Black Tie Envy on the cards

The biggest weekend of the year for Australia's hottest town is just around the corner, and tickets are selling fast for one of its main events.

The 2015 Marble Bar Race Ball will kick off the race weekend next Friday, July 3, with an evening of food, drinks and entertainment.

Organisers are madly preparing for the annual black tie event, for which visitors, station workers and Marble Bar locals will don their best dress before they head off to the Marble Bar Races the next day.

Hedland musician IO IO, also known as Greg Taylor, will make the trip out to entertain the crowd alongside Perth-based band Midnight Rambler Trio.

For those not in the know, the muso said it didn't matter how people pronounced "IO IO" as long as they said it twice.

This year's races will be third time lucky for IO IO, who considers it one of his favourite outings.

It will be his first time as one of the performers at the ball, but it sounds as though his original songs are rather fitted to the occasion.

"This will be my third year at the Marble Bar Races which I reckon is the best event on the Pilbara calendar," he said.

"For some reason I was asked to play some Pilbara folk songs at the annual ball.

"My songs are mainly about iron ore, adultery and gambling, but I have some lyrics about Marble Bar and drinking export in the Iron Clad."

IO IO said he would be acting as master of ceremonies at the ball and locals would be able to "completely devote themselves to shenanigans".

He and Gloria Pearl milliner Amanda Smith will also choose the belle and beau of the ball.

"We'll be presenting the Belle and Beau of the Ball, and the Batting Above your Weight award for the fella with the date who is so beautiful in comparison to him that no one can figure it out," he said.

Ball committee co-chairwoman Pip Short said last year's Batting Above your Weight award went to local Marble Bar character Windmill Jack, who turned up with not one but three ladies on his arm.

"At 70-odd years old, Windmill Jack put the young men to shame," she said.

With tickets selling out for the past three years, and this year's ball billed to be the biggest and best yet, Ms Short was adamant tickets should be bought quickly.

"With our theme of Black Tie Envy, we have tried to step it up a notch this year with the decorations - we can't wait for people to come and have a great time," she said.

"We are serving a delicious three-course meal and there will be plenty of cold drinks."

Tickets can be bought by visiting http://www.marblebarraces.com/ or by calling 0433 468 904.