Jon Rae

The bespectacled troubadour opened the Pop Explosion with a show at St. Matthew’s Church on Barrington, playing a few songs on his acoustic guitar. A clarity in his voice appealed, as did lyrics like "14 years is a long time for you to be on my mind.” When a 20-person ramshackle choir joined him on stage, a blown fuse took away the amplification. It forced Rae to push his voice to fill the space. He became far more animated and energised, and the improvised and occasionally under-rehearsed sound of the choir’s voices united behind him was impossible not to enjoy.