Philly Music Fest Returns With Six-Night Event Dedicated To Philadelphia Artists

Philly Music Fest is a love letter to the city of Brotherly Love in the form of a six-night event happening in six venues. The sixth annual festival is set for Oct. 10-15, with a lineup made up of 21 artists who consider Philadelphia home, with a mix of national headliners that have appeared recently at major festivals and venues, as well as emerging, up and coming artists.

The event will feature performances from Low Cut Connie, Mannequin Pussy, Ron Gallo, Screaming Females, Shamir, Empath, Saleka, Electric Candlelight, Lady HD, Kayleigh Goldsworthy, Ghosh, Echo Kid, Max Swan, Stereo League, Marielle Kraft, Riverby, The Ire, Justmadnice, Perpetual Motion and a yet “to be announced” surprise national headliner.

As an announcement explains, with a lineup made up of jazz, rock, hip-hop, punk, bluegrass, folk, spoken word and Americana artists: “Our genre is Philly.”

“Inspiring new generations of artists is what helps keep music and music scenes alive – the work that PMF is doing is so important to our community and to the people who have been unable to work and perform over the last two years,” Mannequin Pussy’s Missy Dabice said in a statement. “Philly is so lucky to have a festival that is so supportive of local talent.”

PMF is a nonprofit organization founded by local husband and wife team Greg and Jenn Seltzer. PMF has donated more than more than $275,000 to local artists in need and musical education programs including Rock to the Future, Girls Rock Philly, Settlement Music School, Musicopia, Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Live Connections, and Play on Philly. The organization donated over 330 micro-grants in 2020 and 2021 to local musicians and venue staff struggling because of COVID-19.

“It’s really cool to see how Philly Music Fest has grown,” says Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie, who also played (a much smaller version of) Philly Music Fest in 2018. “They are doing great work and I hope it continues. Music education gives kids a lifeline that they can cling to throughout their lives, and I am very happy to be participating in this festival and echo its mission.”

Tickets are on sale now via PhillyMusicFest.com and the websites of the individual PMF venues: World Café Live, Johnny Brenda’s, Ardmore Music Hall, MilkBoy, REC Philly and Underground Arts.