Jackson Free Press

It's Chick Ball week in the city! Every summer, the Jackson Free Press presents the JFP Chick Ball at Hal & Mal's in downtown Jackson for two reasons: to fight domestic abuse in the area and to spotlight strong women and their artistry.

Join us Saturday, July 24, at Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St.) to help raise money to help the Center for Violence Prevention establish a legal fund to get abused families to safety, and keep them there. This year's JFP Chick Ball will honor the ShowsPowell law firm for helping domestic-abuse victims and raising awareness about the state's inadequate divorce laws that force many victims to stay with their abusers. The award presentation is at 8:15 p.m. in the Red Room.

You can dress any way you want for the Chick Ball—but you'll see lots of bling!—and men are welcome, too, of course. (Domestic abuse hurts us all.) In the following section, you'll find a shopping guide for the items donated for the silent auction by press time (yes, we'll take more donations right up until the event starts!). We'll also have a photo booth, games, door prizes, a Chicktini, Diva of Bling and Best Arm Candy contests, lots of great music and poetry, salsa demonstrations and food donated by local restaurants—and the cover is only $5. You must be age 18 or up.

This year, we will also feature the Chick-a-BOOM reception in the brew pub at 7 p.m.; tickets are $50 to honor the fabulous women in the following pages.

If you'd like to volunteer or donate gifts, art or money, please call 601-362-6121 ext. 16, or write {encode="[email protected]" title="[email protected]"}. Every dollar and gift makes a difference, as does your time.You can also drop donations at Hal & Mal's from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, July 23.

And if you just can't get to the Chick Ball, please help anyway. Donate in any amount via PayPal at http://www.mscvp.org before or after the Chick Ball.

Thank you for your help, Jackson. We can do this.

Chicks Rock: The Sked

In the first 30 songs on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the only female vocalist was Aretha Franklin for "Respect." How apropos.

It's not uncommon in the music world (or anywhere else, for that matter) for women not to get the respect they're due. But the all-chick line-up of the JFP's 6th Annual Chick Ball will receive nothing but respect as they take the stage. The chicks will have it all at the ball: the uniqueness of Lizzie Wright Super Space Ship, Lady Mary's conscious poetry, The Secret Miracle's forthright talent, the profound words of The Poet of Truth, the Hot Tamales' folksy sound and eclectic done right with The Wild Emotions. And before you know it, the silent auction will have closed, and you'll be grooving to end the night with The Time to Move Band. (Yes, there are guys in the band, but the lead singer keeps them under control.)

The music starts about 6 p.m., but you'll want to get there early for a seat close to the stage.

Rolling Stone may think itself an authority in all things music, but we know the truth: Chicks Rock.

6:00-6:15 Welcome
6:15-6:40 Lizzie Wright Super Space Ship
6:45-6:55 Spoken Word: Lady Mary
6:55-7:20 The Secret Miracles
7:25-7:35 Spoken Word: Poet of Truth
7:35-8:05 Akami Graham
8:15-8:35 Hero Awards presented by Donna Ladd and Sandy Middleton
8:35-9:00 Hot Tamales
9:10-9:30 Salsa Mississippi
9:30-9:50 Wild Emotions
10:00 Silent Auction Ends
10:00-11:00 Time to Move Band

(Note: The Chick-a-Boom reception is in Hal & Mal's brew pub at 7 p.m. Tickets: $50 in advance.)