The annual Philly Music Fest is back for its sixth edition, and touching down at six venues over six nights this October, and if that numerical coincidence isn’t enough to make you raise your hands in some rock and roll devil horns, get a load of this lineup.
Retro rockers Low Cut Connie will headline World Cafe Live with groove-oriented rockers Lady HD, garage soothsayer Ron Gallo, DIY scene singer-songwriter Kayleigh Goldsworthy, and jam outfit Perpetual Motion. A rager of a night takes place at Johnny Brenda’s with New Jersey rock heroes Screaming Females, Philly electro-rap-hardcore duo GHÖSH, and goth-punk four piece The Ire. The ever-eclectic Shamir plays MilkBoy with psychedelphonic outfit Echo Kid and sax-playing electropop band leader Max Swan. Celebrated punk outfit Mannequin Pussy tops a bill at Underground Arts with trippy indie four-piece Empath, emotive rockers Riverby, and cosmic folk-jazz singer-songwriter Justmadnice.
All this plus two nights at Armore Music Hall with a surprise headliner — the undercard there features confessional R&B artist Saleka and singer-songwriter Marielle Kraft, a University of Delaware grad based in Nashville, as well as classic rockers Electric Candlelight and modern rockers Stereo League — and a late night Friday gig at REC Philly, the lineup of which is still TBA.
In a press release, Mannequin Pussy’s Marisa Dabice says that Philly is so lucky to have a festival that supports and nurtures local talent. “Inspiring new generations of artists is what helps keep music and music scenes alive,” Dabice says. “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.”
Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner concurs, adding “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.”
In the wake of last year’s event, Philly Music Fest donated $75,000, much of it going to a variety of music education nonprofits — Rock To The Future, Musicopia, and Girls Rock among them — with some also fueling PMF’s micro-grant program supporting local musicians in need. Founder and organizer Greg Seltzer says he hopes to donate $100,000 this year. “The ethos of Philly Music Fest is to help,” he tells us. “To help musicians, to help independent venues and venue staff, and to help children by providing access to music education. We love that our audience focuses on the music, and they absolutely should focus on the incredible music at Philly Music Fest, but please don’t forget the mission – we must support our local musicians, our venues and the next generation of Philly bands.”
Shamir says he did not grow up with music education programs at his disposal. “I was actually an anomaly in my middle school for being able to play guitar because I taught myself. … My reality shouldn’t be the norm so anytime I can help change that, I will!”
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 15th at 10 a.m., more information can be found at PhillyMusicFest.com. Take a look at the full festival poster below, and listen to music from some of our favorite bands in the mix.
