Downtown Mount Pleasant Street Festival brings blues musicians, artists

Kevin Nichols has been playing blues since he was a teenager.

Nichols is the singer and guitarist for 6 Hands Down, a blues rock band from Jackson. He was one of several performers at the Mount Pleasant Blues Festival downtown over the weekend.

“A lot of people that don’t know about the blues think the blues is all depressing and stuff, but it’s actually some of the best feeling feel-good music you’ll find,” Nichols said. “It’s got every emotion you could want.”

The Blues Festival was part of the 2010 Downtown Mount Pleasant Street Festival.

Thousands of people attended the weekend-long festival which included sidewalk sales, arts and crafts and chalk art in addition to the live music.

Various artists created huge elaborate paintings of babies and Renaissance art.

Musicians such as Laith Al-Saadi, McCray and 6 Hands Down attracted hundreds to the corners of Broadway and Main Streets.

“We have blues bands from all over the state and America,” said Minard Shattuck, who produced the blues festival. “Blues is really the only real American music.”

Nichols walked around the audience playing guitar solos and standing on tables for an enthusiastic crowd.

His lively performance caused dozens of hands to come together for 6 Hands Down.

Nichols said playing at festivals is one of his true passions.

“It’s nice to get out in the crowd and take it to them,” Nichols said. “When we can look out in the crowd and see them having fun, it lets us know we’re during our job.”

Guitarist Greg Nagy, a 1990 Central Michigan University alumnus, also performed.

Nagy said playing for large crowds is like a form of meditation.

“When its going halfway well, its hard to think about anything other than playing,” Nagy said.

Tyler Mac plugged in his guitar and took the stage following 6 Hands Down.

“I love everything about playing,” Mac said. “It’s the only thing I know how to do so I have to love it.”