Lansing - Old Town just couldn’t seem to get rid of the blues this weekend.

Even a heavy downpour of rain and frigid temperatures didn’t keep the small, nostalgic block from sharing the blues with 12 local, regional and national bands.

“The clouds have parted to have some fun tonight,” Jan James said as she belted out her soulful, bluesy rock on the first night of BluesFest.

“We rode the storm in from Chicago,” she said. “Oh man, it was quite a ride.”

Local band Those Delta Rhythm Kings displayed an upbeat jump blues swing and band members said they managed to avoid the rain that canceled two other bands’ performances.

“We were nervous about the weather, but it’s great to be a local band here,” lead singer Ray Aleshire said.

“Lansing has a great blues scene.”

Saturday brought legendary acts such as Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang and A.C. Reed, who replaced Chicago blues legend Son Seals.

The day began at 2 p.m. and continued until midnight with nine bands who drew in some to dance slowly with loved ones and others to dance out of control with the grinding saxophones, Memphis horns and diatonic harmonicas on two different stages.

Lansing resident Jim Gallagher, who lives two blocks from where the North Stage was assembled, said he was excited to meet Shaw after his performance.

“This is the real stuff coming from Chicago,” he said. “It’s just awesome. Shaw played with Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf in the ’50s.

“He is one of the few major blues guys still around.”

The sax veteran drew the biggest crowd of the night - playing once with him headlining and later with Reed.

Shaw said he enjoyed playing BluesFest, but said 21st century performances still don’t compare to shows during the ’60s.

“I’ve been playing for 40 years,” he said. “Since Woodstock it’s pretty much been the same thing.”

But the bands, with their different, soulful styles of blues, weren’t the only attraction.

Many of the blues’ fans also took advantage of visiting the local art galleries in town.

And others participated in beer tasting, featuring 40 different domestic, imported and hand-crafted beers.

“The tasting was a real success,” said Terry Terry, president of the Old Business and Art Development Association.

“We even had one beer run out and had to go out and get more.”

Terry, who helped convert OctoberFest - which ran for eight years - into BluesFest, said the event was a perfect mix of bands.

“We’re pretty delighted with what’s happened,” he said.

“We really made the right choice.

“The local bands work really hard to share the stage with the national acts. It brings out the best of our talent.”

Finance senior Steve Merenda said he enjoyed the show, but wished more MSU students should have had come out to support the bands.

“It’s great to just come here, relax with no worries and enjoy the free music,” he said. “We heard some old (songs) talking about how their women left them, plus some more upbeat tunes you could dance to.”

Lansing resident Victor Matelske, who arrived at BluesFest later in the night, said he was excited about the festival’s promotion of Old Town and hopes for more next year.

“It’s really neat to see everyone get excited about the event,” he said.

“I hope it gets bigger and better each year.”