Alabama Astronaut

This was a live show recorded at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center on January 21, 2023. It features a tearful Abe Partridge, introduced by curator Elizabeth Elliott, narrator Elizabeth Gibbs, and host Ferrill Gibbs.

Abe describes his experience of finding Jamie Coots in Middlesboro, Kentucky, and all the wonders to follow.

Also in this episode: the first live performance of “Carson Springs,” a song Abe wrote that referenced preacher Jimmy Morrow.

Pastor Morrow passed away two days after this recording.

Show Notes

This episode attempts to recreate the warmth surrounding Abe’s artist reception, "With Signs Following, featuring dozens of Abe's paintings that depict characters from the serpent handling faith. Many events described in Alabama Astronaut came alive to the soundtrack of Abe’s field recordings.

Abe's art exhibit is viewable at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center until May 20th. For more information, go here!

What is Alabama Astronaut?

Alabama Astronaut is a podcast featuring Alabama songwriter & artist Abe Partridge. Abe discovers a set of undocumented songs in the hills of the Appalachians, and believes they are undocumented because of the subject matter: lyrics that speak of the consumption of poison, and the handling of venomous snakes. These are the songs of the serpent handlers. To capture their music, Abe must first capture the hearts and the minds of the people who wrote it...and in the process, they capture his.