Los Originarios del Plan, one of the most vital voices in the arpa grande (big harp) tradition, return with ¡Puritito Michoacán!, an album that captures the pulse and poetry of a centuries-old sound still thriving across borders. Rooted in the cultural cradle of Tierra Caliente, Michoacán, and carried through generations to California’s San Joaquin Valley, the group’s new release is both a celebration and preservation of this living heritage.

Led by harpist Leonel “La Chona” Mendoza Acevedo, the ensemble channels the vibrancy of the regional son planeco style through the resonant harp, violin, and percussive five-string vihuela. Their performances are marked by energy and devotion, turning each song into a bridge between past and present, homeland and diaspora.

The lead track, “Mi tierra linda,” is a lively ode to El Plan, the agricultural lowlands of Michoacán and Jalisco, and to the music itself. Performed in the fast-paced rhythm of the son, the track features the tamboreada drumming style, where one musician kneels beside the harp and strikes its soundboard by hand, blending melody and rhythm into a single heartbeat.

Across the West Coast, from California to Washington’s Yakima Valley, arpa grande music has become a fixture of community celebrations, filling weddings, quinceañeras, and baptisms with the sound of belonging. Through ¡Puritito Michoacán!, Los Originarios del Plan give voice to that spirit, honoring their forebearers while bringing new listeners into the fold.

This is music born from the land, carried by the people, and kept alive by those who still believe in the power of song to hold a community together.