New to the mountains, Abe falls in love with Appalachia.
In the college dorm one night, he hears another student picking a banjo. Abe purchases an $80 Korean banjo (complete with an Earl Scruggs instructional cassette) to begin the daunting task of learning how to play.
With a few basics down, Abe begins a search for "his people" – musicians who play in jam circles. As he tells it, these circles are far better than live shows.
In live shows, the audience's desires are paramount. But in bluegrass circles, so far away from the mainstream, the musicians play for each other, soloing to impress their friends with new, innovative licks, progressions and tempos. And – Abe is absolutely welcome, and feels at home.
What is A.A.R.T.?
Abe Partridge – folk artist, documentarian, and song-catcher – travels with a portable handheld recorder seeking out artists on the backroads of America.
A.A.R.T. features undocumented music: folk artists performing heartfelt songs for Abe's recorder. Plus, as he gently leads the conversation, Abe reveals perspectives from the groups and communities often hidden from the glare of the mainstream.