Live: Sarah Savoy
Posted on January 23rd, 2012 by folkandtumble
Venue: The Black Box, Belfast
Date: 18/01/11
Sarah Savoy (pronounced Sav-wah) and the Francadians second gig of the day to a sold-out Black Box in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter was my first bite of this year’s Out to Lunch Festival and there was an air of expectation when support act, Johanna Devine from Tennessee got the crowd warmed up. She only played three songs accompanied with acoustic guitar and speckles of violin but managed to squeeze in country, jazz and blues in an impressive cameo. She has a beautiful voice and won a few fans in Belfast.
© Gerry McNally Photography 2012
It wasn’t long before the Paris based foursome came out and opened with ‘I Left The House’ showcasing what was to come for the rest of the night: percussive guitar playing, the accordion and violin players swapping solos and Ms Savoy’s formidable vocal talents.
I was promised the real Cajun musical experience and in truth I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was an interesting mixture of country and blues sounds, some Celtic touches and stamped all over with Savoy’s French language singing.
Savoy has a massive amount of stage presence. She’s big in height and of voice and I know it’s a cliché but she owned the stage. She called out to the violinist when it was his turn to take a solo and the same with David on the accordion and both musicians showed touches of quality musicianship and virtuosity when called on.
The biggest cheers of the night came towards the end of the set when the band covered ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and got the crowd dancing to ‘The Bosco Stomp’ but for me the accordion solos were starting to becoming tiresome and indistinguishable from the last.
It was a good gig all in all. The crowd loved it and the band were skilled beyond compare and anyone who has had the good fortune of attending an Out To Lunch gig will know that there are no bad acts playing at it. Sarah Savoy and the Francadians lived up to that and they also lived up to their hard-living reputation. Savoy herself was complimenting the local whiskey she drank straight from the bottle and even sent the accordion player to the bar during the set to retrieve a round of beers.
It was a good gig but not something I’d be in a hurry to see again. The interminable accordion was grating and you can call me uncultured if you want but I found singing in French made her stories a little inaccessible – and that’s the thing with stories, it helps when you understand them.
Tags: belfast, blues, cajun, folk, johanna devine, live, out to lunch festival, sarah savoy, sarah savoy and the francadians, the black box
Kristi G | February 1st, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Cajun music is always in Cajun French. It is lyrically fairly simple often because it is primarily a dance music. The lyrics are frequently used to compliment the rhythm of the song. The accordion functions this way as well. It drives the beat and the syncopated rhythm is what makes dancers keep dancing. You should have tried to move to it instead of just listen. Get off your seat next time, sir.
Owen | February 28th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
I did say they were a good band and it was a good gig. The crowd enjoyed it and I enjoyed it for the most part.
I didn’t mean to sound negative if that’s how it came across although I did clearly say that ‘I wasn’t sure what to expect’.
Thanks for the feedback
Kristi G; I’ll lace up the dancin shoes next time! 
Annie Richardson | February 2nd, 2012 at 10:12 am
Not quite sure what the writer above was expecting to hear?? he did go to see a Cajun band afterall! He kinda should have known it would be sung in French…