Philly Music Fest 2025: Local Talent, Surprise Headliners and a Mission to Give Back

If live music is your religion, Philly Music Fest is your holy week. Returning for its ninth year, the annual event is bringing the city’s music scene to life like never before. With seven nights, nine shows and 22 local acts, PMF 2025 is poised to be a game-changer, featuring an eclectic mix of genres and some surprise headliners that fans won’t see coming.

But it’s not just about the music. The festival’s core mission is to support Philly’s music education programs, donating more than $100,000 annually to help provide resources for the next generation of local musicians.

A Stellar Lineup — and Surprises You Won’t Want to Miss

PMF 2025 is keeping details under wraps, especially when it comes to its mystery headliners. The festival’s opening nights, Oct. 13 and 14, will feature surprise acts at Ardmore Music Hall, continuing the beloved tradition of secret sets that have included surprise appearances by Mt. Joy and Waxahatchee in years past.

“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.” says Seltzer.

Tickets for these shows won’t be available until September, when the headliners are finally revealed, but anyone who’s attended PMF in the past knows this is an experience worth the anticipation.

Spotlight on Philly’s Best

While the surprise headliners bring a bit of mystery to the table, it’s the local talent that really steals the show. This year’s lineup includes some of Philly’s most exciting acts, from indie rock to punk to singer-songwriter gems.

On Oct. 15, Greg Mendez will headline Johnny Brenda’s, with 22 Halo and Soup Dreams opening. The following night, Matt Quinn of Mt. Joy will perform a rare solo set at World Cafe Live, with Grace Gardner and Black Buttafly also on the bill.

Perhaps the biggest draw is the two-night run of The Wonder Years at Underground Arts on Oct. 17 and 18. Fans will get the chance to see the band in a more intimate setting, a stark contrast to their usual massive venue shows. Dan Campbell, the band’s frontman, reflected on what these smaller shows mean to the group.

“We wouldn’t be who we are without Philadelphia,” Campbell said. “We’re coming back to play for the community that helped shape us.”

Support acts for The Wonder Years include Caracara, Kulfigirls, Dryjacket, Golden Apples and Public Works.

New Venues and More Diverse Sounds

This year, PMF is expanding its reach, bringing the festival to new venues across the city. On Oct. 18, the Fallser Club in East Falls will host Catie Turner (a local pop artist and American Idol finalist) along with Chioke and The Lunar Year.

Oct. 19 will see two very different performances wrapping up the festival: a jazz night at Solar Myth featuring Nazir Ebo and Daniel Villareal, and a metal night at MilkBoy on Chestnut, with Deadguy, Lastima and ShyGodwin.

“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?” , said Seltzer

Since its inception in 2017, Philly Music Fest has become more than just a celebration of local music — it’s a vital part of Philly’s cultural and economic ecosystem. In addition to raising more than $100,000 annually for local music education programs, PMF has contributed an estimated $600,000 in local economic impact in 2024 alone.

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.”

The festival is also committed to providing resources for aspiring industry professionals through Inside Hustle, a free networking and career-building event. Taking place on May 13 and again on Oct. 18 at REC Philly, the event connects artists and industry pros to share advice and guidance.

Tickets and Details

Tickets for Philly Music Fest 2025 go on sale Thursday, May 16 at 10 a.m. via the festival’s official website, phillymusicfest.com. Surprise headliner tickets will be available in September, once the mystery acts are revealed.

Whether you’re a die-hard local music fan or a newcomer looking to discover Philly’s hidden gems, PMF 2025 promises to deliver one of the most unforgettable weeks of music this city has ever seen.