Episode 1: FORWARD
Abe Partridge, a folk artist from Mobile, Alabama, approaches Ferrill Gibbs, a podcaster from Texas, in mid 2020. With gigs canceled due to coronavirus, Abe spends time at serpent-handling churches across the Appalachians. He explains to Ferrill how originally, the plan was to paint the oft-ridiculed sect, but while taking in their frenetic services, Abe realized their songs were powerful, and possibly, undocumented. He shares audio with Ferrill of a serpent handling preacher tying up his hands with a Gibson guitar strap. Also, a connection is drawn to legendary music documentarians John Avery and Alan Lomax.
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Special thanks this episode to John Nova Lomax.