When Greg and Jenn Seltzer created Philadelphia Music Fest, the married couple might have thought they were keeping something low-key.
Now in its 10th year, it’s become a music explosion doing incredible things for the local music scene.
“PMF started small at one venue in 2017 and has grown slow and smart to nine shows over seven nights each October,” says Greg Seltzer, founder and producer of Philly Music Fest. “The success and longevity of PMF is the consequence of unwavering adherence to our mission – supporting local musicians and independently owned venues, then donating the profits to music education programs rather than a corporation’s bottom line.”
That’s the key.
As wildly popular as Philadelphia Music Fest has become, it hasn’t forgotten its roots. The festival aims to keep the big businesses out while helping local musicians and venues thrive.
It could have gone bigger.
It only went better.
Instead of moving the festival to a large stadium to accommodate its popularity, it spread out the show to feature 25 bands at nine shows over seven nights at six different venues.
“We don’t measure success by size, we measure success by impact,” Seltzer said. “And the math suggests that our biggest impact for artists, venues and kids is to stick with nine club shows instead of a large footprint festival, stay lean on costs, and do as much of the work ourselves.”
Over the years, PMF has hosted more than 170 bands connected to Philly and donated in excess of $600,000 to music education programs for kids. They quickly found out, many more genres of music wanted to be a part of it.
“We could not be more thrilled with the diversity of this year’s lineup,” he said. “After our DMs and inboxes were flooded with requests to introduce metal into PMF, we hosted Horrendous at Milkboy last year. This year, we’re expanding our foray and featuring the Dillinger Escape Plan at Underground Arts.”
Underground Arts on Callowhill Street will be a major player at the forefront of the festival, hosting three nights of shows in the middle of the festival. It will host Dillinger Escape Plan, Pyrrhon and Caged on Oct. 15. A second show at UA on Oct. 16 will host Sweet Pill, Remember Sports, Wax Jaw and Midfield. A third night on Oct. 17 will see Marietta, Euphoria Again, Bleary Eyed and Máty.
“We had historically hosted punk shows at Underground Arts, but in recent years, we switched it up, featuring Matt Quinn from Mt. Joy and Devon Gilfillian, but this year, we’re veering back to punk with Sweet Pill making a triumphant return to the stage after canceling a string of tour dates following the release of their breakthrough album,” Seltzer said. “The following night, Marietta will headline.”
Before Underground Arts takes center stage, Ardmore Music Hall takes the spotlight as the festival opens on Oct. 12 with a surprise headliner and Caiola — the solo folk-rock project of songwriter, musician and producer Jordan Caiola, founder of Philly indie rock group Mo Lowda & The Humble.
“Such an honor to be part of this festival with both Mo Lowda & The Humble and my solo project Caiola,” said Jordan Caiola. “Opening for a hero of mine — one of my favorite artists who will be announced this summer — is a tremendous bonus. That will be a special night. It is always a pleasure to be asked to contribute to a great cause and represent this city’s incredible music scene.”
On Oct. 13, Madi Diaz will also open for a surprise headliner at Ardmore Music Hall. The mystery performer has become a tradition over the years with past surprises having included Dr. Dog, Mt. Joy and Waxahatchee.
On Oct. 14, the festival shifts to Johnny Brenda’s on Frankford Avenue for Mo Lowda & the Humble, Noah Richardson and Clover Stieve.
Milkboy will host RJD2, Solar Circuit and Angelo Outlaw Trio on Oct. 15 and the Fallser Club will feature Owen Stewart, Nik Greeley and the Operators, Sug Daniels and Roberta Faceplant on Oct. 16.
The festival wraps up in South Philly at Solar Myth at 1131 S. Broad St. with a show by Immanuel Wilkins.
“The 2026 edition of PMF will wrap at Solar Myth for our annual Jazz Night,” Seltzer said. “We toyed with a Philly 250 theme, and then thought about a Coltrane 100th Birthday theme. But ultimately, I felt the best way to honor Philly 250 and honor Coltrane is to feature the best young saxophone player on the planet, Immanuel Wilkins. He’s 28 years old, from Upper Darby and absolutely incredible.”
Philadelphia Music Fest’s kickback to the community not only includes great musical performances. After paying all artists fairly and covering expenses of the independent venues, profits from PMF are donated to music education programs for kids in the city as a way to ensure the next generation of local musicians. Over the past decade, PMF has donated over $600,000 to various area programs.
Its 10th birthday will keep that strong tradition going. “Happy 10th Anniversary Philly Music Fest,” said WXPN midday host/Operations Manager Mike Vasilikos. “It’s been a decade of supporting the Philly music scene, but the groundwork PMF has laid inspires a vibrancy that will last for years to come.” ••
