The last Wednesday of every month is a "Weird Wednesday" on Absolute Michigan, when Linda Godfrey (also pictured below right) gives you a sample of what's weird in the Wolverine State. You can listen to Linda's latest podcasts and report your own strange encounters at weirdmichigan.com, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/lindagodfrey and also check out her books including Weird Michigan & Strange Michigan.

January in Michigan is a good time to think ahead to the pleasures of spring and summer that await us, such as outdoor concerts or camping out in lawn chairs to catch a parade. Either of those activities – at least in the western part of the state – stands a good chance of including a large group of men of all ages strangely dressed in hula skirts, clown shoes, or ladies' lingerie. Those men, also known as the Scottville Clown Band, will be playing some mean tunes on traditional marching band instruments. And in concert, they also bust some humorous dance moves to “The Stripper” or “The Chicken Dance.”

The nice thing about becoming known as a male “ladies band” in the 1930s is that, with all members supplying their own costumes, their uniform budget has remained at zero ever since. This allows them to give financial support to budding student musicians statewide.

The motley crew of amateur entertainers has been pleasing Michigander crowds since 1903 and is so popular that it needs about 250 members in order to send 40 or 50 to every event that invites them. The group travels a total of 10,000 miles per year and has published its own book, “The Big Noise from Scottville.”

Visit the Scottville Clown Band website and check them out in action in this video:

Condensed from “Weird Michigan; Your Travel Guide to Michigan's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets” by Linda S. Godfrey, Barnes & Noble, 2006.

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