A hundred people dealt with heat, humidity and a few drops of rain on Saturday night to hear singer Joy T. Barnum — and none left disappointed.

The (mostly) acoustic concert at Rock Island Coffee was intended to raise money for her and her band, the Channel, to tour Europe alongside singer Heather Nova. When the seats in the small outdoor venue quickly filled up, the audience happily took to sitting on the stairs and on a small roof to watch the show. With Ms Nova herself looking on from the audience, Ms Barnum put on a show that was as much a love letter to her supporters as it was a concert.

Original songs like Sacred Blasphemy and I'll Be There were slipped neatly next to covers from artists ranging from Björk, Mos Def and Kings of Leon, demonstrating her talents as a songwriter.

While she has been gifted with a voice that can bounce from spoken word to operatic without a hesitation, the intimate nature of the show showed off her strongest asset as a performer — her ability to connect with her audience.

While several songs showcased her impressive vocal arsenal, it was the quieter, playful side of the show that truly shone.

The crowd laughed as she threw her voice into a thick country-style drawl, and even when rain started to fall during an a cappella performance, the audience remained glued to their seats.

It is clear that Ms Barnum loves performing and loves singing, and loves her audience. And that feeling of love is infectious. Opening act and occasional bassist Jamie Lovell warmed up the audience with an entertaining array of classic songs and friendly banter. Michael McPhee accompanied Ms Barnum perfectly with beautiful Spanish-style guitar work, while Milton Raposo showcased his talents on keyboard.

When Ms. Barnum ran offstage to make a quick change of costume, the boys of the band kept the audience entranced and entertained. While she might not be able to personally thank every member of the audience during her big tour as she did on Saturday, it's clear that her audiences will get their money's worth when she hits the stage.