Los Originarios del Plan Announce New Album ¡Puritito Michoacán! Out October 31st on Smithsonian Folkways

17-track collection captures the vitality of the arpa grande (big harp) tradition from Michoacán, Mexico, and its thriving presence across the American West

Listen to the lead single "Mi tierra linda (My Beloved Land)" HERE

Pre-order the album HERE

On October 31, the renowned arpa grande (big harp) ensemble Los Originarios del Plan will release their latest project, ¡Puritito Michoacán!, on Smithsonian Folkways. The album showcases the diversity and charm of the centuries-old musical tradition that continues to flourish in Mexican and Mexican American communities across the West Coast, as well as in its homeland of Tierra Caliente, Michoacán.

Listen to "Mi tierra linda (My Beloved Land)" HERE to experience the depth of tradition that the group brings to their latest album. Composed in the fast-paced rhythm of the regional "son," "Mi tierra linda" is an ode to the hotlands of El Plan (the agricultural lowlands of the states of Michoacán and Jalisco), theson planeco (a regional style of traditional Mexican folk music), and conjunto de arpa grande traditions themselves. The song features the distinctive tamboreada style of drumming, in which one of the musicians kneels beside the harp and strikes its soundboard with both hands to create a rhythmic accompaniment to the singing.

Read on for more information on Los Originarios del Plan and their significance to the Mexican-American music canon:

Led by harpist Leonel "La Chona" Mendoza Acevedo, Los Originarios del Plan is known for their vibrant interpretations of arpa grande music, a regional style older than mariachi, built on the resonant strings of the large harp, violin, and the percussive five-string vihuela. Based in California's San Joaquin Valley, the group has become one of the genre's leading voices, connecting immigrant communities from Michoacán to the West Coast through music that celebrates joy, faith, and belonging.

Today, the arpa grande tradition is flourishing across the western United States, from California to Washington's Yakima Valley, where it has become a centerpiece of community gatherings such as weddings, baptisms, and quinceañeras. The music's emotional resonance and its reminders of the sounds of home have made it increasingly popular among migrant farmworker communities and beyond via social media.

From the hotlands of Michoacán to California's Central Valley, the story of Los Originarios del Plan is inseparable from that of the arpa grande tradition itself. Each member was raised within the cultural cradle of El Plan, where music has long been a way of life. Together, they embody their lineage, carrying forward the sounds and spirit of their forebearers while bringing the son planeco to new audiences.