Philly Music Fest returns for its ninth annual edition October 13 - 19, 2025, expanding from seven shows to nine shows. PMF is a citywide celebration of Philly musicians, exclusively located at independently owned venues and, most importantly, after paying the musicians and venues, donates profits to music education programs.
PMF is a non-profit organization founded by a local husband and wife team, Greg and Jenn Seltzer. Greg produces the festival, including booking, curation, and operations, while Jenn handles merchandise, hospitality and accounting. After a string of headliners that included Japanese Breakfast, Mt. Joy, Alex G, Amos Lee and Waxahatchee, PMF returns in 2025 with a stellar and genre-diverse lineup. PMF estimates an annual economic impact of $600,000 on the Philadelphia music economy, including an annual donation to music education of $100,000. Tickets will be on sale at 10AM on May 16 via PhillyMusicFest.com and individual venues.
“I want PMF to annually be the best week of music in Philly,” says producer and founder Greg Seltzer. “PMF is a chance to not only see headliners treat the local audience to unimaginable underplays at small venues, but we annually feature a curated lineup of emerging bands that are poised to break-out.”
“For nearly a decade, Philly Music Fest has been a catalyst for supporting our local music scene,” says WXPN Midday host Mike Vasilikos. “It's an amazing week of live music and a celebration of independent venues, but it also drives our community together to help music and art thrive in Philly. And it gets better every year!”
PMF has again employed the “surprise” headliner for October 13 and October 14, both shows at Ardmore Music Hall. In 2022, the surprise headliner was Mt. Joy, playing Ardmore Music Hall for PMF after selling out the Mann Music Center (and later, Madison Square Garden). In 2024, Waxahatchee took the PMF stage at Ardmore Music Hall after two shows at the Fillmore (and a Grammy nomination). This year, the headliner for October 13 and October 14 at Ardmore Music Hall is simply labeled, “Stay Tuned.” According to Seltzer, “The surprise headliner is not ideal, but it’s also a luxury. As a nonprofit, we can pay national headliners to play smaller than typical rooms, which involves less risk for PMF and the venue, and we can also employ a strategy whereby we announce a show late, sometimes because the band is playing in market, and since we are a nonprofit without the demands of cash flow and profit - we can remain patient and ultimately deliver an incredible experience to our fans.” The “Stay Tuned” shows will go on sale after the headliner is announced in September.
October 15 at Johnny Brenda’s features headliner Greg Mendez with 22 Halo and Soup Dreams supporting. PMF will again uniquely utilize both stages at World Cafe Live on October 16, rotating from upstairs to downstairs and featuring a rare, special solo set by Matt Quinn. Grace Gardner, a recent import from the Austin, TX music scene, is direct support downstairs, while Black Buttafly and Archawah (from Mondo Cozmo) will perform on the upstairs stage.
The Wonder Years will headline two nights at Underground Arts on October 17 and October 18. “I’ve been trying to book The Wonder Years for each of the past five years, but honestly - the band got too big, as they played two nights at the Fillmore and could easily play much bigger rooms. The timing just worked this year and fortunately, the band and management just really ‘get it’ and recognize the work and mission of PMF.” Caracara and Kulfigirls will support on October 17, while Dryjacket, Golden Apples, and Public Works support on October 18.
“We are not the band we are without Philadelphia,” says The Wonder Years’ Dan Campbell. “Without the VFW halls in the suburbs. Without the basements in West Philly. Without the First Unitarian Church. We learned how to be a band here—all of the self-reliance, all of the grit, all of the we're-doing-it-with-you-or-without-you attitude. This entire region shaped us. If we had a soda like Shaq, the flavor would be Schuylkill water.”
Rather than adding additional nights, PMF is hosting multiple shows on each of October 18 and October 19. “We’ve received a lot of pressure to expand PMF. Musicians want opportunity, venues want to make some money and the music education programs want increased profit donations from PMF.” Rather than adding additional nights, though, PMF is hosting multiple shows on each of October 18 and October 19. “To be perfectly honest, Jenn wouldn’t let me add more nights, so my sneaky workaround is multiple shows on a single night.” Recognizing the relatively new East Falls independent venue, The Fallser Club, PMF will host American Idol finalist and star, Catie Turner, on October 18, with Chioke and The Lunar Year supporting.
PMF will finish a spectacular week of music on October 19 with two shows. As in prior years, PMF will feature a Jazz-focused show at Solar Myth, with Nazir Ebo headlining and Daniel Villareal (recent Chicago import) supporting. Finally, PMF will host a Metal-inspired lineup at Milkboy on Chestnut, also on October 19. “We listened to our fans, or at least our DMs”, says Seltzer. “Most of the comments we received are ‘thank you’ and ‘we had an amazing time’, but we also have been getting a bunch of ‘why don’t you book any Metal bands?” PMF has listened and Deadguy will headline with Lastima and ShyGodwin opening.
“As a Philly music devotee, watching Greg and Jenn grow this festival and its impact over the past eight years has been inspiring for me,” says WXPN’s Host of The Local Show, John Vettese. “Philly Music Fest went from a one-day, one-venue event, to nine shows at seven venues across a full week, showcasing everything from experimental jazz to DIY punk to hip-hop to modern rock and pop. When you talk about a city like Philadelphia that’s got such a rich music history and vibrant array of talent working in every genre, showcasing it in the biggest, broadest way imaginable is the way to go, and I admire that. PMF is so committed to taking that route. Not to mention its commitment to nurturing the next generation, raising much-needed funds for nonprofit music education programs across the city!”
Philly Music Fest started in 2017 at one venue (Strand of Oaks and Cayetana headlining at World Cafe Live). PMF has gradually expanded to a full week of shows featuring Philly musicians and now annually donates $100,000 to music education, after paying all musicians and venues. Despite receiving donations from several local businesses, both large and small, along with individual donors including Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, Mike Solomonov, Nick Elmi, Larry Magid and Connor Barwin, PMF maintains an intense hyper-local DIY spirit.
PMF maintains a strict policy of no corporate advertising or banners. Seltzer insists, “The focus must be on the musicians and the mission. Corporate and donor support is essential, and frankly - the engine of the business model - but when people attend a PMF show, I want them to be present and focus entirely on the musicians.”
In addition to supporting music education, PMF established a microgrant fund in 2020, initially deploying over 330 microgrants to musicians suffering as a result of COVID-19, but now utilized to assist musicians with healthcare issues, stolen gear and extreme financial distress. PMF also hosts Inside Hustle, a twice per year free music industry networking and information event, providing opportunity and access. The next Inside Hustle is October 13 at World Cafe Live, then October 18 at REC Philly.
Find Philly Music Fest Online:
Official: https://phillymusicfest.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PHLMusicFest/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillymusicfest
