In the end, despite everyone’s best efforts, Friday night’s inclement weather did end up derailing planned performances by a pair of bigger names at the Beale Street Music Festival. Both Ben Folds and The Roots were forced to bail on their scheduled sets after storms swept through Tom Lee Park.

Headliner Sheryl Crow did wait it out, however, finding enough of a window to take the stage, much to the delight of a fervent, if heavily thinned out, group of fans. Crow, clad in a tank top and vest and with her hair braided, did her best to raise the excitement level, prowling the stage enthusiastically and charming the crowd with her between song banter. Almost as a counterpoint to the wet and woeful conditions she offered up a warm set of sun-dappled roots-pop songs, before changing gears and essaying slightly more moody pieces like her own “A Change Would Do You Good” as well as a cover of the Cat Stevens classic “The First Cut Is The Deepest.” Overall, Crow earned her payday, gamely making the best of a bad situation.