Philly Music Fest has announced it will return for its sixth annual event over the course of six nights in six venues across the City of Brotherly Love from Oct. 10 through 15. The event, which is organized by PMF a non-profit founded by local husband and wife team, Greg and Jenn Seltzer, is uniquely known for featuring artists who exclusively consider Philadelphia to be their home.

Venues participating in the 2022 event include World Café Live, Johnny Brenda’s, Ardmore Music Hall, Milkboy, REC Philly and Underground Arts. Philly Music Fest will feature artists across all genres and showcase rock, jazz, hip-hop, punk, bluegrass, folk, spoken word, Americana and more, they shared in a statement “Our genre is Philly.”

“Each year, Philly Music Fest presents a diverse lineup of artists from across the Philadelphia-region, mining and purposefully mixing genres such as Rock, Punk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Folk and Pop,” shared the festivals founder, curator and producer, Greg Seltzer.

Philly Music Festival will welcome Low Cut Connie, Mannequin Pussy, a “To Be Announced” surprise national headliner, Ron Gallo, Screaming Females, Shamir, Empath, Saleka, Electric Candlelight, Lady HD, Kayleigh Goldsworthy, Ghosh, Echo Kid, Max Swan, Stereo League, Marielle Kraft, Riverby, The Ire, Justmadnice and Perpetual Motion. In line with Seltzer’s sentiment, the groups and musical styles will be mixed during the event. World Cafe Live will see the Americana of Low Cut Connie, the indie rock and punk of Ron Gallo, the jazz with Perpetual Motion, Singer-Songwriter Kayleigh Goldsworthy and the dance-rock of Lady HD. In similar fashion, the lineup at Milkboy will pair Shamir with the indie rock of Echo Kid and Max Swan’s blend of jazz and R&B.

“It’s really cool to see how Philly Music Fest has grown,” said Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie who are returning to PMF as a headliner after playing a much smaller Philly Music Fest in 2018. “They are doing great work and I hope it continues. Music education gives kids a lifeline that they can cling to throughout their lives, and I am very happy to be participating in this festival and echo its mission.”

As is tradition, the festival organizers have put a lot of focus on not only welcoming national headliners but also focuses on emerging up-and-coming bands from Philadelphia. Jill Ryan of Great Time expanded on the positive impact of that intention: “Philly Music Fest was the first music festival Great Time ever played and it felt good to participate in something that’s purpose was to uplift fellow up-and-coming acts as well as more established artists.”

“Inspiring new generations of artists is what helps keep music and music scenes alive – the work that PMF is doing is so important to our community and to the people who have been unable to work and perform over the last two years,” added Mannequin Pussy’s Missy Dabice. “Philly is so lucky to have a festival that is so supportive of local talent.”

Philly Music Fest has continued to grow since its inception: in 2017 the non-profit donated $15,000 to music education programs; in 2018 the total increased to $25,000, then $40,000 in 2019, $50,000 in 2020 and $75,000 in 2021. PMF has now donated $275,000 to local music education programs and artists in need, after paying all venues and artists to perform at the festival. Beneficiaries include Rock to the Future, Girls Rock Philly, Settlement Music School, Musicopia, Beyond the Bars, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Live Connections, and Play on Philly. Along with the donations directed to music the non-profit gave over 330 micro-grants in 2020 and 2021 to aid musicians and venue staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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. “I love that PMF donates proceeds to support local organizations that provide music lessons and opportunities to kids in the area,” added Ryan. “And the fact that these shows take place in independently owned venues around the city is awesome.”

Learn more about Philly Music Fest Online here.