Philly Music Fest Set For October Across 7 Days, 6 Venues

PHILADELPHIA — The Philly Music Festival is back for its seventh year and promises numerous shows over a week's time with plenty of local acts set to perform.

From Oct. 9 to Oct. 15, six venues in and around the city will host acts such as Kurt Vile and the Violators, Marian Hill, Charlie Hall, Schooly D, Mo Lowda & the Humble, Tigers Jaw, and many more.

Venues for this year's festival are World Café Live, Johnny Brenda’s, Ardmore Music Hall, Milkboy, Solar Myth, and Underground Arts.

A full schedule and lineup is below.

Tickets for all seven shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday online here.

Profits from the festival will be donated to music education programs to help foster the next generation of Philadelphia artists, after paying all artists and venues.

In 2022, after compensating the musicians and venues, Philly Music Fest donated $100,000 to local music education programs, including, Rock to the Future, Beyond the Bars, Musicopia, and Settlement Music School.

Including payments to musicians and venues, as well as the donation of profits, PMF estimates the aggregate annual economic impact of PMF to be approximately, $400,000.

"Sun Ra Arkestra blew my mind at Ardmore Music Hall shortly before the pandemic and I've been excited to play there ever since," Kurt Vile said. "It’s a thrill to be able to put two nights of shows together there: one with a Philly icon, Schoolly D, whose voice is just unbelievable, my favorite classic voice from Philly, so deep that it just cuts right through into your brain and soul. I can’t believe we get to play with Schoolly, he was the first person I requested actually… when I heard he agreed I definitely lost it a little bit. It’s just a Philly family affair all around, baby. See you all there in October, my people!"

Philly Music Fest worked directly with Vile to curate a lineup that reflects his passion, taste and dedication to Philadelphia.

Philly Music Fest features jazz, rock, hip hop, pop, punk, bluegrass, folk, and Americana artists from Grammy winning, national touring acts to emerging artists.

"There are a multitude of critical components in a successful music economy, including recording studios, independent venues, record labels, affordable housing and jobs in hospitality, but the epicenter must be incredible musicians and PMF is designed to support and highlight both our current musicians, while simultaneously focusing on music education for kids - as today’s kids are the next generation of Philly musicians," PMF producer, curator and founder, Greg Seltzer said. "In addition to the seven-night run of shows in October, PMF hosts music industry networking and information sessions throughout the year, in collaboration with WXPN, bringing in national experts to educate and assist Philadelphia grow a music industry (branded as 'Inside Hustle'). The next iteration of Inside Hustle will take place on October 14, 2023 at REC Philly."

"Both of us grew up singing in the chorus in our Philly area school and are forever indebted to the lessons we learned in that time - we're grateful for the opportunity to give back through Philly Music Fest and can't wait to be back home to play some of our favorite tunes!" Marian Hill’s Jeremy Lloyd and Samantha Gongo said.

In addition to the donations directed to music programs for kids, PMF deployed over 330 micro-grants in 2020 and 2021 to local musicians and venue staff struggling as a result of COVID-19.

"To the young artists and seasoned musicians of Philadelphia, our hometown is a very special place to burgeon — from Stan Getz, The Disco Biscuits, Teddy Pendergrass, yours truly Schoolly D, and everything in between," rapper Schoolly D said. "PMF is planting seeds for the next generations of talent that will change the world — cause that’s what we do, yo!"

Below is the festival schedule and lineup

Oct. 9 — Ardmore Music Hall

• Kurt Vile
• Schooly D
• Emily Robb

Oct. 10 — Ardmore Music Hall

• Kurt Vile
• Purling Hiss
• Florry

Oct. 11 — World Café Live

• Marian Hill
• Sadurn
• Trap Rabbit
• Ryan Gilfillian
• Julia Pratt
• Sophia Coran

Oct. 12 — Johnny Brenda's

• Tigers Jaw
• Yowler

Oct. 13 — Milkboy on Chestnut

• Mo Lowda & the Humble
• Grocer
• The Cheddar Boys
• Moustapha Noumbissi

Oct. 14 — Underground Arts

• Algernon Cadwallader
• Knifeplay
• Church Girls
• Huey, the Cosmonaut

Oct. 15 — Solar Myth

• Charlie Hall
• Chris Forsyth