What is Ballroom Blitz 2000? It’s an event not to be missed if you are a fan of great local music. Held to benefit the ARC of Harrisburg (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens) and Camp Sertoma, the Ballroom Blitz is an evening of live music and great fun for a good cause.

Promoted by Rogue Stork Entertainment, and sponsored by WQXA-FM, Tranquility Landscaping, J.S. Zimmerman Co., Expedition Foods, and Neiman Group among others, the concert will feature performances by The Baking Horselies, Spellbound, Locke, Crippen, 2 Stuck Dogs, Darcie Miner, Polyester, Zero Gravity, and Green Eggs and Spam. A special appearance by the band UUU will top off the evening.

Such a line-up of local favorites teaming together for a great cause is something being eagerly anticipated by not only the fans of Ballroom Blitz 2000 but by the organizers and participants, as well.

"We are very selective of where we play out at," said Cindy Armour, lead singer for the band Polyester, "and we are looking forward to playing at Ballroom Blitz; we are all professional people with day jobs so we like to play the shows with impact — such as these benefits."

Together for two-and-a-half years, Polyester performs a wide variety of cover music, bringing with them that appeals to everyone — from late ’60s to alternative rock, with something that "everyone can relate to, from fast music to slow music." The band recently played the American Music Festival over Independence Day and continues to play at such local venues as The Rusty Nail and the Midtown in Harrisburg and Fat Daddy’s in York.

According to Christian Chappell, lead singer of the up and coming local rock band, Locke, like Polyester, they are also more than excited to be a part of the event. "It’s going to be a lot of fun, and it’s for a great cause. I’m very excited.
I recently did an acoustic show at the Camp and it was amazing. The counselors and all of the people there are wonderful. And the kids are awesome."

Playing together since March, the band — Chappell, Matt Shellenhamer, Matt Rockman, and Brian Wilson — perform both originals and cover songs, with a set list that includes material from acts like Tool, Bush, and Three Doors Down. With just a few months of shows under their belt, the group is more than excited about the opportunity to play with the rest of the bands and support a good cause at the same time. "It’s an awesome line-up," said Chappell, "this is our biggest show yet."

But more than the music, at the heart of event is ARC and Camp Sertoma. Camp Sertoma caters to children four years of age and older with either daily classes or two-week long residential camp sessions. The residential camp offered by Camp Sertoma is full of activities from arts and crafts to music and swimming lessons and also teaches campers valuable life skills such as cooking. The cost of the camp is approximately $750.00 per camper, and while private donations account for approximately one quarter of the total cost, the rest of the bill is up to the individual and his/her own family. Which is the perfect reason for having benefits such as this, according to camp director Richard Honeycutt.

"The money raised by Ballroom Blitz 2000 will make sure that more individuals can enjoy Camp Sertoma in future years," he said.