Sarah Savoy and the Francadians are a Paris-based Cajun and Zydeco band led by Louisiana-born singer Sarah Savoy, who is raised in Louisiana and starts performing in Lafayette, in the Cajun heartland. The group is made up of French musicians David Rolland, Vincent Blin and Manolo Gonzales, with Rolland also appearing with Stompin’ Crawfish, Daisy Belle and Villaine Maniere.

Style and repertoire

The band plays traditional Cajun and Zydeco music and draws on the earliest roots of Louisiana music. Their repertoire includes songs associated with Amedee Ardoin, Joe and Cleoma Falcon, and Iry LeJeune. They also include a small number of country and rockabilly songs, reflecting the influence those styles have on the writers of many well-known Cajun songs.

Original material and vocals

The band’s original songs are written by Sarah Savoy and Gerard Dole, a long-time friend of the Savoy family. Sarah’s lyrics often present a modern, independent and fun-loving woman, rather than focusing only on the figure of la femme abandonnée, the abandoned woman. On stage, she shares lead vocals with David Rolland, whose accordion playing uses Acadian instruments made by Sarah’s father.

Performance style

The group’s performances feature alternation between female and male lead voices, with Sarah also directing the band and audience through shouts, whoops and jokes. Her delivery ranges from blues and honky-tonk-influenced Cajun songs of the 1940s and 1950s to slower waltzes associated with Cajun music.