Scottville band shell season includes Edgar Struble, Clown Band’s 70th year.

Edgar Struble

Scottville band shell season includes Edgar Struble, Clown Band’s 70th year.

Kicks off Tuesday with Kevin Kimes & Andy Thomas. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

SCOTTVILLE — Mason County’s longest running summer outdoor concert series, held at the Scottville Clown Band Shell, launches its 28th season Tuesday, June 6 with musicians Kevin Kimes and Andy Thomas and will continue until August 29, all performances begin at 7 p.m. The 2017 season features a variety of entertainment including the two performances by the Scottville Clown Band, and Scottville native Edgar Struble. The series also includes a special night honoring long-time Ludington Area Schools music director Howard Hornung.

Kevin Kimes & Andy Thomas.

The Scottville Clown Band, which operates the band shell jointly with the Scottville Optimist Club, traditionally presents two concerts at the shell. This year’s concerts will each have special themes. The June 27 concert is the band’s patriotic concert. It is the only concert by the Clown Band that is dedicated to Americana music. However, this year’s concert will also be the public fundraising campaign launch of Scottville’s contribution to the Mason County Sculpture Trail (more details coming out soon). The band’s Aug. 22 concert will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the group that is now known as the Scottville Clown Band. Though the band’s roots date back to 1903, merchant Raymond Schulte formed the post-World War II group with a group of high school kids and young adults in 1947 to celebrate the return of the Scottville Harvest Festival, which had been in hiatus since the war had begun.

Scottville Clown Band

The concert series is traditionally on Tuesdays, but since July 4 falls on a Tuesday this year, there will be a special Wednesday, July 5, performance featuring Scottville’s very own Edgar Struble and many of his talented musical friends. Edgar, who still owns a home in Mason County, is a musician/composer/movie producer who writes for many nationally televised music awards shows. He spent his early career as Kenny Rogers’ music director. The concert will also feature several of Edgar’s musical friends, including Ron Johnson, Chris Bickley, Ted Malt, Glenn Floering, Ken Jury, Phil Tarczon, Dan Jacobs, Kevin DePree, and Ron Johnson. 

Tangle Eye

It’s been about six years since Edgar has performed at the band shell.

Along with free music, there will be three evenings that will also include family activities and free movies on June 27, Aug. 15, and Aug. 29. The movies are presented by Mason County Central Education Foundation, West Shore Bank, and Smith & Eddy Insurance.

Chloe and Olivia Kimes

Major sponsors of the band shell season include West Shore Bank, Indian Summer Co-Op, Mason County Press, Safety Decals, Hardman Construction, and Turf Care/Mole Man. The band shell is operated through the support of donations, which may be sent to Scottville Clown Band Shell, PO Box 278, Scottville, MI 49454.

2017 Scottville Clown Band Shell schedule, all musical performances begin at 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, June 6: Kevin Kimes and Andy Thomas
• Tuesday, June 13: Tom & Jerry
• Tuesday, June 20: MC Jazz and Mason County Central Jazz Band
• Tuesday, June 27, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: MCC Schools Summer Carnival; Scottville Clown Band Patriotic Concert; movie, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
• Wednesday, July 5: Edgar Struble and Friends
• Tuesday, July 11: Cheryl Wolfram
• Tuesday, July 18: Mason County Civic Band
• Tuesday, July 25: Tangle Eye
• Tuesday, Aug. 1: Cats-N-Jammers
• Tuesday, Aug. 8: Chloe and Olivia Kimes
• Tuesday, Aug. 15: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Smith & Eddy Insurance Family Fun Night; Karaoke with Danny V; movie, “Sing”
• Tuesday, Aug. 22: Scottville Clown Band 70th Anniversary Concert
• Tuesday, Aug. 29: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: West Shore Bank Family Fun Night; Jimmy Dodson Jr.; movie, “Finding Dory”