ANN Savoy is not the first and will not be the last visiting American musician to wonder if she has wandered deep into the back of beyond – or maybe Tolkien’s Middle Earth – while crossing the valley to Low Mill.

“We were thinking nobody’s gonna come to this place!” she said, her eyes lighting up at the sight of a full floor of two-step dancing couples.

Ann had reckoned without the devotion of the Cajun fans of York, Malton, even Sheffield, who had gathered at the feet of the “greatest traditional Cajun band in the world”, as promoter Nigel Burnham called them – only to have to miss the gig after years of pursuing the Savoys for Low Mill in favour of attending a family member’s graduation ceremony.

Nigel, you missed a belter! The WOMAD-bound Savoy family – pronounced Savoir not Savoy, as in the cabbage – lined up with seated Marc, the father, on accordion with 51 years of instrument making to his name, as well as a wry humour; wife Ann on guitar and the lioness’s share of lead vocals; son Joel on sublime fiddle and other son Wilson – past Band Room visitor with The Pine Leaf Boys in 2007 – on piano, vocals and one fabulous fiddle foray.

The dry air played mischievously with their tuning – by way of contrast, their Eunice, Louisiana homeland is so humid that fish could swim in the air, joked Marc – but this was nevertheless one swell Cajun occasion: two sets of predominantly dance tunes sung in Cajun French that spelled musical magic in any language.

To finish, the contented departing crowd sang a hearty rendition of Happy Birthday for Glyn Roberts, stalwart champion of Cajun music in York. He truly was in paradise!