A Circle of Atoms: The Pasaquan Sessions

Columbus State University and the Pasaquan Preservation Society, in collaboration with Institute 193, are pleased to announce the release of A Circle of Atoms: the Pasaquan Sessions, a limited-edition vinyl record of songs performed at Eddie Owens Martin’s Pasaquan July 2020.

Every spring, musicians from across the United States gather at St. EOM’s Pasaquan near Buena Vista, Georgia for Pasafest, a music festival celebrating the life and work of the artist Eddie Owens Martin. Given the impossibility of a live event last year, the Pasaquan Preservation Society and Columbus State University decided to invite eight musical groups to record an album at the historic site, channeling the legacy and good vibes of the self-dubbed saint. The result is The Pasaquan Sessions, a full-length LP, recorded over the course of three days in July 2020 and featuring songs by Robert Lee Coleman, Lonnie Holley, Exotic Bird Hunter, James Husband, Chickasaw Mudd Puppies, Nikki Speake, Crispin Wah, and Jim White.

The project serves as a decentralized version of Pasafest, an open-air concert and festival celebrating St. EOM’s legacy that typically takes place once a year at the historic site. Pasafest was created to highlight the art and culture of the Southeastern United states, highlighting musicians from the region as well as visual artists known for their self-taught styles. With the creation of this record, we hope to transport you to Pasaquan in spirit, and give everyone a slice of Pasafest to enjoy at home.