Appalatin’s foot-stomping, hip-swinging sounds organically unite Appalachian folk and high-energy Latin music. The name, Appalatin, reflects the unexpected meeting in Louisville, KY of Kentucky-raised musicians and masterful Latin émigrés from Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Their all-acoustic performances of traditional stings of guitar, mandolin, upright bass, and charango, indigenous Andean flutes, hand percussion, harmonica and vocal harmonies have brought joy and happiness to listeners of all ages.
After starting out playing a weekly show at a local coffee shop for free coffee in 2006, the band has since performed at some of their region’s most prestigious stages and venues. Since the release of their first album in 2011, the band has shared the stage with Red Baraat, Sam Bush, Claire Lynch, The Black Lilies, La Santa Cecilia, Ben Sollee and many others. in May of 2013, they had the honor of performing before 10,000+ people in Louisville’s Yum! Center at the Dalai Lama’s Public Talk. They have also appeared on radio shows such as Michael Jonathon's Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour, Red Barn Radio, 91.9 FM WFPK’s "Live Lunch", Kentucky Homefront and were featured on West Virginia Public Radio’s “Inside Appalachia.” In addition, the track “Alpa Mayo” from their Waterside album has appeared on PRI’s “The World.”
“Appalatin have reinvented traditional Appalachian music by infusing Latin rhythm and song into the rural folk form. It’s a surprisingly seductive blend of bluegrass bolero and countrified cumbia.” - Kyle Long, Nuvo, Indianapolis”
In 2014, the band was awarded the Americana Award by the Louisville Music Awards Academy. In addition they are the feature of a Emmy-nominated PBS-affiliate documentary in the Kentucky Muse series, now distributed nationwide on public stations. The band has released its 3rd studio recording album in 2018 and is currently working on new material for an upcoming album to celebrate their 18th year as a band.
Yani Vozos: Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
Marlon Obando: Vocals, Guitar
Fernando Moya: Andean Flutes, charango
Luis De Leon: Percussion, harmonica
Jose Oreta: Bass
Steve Sizemore: Percussion
Appropriate For: Concerts, shows, festivals, schools and workshops
Workshops Offered: Central American and Appalachian Folk Music Roots, Songwriting, Composition and Improvisation, Andean Folk Music and Instruments, Latin Percussion and Rhythms
Inspired By: Inti Illimani, Jarabe de Palo, Bill Monroe, Manu Chao, Mercedes Sosa, Victor Jara, Carlos Santana, Allman Brothers
Home Base: Louisville, KY
Download Appalatin Member Bios
Booking Contact:
Yani Vozos, Appalatin Music
email: appalatin@gmail.com
phone: 502-291-6046
Management and General Inquiries:
Yani Vozos
email: appalatin@gmail.com
Phone: 502-291-6046