Three different bands with different styles will perform at Auburn’s 16th annual Black & White Ball on Aug. 16 in Downtown Auburn.

For country and western music, it’s nationally known Little Texas, which might be best known for its hit “God Blessed Texas.” The group also made the charts with “Kick A Little,” “Amy’s Back in Austin” and “What Might Have Been.”

Another band on the ticket is David Martin’s House Party, returning to the ball for the fifth time. One of San Francisco’s top party bands for more than 20 years, Martin’s band made ball appearances in 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2006.

“It’s one of our favorite events to play,” David Martin said. “We are excited about performing Downtown.”

Martin’s band has a wide repertoire that includes big band music, Beatles, Motown, reggae, disco and classic rock.

The third band will be Tainted Love, which also has played previously at the ball. The group specializes in dance hits of the 1980s, and plays music from Bruce Springsteen and others. Tainted Love has played as an opening act for Springsteen, and also for Madonna.

The ball is made possible in part by more than 400 volunteers, who do every thing from selling tickets to pouring drinks to building dinosaur decorations. When it comes to the bands, there are at least 50 volunteers just for them. They handle everything from hospitality to logistics and technical support.

Bruce Cosgrove, CEO of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, has been around for all 15 previous Black & White Balls and values the contributions volunteers make.

“They are working with professionals, but that’s how we keep our costs down,” Cosgrove said. “There are volunteers for the bands that make sure they get to and from their hotels and we actually use the city transit system for that.”

Instead of hiring expensive stage crews, volunteers will be manning stage lights and spotlights during the festivities. Volunteers play a key role in making the ball possible.

“We have volunteers working here at the chamber answering telephones, taking ticket orders, prepackaging drink tokens, packaging all of our VIP packages and working on the weekends building decorations,” said chairwoman Rosie Mietzel, entertainment chairwoman for the past seven years.

Professional event security, fencing, portable toilets, drink purchases and marketing the event are all costs that must be met by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce.

“Our goal is to reach $100,000 in net profit this year,” Mietzel said.

Last year, the ball netted $90,000, which helped local charities and Auburn Chamber of Commerce programs. From every ticket sold at Raley’s, $5 is donated to their Food for Families charity program, Mietzel said.

Auburn Boys & Girls Club, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital Hospice Program, Auburn Relay for Life, Auburn Family Fourth of July and the Festival of Lights Christmas Parade, among others, all receive proceeds from the ball.

The Journal’s Bruce Warren can be reached at brucew@goldcountrymedia.com, or comment online at Auburnjournal.com.