Although the musicians he interviews on his locally produced, internationally syndicated radio show “Acoustic Café” are used to performing in front of a live audience, host Rob Reinhart isn’t.

“They got to turn the tables on me and watch me sweat bullets,” the Ann Arbor-based broadcaster said Sunday after the first in a series of live tapings of “Acoustic Café: Live @ Top of the Park,” taking place as part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. The show is usually recorded in a studio with no audience.

The session was held under one of the white,Top of the Park beverage tents, its plastic sides lowered to keep out noise. Surprisingly, the acoustics were excellent, and the show moved along with nary a discernible hitch.

“Make a lot of noise — you’ll be heard worldwide,” Reinhart encouraged the crowd as the taping began.

Florida-based singer-songwriter JJ Grey was Reinhart’s guest for the approximately 45-minute program, during which Grey was interviewed and also asked to play several songs, accompanying himself on guitar. He and his band, Mofro, were scheduled to perform later in the evening on the Top of the Park stage.

Grey led off with “The Long Way Home,” which was recently used in the television show “Deadliest Catch.” He also offered a terrific cover of Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey,” his rough-hewn voice a perfect fit for the familiar tune.

“I was thrilled; we filled the tent with 75 people,” Reinhart said, after the event had ended.

He wasn’t the only one that was happy.

“I had high expectations, and I wasn’t disappointed,” said Ann Arborite Liz Barry. “The experience of listening to live music is fantastic.” Barry’s sister, Cathy, agreed: “You can’t go wrong with live music.”

According to Reinhart, the live tapings have been in the planning stages since last November, and he said he’d like to do more of them, either in association with the Summer Festival, or with some of the affiliated radio stations across the country that air the show.

“These days in radio you’ve got to think of new ways to engage the audience,” he said.

Grey said his latest CD, “Georgia Warhorse,” named after a particularly tenacious grasshopper found down south that he admires, will be released Aug. 24.

"Acoustic Café: Live @ Top of the Park" performances will air on the syndicated "Acoustic Café" radio show, heard around the country and worldwide on Voice Of America. Locally, the show airs 8-10 a.m. Sundays on WQKL (107.1-FM).

Live tapings are scheduled for the next three Sundays at 4 p.m., with the musical guests' identities being kept secret for now. Admission is free and tent seating is extremely limited. This Sunday’s show filled up almost all available spaces, so get there early. After all, when will you get another chance to have your handclaps heard 'round the world?