August 15th, 2009 - ROCK FESTIVAL

It started as a grass roots Rock n Roll festival in Harrison City last year and has quickly become a Pittsburgh regional all ages event as Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers join the lineup of Rock and Roll, Punk and Alternative entertainment playing the 2009 “Harrison City ROCKS!” show.

The festival will take place at the Harrison City Municipal Park (about 20 miles east of Pittsburgh) on August 15^th with all proceeds going to Children’s Hospital and the Matthew P. Fischerkeller Memorial Fund. Tickets can be purchased online and at the door for this all-ages show.

Last year’s first-annual event brought well over 700 visitors from the surrounding areas to see some great local bands and to benefit the Matthew P. Fischerkeller Memorial Fund for heart research.  Since then, Children’s Hospital has teamed up with the foundation to help raise much needed funding for the detection and prevention of congenital heart disorders in children.

This memorial fund was created soon after Matthew Fischerkeller, a sixteen year old High Honors student at Penn Trafford High School, suddenly passed away in his sleep on April 14, 2005. Matthew suffered a sudden cardiac arrest due to a congenital heart disorder. His parents, Paul and Kris Fischerkeller, created the foundation with the mission to promote and support research for the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest due to congenital heart disorders in children.

Joe Grushecky and his son Johnny first met Paul Fischerkeller at “Mr. Smalls”, Millvale, in 2006 for a tribute concert to Matt, by the high school band, “Running from Romance” in which Matt had played.  “I was really touched by all of the support from friends, family and musicians at that show. When Paul asked me to play with “Harrison City ROCKS!”,  I was more than happy to be part of such a worthy cause.”

Paul Fischerkeller, Matt's father, said "Matt was such a great kid and such a positive influence on so many people. I'm happy to see his life being celebrated with all of the talent and support being poured into this event and the foundation." In fact, all of the bands that are playing at Harrison City ROCKS have some connection to Matt during his short but influential life.

One of these bands, “The Composure”, features Cory Muro and Andy Marks, two musicians that played with Matt in “Running from Romance”. The Composure has a large local and regional following. "I really miss Matt both as a band mate and as a friend. I'm really happy to be part of this event the second time around, and to play in my hometown!" said Cory Muro of the Composure.

Other notable Pittsburgh bands that are playing in the show include “The Drew Bentley Band”, “Fiver”, “Gene the Werewolf”, “Johnny Grushecky”, “No Remorse”, and ”Poolside Eye Candy”.

Our Story...

The Fischerkeller family established the Matthew P. Fischerkeller Memorial Fund in memory of their son, Matthew. Matthew was a sixteen year old High Honors student at Penn Trafford High School in Harrison City, Pennsylvania when he died suddenly in his sleep on April 14, 2005. Matthew suffered a sudden cardiac arrest due to a congenital heart disorder. He had a passion for life and in particular, music. When he passed, he was the lead guitarist for a local rock and roll band, Running From Romance. Matthew was a "friend of the friendless" and had a HEART OF GOLD. His kindness, integrity, character and beautiful smile will be missed by all who knew him. He truly was a disciple of the Lord…

To learn more about the Matthew P. Fischerkeller Memorial Fund, or to donate, click here.

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