Philly Music Fest Grows to Nine Shows, With Wonders Years Headlining

Philly Music Fest is returning this fall with an expanded lineup, growing from seven to nine shows across the city from Oct. 13–19. Now in its ninth year, the nonprofit festival — founded and produced by husband-and-wife team Greg and Jenn Seltzer — spotlights local talent while raising funds for Philadelphia-based music education charities. This year’s headliner is The Wonder Years, the acclaimed American rock band from nearby Lansdale.

The festival is held exclusively at independently owned venues throughout the city. Greg Seltzer oversees production, booking, curation, and overall operations, while Jenn Seltzer manages merchandise, hospitality, and accounting. Together, the couple estimates the festival generates an annual economic impact of approximately $600,000 for local venues, hotels, and restaurants.

“I want PMF to annually be the best week of music in Philly,” says 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.”

The festival includes a “surprise” headliner for the Oct. 13 and 14 shows at Ardmore Music Hall.

“The surprise headliner is not ideal, but it’s also a luxury,” he says. “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 Wonder Years will headline two nights at Underground Arts on Oct. 17 and 18. Setzer noted he’s been trying to book the local heroes for 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.”

Also participating in this year’s festival are Matt Quinn, Greg Mendez, Catie Turner, Deadguy, Nazir Ebo, Black Buttafly and more. Tickets go on sale here at 10 a.m. Eastern on May 16.