Joel Savoy's world-class musical education didn't follow the usual course.
There were no pricey private lessons or formal recitals. He never set foot in a classroom.
In fact, he never needed to leave his backyard.
Savoy, son of renowned Cajun music devotees Marc and Ann Savoy, was home-schooled by the stream of musicians who flowed through his parents' home in Eunice, Louisiana.
"I grew up in a household where there were musicians coming in constantly," Savoy said. "(It was) a constant stream, not just from all over the nation, but from all over the world. It was as normal as sitting down to eat dinner. People would come over and play music to all hours of the night."
Savoy's Cajun Country Revival will team with Portland old-time outfit Foghorn Stringband to headline the second weekend of the Anchorage Folk Festival.
Cajun Country Revival formed as a collaboration of Savoy, legendary Louisiana accordion player Jesse Lege and members of the Caleb Klauder Country Band, many of whom double as Foghorn Stringband members.
The band developed informally when the group met at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington.
"We were just hanging out; maybe we were staying in the same house on campus," Savoy said. "We just hit it off. They wanted a Cajun band for that night and we all ended up playing together. We all made a point to be at the same place at the same point as much as possible. We just melted together. We both play and have the same approach. The two music styles (Cajun and old-time) seem to play well together."
Savoy's exposure to folk and roots music was outweighed by the draw of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and other leading rock bands of the time.
"My parents have always been extremely supportive," Savoy said. "My dad is known as a staunch traditionalist, an enforcer for respect of the older traditions. But we grew up listening to all kinds of music. I wanted to play loud electric guitar. I know he was like, 'I hate that so much,' but he got me an electric guitar and an amp, knowing any kind of music would be a good thing."
At the same time, Savoy started to form a Cajun band, taking fiddle cues from Dennis McGee and the other musicians who were regular guests at his home.
But much like how his earliest exposure to the music didn't seem like a traditional music education, the experiences he had with visiting musicians didn't seem like performing.
"It's a second nature," Savoy said. "It's not a performance. It's not a show. We're just getting together with our buddies and doing what we've done our entire lives."
As he aged, Savoy burrowed deeper into Cajun music and started to realize its significance to Louisiana culture.
"It's a social music," Savoy said. "Back in Louisiana, we work, we cook, we drink and we play music. All of those things go hand in hand. It's a way to unwind and celebrate and a way to feel the blues and it brings people together. It's a universal language."
Like his father, Savoy has become increasingly interested in the music's conservation. Teaming with the members of Foghorn Stringband has unintentionally accomplished his goal of exposing the music to new, often younger audiences.
"There aren't that many people coming out to Cajun shows outside of Louisiana," Savoy said. "In Louisiana, you can go on any day and you'll have an audience of all generations. What you find (outside the state) is an older demographic. It's having a hard time finding younger generations. One great thing about playing with Foghorn Stringband, the old-timey music has had more success than Cajun music in getting younger people involved. In a way, I feel I'm feeling like I'm getting Cajun music exposed to new people. If I had a mission, I'd say it's to get a younger generation exposed to playing and listening to Cajun music in general."
Savoy has used Valcour Records, which he founded in 2006, to advance the cause of Acadian, Cajun and roots music.
Foghorn bassist/singer Nadine Landry is no stranger to the Acadian and Cajun music traditions or the state of Alaska. Born in Quebec, she was a longtime resident of Whitehorse, Yukon, and a regular of more than a decade at Juneau's Alaska Folk Festival.
"I've been going to Juneau for the Folk Fest since 2001," she said. "Every corner you look around has really fond memories."
She said the combination with the Cajun musicians has received great feedback from audiences, especially for those with a penchant for the dance floor.
"It was originally like a honky-tonk band for old-time music," she said. "It's all dance music and we want everyone to be happy and go dance crazy. Maybe not every old-time string band would work (with Cajun musicians), but it's kind of a bonus for us to do all of our favorite types of music."
Landry said Foghorn recorded a new album in November, its first since 2012, and it should be released early this year.
"It's a lot of our favorite songs that we've been playing in concerts, but have never recorded," she said.
Cajun Country Revival and Foghorn Stringband
When: Closing the 7 p.m. session (playing at about 8:45 p.m.), Friday. Closing the 1 p.m. session (playing at about 4 p.m.), Saturday. Closing the 7 p.m. session (playing at about 8:30 p.m.), Sunday.
Where: Anchorage Folk Festival at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium
Free