentwa.gov/spotlightseries, by calling 253-856-5051 or in person at the Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. Hours for phone and in-person sales are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Box office is closed on Sunday.

Spotlight Series is presented by the Kent Arts Commission and Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services. Che Apalache is sponsored by Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Parks Foundation, and Edward Jones. CGT + MG3 is sponsored by Pete and Pat Curran through the Kent Parks Foundation.