Two years ago, a group of local musicians got together with the idea of giving girls the opportunity to build confidence and celebrate their individuality while learning music and performance skills. The result was Chattanooga Girls Rock!, a nonprofit organization that hosted its first summer camp last July for girls ages 10-17.
The Mellow Mushroom restaurant at 205 Broad St. will host a benefit concert Sunday featuring Ashley and the X’s, Get Hot or Go Home, and Heatherly featuring Chattanooga Girls Rock! alumnae.
Admission for the all-ages show, which begins at 5 p.m., is a $5 cash donation to the nonprofit. In addition, the downtown Mellow Mushroom and the Hamilton Place location at 2318 Lifestyle W y will donate 10 percent of all sales on Sunday to the Chattanooga Girls Rock! scholarship fund. This includes dine-in and carryout orders as well as bar sales at both locations.
“Music is as much a part of the Mellow Mushroom culture as pizza is,” said Jason Jones, owner of the Chattanooga Mellow Mushroom restaurants. “We love that Chattanooga Girls Rock! celebrates diversity, and we think it’s especially cool that they charge campers on a sliding scale so that every girl who wants to rock can rock.”
Rock camp tuition ranges from $250 to free, depending on each family’s self-reported income. Chattanooga Girls Rock! offers as many full scholarships to campers as funding allows, including daily lunch assistance when needed. During the one-week day camp, girls choose an instrument, receive instruction, form a band, write an original song, and perform a live concert.
"Chattanooga Girls Rock! is honored that the team at Mellow Mushroom has taken such an enthusiastic interest in what we do,” said Sarah Morgan, Chattanooga Girls Rock! board member. “In working to promote music with young girls, it's awesome to have a family-friendly venue to have a show and encourage the entire family to come rock out!”
More information about the benefit is available at facebook.com/mellowmushroomchattanooga.