Festival Focus: Philly Music Fest, Philly Folk and more roll out 2025 lineups

(UPDATE 5/16: Since this article was published, Dave P’s annual Making Time ∞ weekend at Fort Mifflin was announced, and has been added to this list.)

With the announcement of Philly Music Fest’s initial lineup for 2025, the concert landscape over the next six months has begun to firm up – especially when it comes to locally-curated festivals. Stand-alone shows are wonderful and all, but nothing brings a community of music lovers together like a full-day (or multi-day) event, packed wall to wall with talent. (Case in point: our very own XPoNential Music Festival, which happens this year from September 19th through the 21st and features Sharon Van Etten, Courtney Barnett, War, Soccer Mommy and more. Tickets and information here.)

Beyond XPNFest, the 2025 calendar is full of festivals all around Philly, whatever your musical leanings might be. Check out a rundown of highlights below, beginning with the recent PMF announcement and working our way back from there.

Philly Music Fest

When: October 13 – October 19

Where: Seven venues around the city

The Rundown: For the eighth in-person edition of Philly Music Festival (ninth edition overall if you count the LIVEstream pandemic edition), founders Greg and Jenn Seltzer culled a heavy-hitting lineup that features two nights of post-emo heroes The Wonder Years at Underground Arts, critically acclaimed indie-folk singer-songwriter Greg Mendez at Johnny Brenda’s, and modern rock troubadour Matt Quinn of Mt. Joy playing a solo set at World Cafe Live. The undercard has exciting names as well, like indie folker Grace Gardner at World Cafe Live and Carnatic rockers Kulfi Girls supporting one of The Wonder Years’ shows. New additions this year feature a night at East Falls’ much-loved venue The Fallser Club starring Langhorne native and American Idol contestant Catie Turner, and a metal night at MilkBoy hadlined by New Brunswick, NJ’s Deadguy. Keep your eyes and ears open, too, since there is once again a TBA headliner opening the festival at Ardmore Music Hall for two nights, with no openers, that will be announced later in the year.  

More Info: phillymusicfest.com

Making Time ∞

When: September 19 – September 21

Where: Fort Mifflin

The Rundown: It happens the same days as the XPoNential Music Festival, but should you wish to have a heady pre-game or afterparty for our own weekend on the Delaware River — or should you wish to experience a Bizarro World XPoNential — look no further than the 2025 edition of Making Time ∞ at Fort Mifflin. Curated by veteran Philly party promoter Dave P (one of the first people to put artists like The Strokes, Chromatics, and LCD Soundsystem onstage in Philly) the event is a multi-sensory happening, with art installations and bright visualizers set up all around Southwest Philadelphia’s Fort Mifflin. For 72 non-stop hours, an array of electronic and experimental artists set atmospheric vibes, and bring the dance party as well. The big name at the top of the bill is the legendary soundscaper Kieran Miles David Hebden, aka Four Tet, but as you peruse the 120+ artist lineup, there’s a lot to be excited about for WXPN fans and Philly music fans: Panda Bear of Animal Collective fame, a set from Marshall Allen of Sun Ra Arkestra and his band Ghost Horizions, renowned Philly-rooted harpist Mary Lattimore, acclaimed poet and producer Moor Mother, rising DJ JEWELSSEA, legendary Philly no-wavers Crash Course in Science and so, so much more.

More Info: makingtimeisrad.com

Philadelphia Folk Festival

When: August 15 – August 17

Where: Old Pool Farm, Schwenksville, PA

The Rundown: For their 62nd year, Philly Folk returns to its roots and leans into the hard-working troubadours who have been the bread and butter of the folk circuit for the past 30+ years: John Gorka, Solas, SONiA of disappear fear, David Jacobs-Strain, and John Flynn. As always, the weekend-long gathering of the tribes draws heavily on the local scene, and in that sense, you don’t want to miss Brittany Ann Tranbaugh (who was a hit at XPoNential last year), Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise, and Max Davey as they make their rounds at Old Pool Farm.

More Info: folkfest.org

Robin & Beth Fest

When: July 31 – August 2

Where: Peaceful Woods Campground, Blakeslee, PA

The Rundown: A sort of younger cousin of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Robin & Beth Fest was founded by a bunch of Philly Folk campground regulars who wanted to have their own warmup gig / friend get-together a few weekends in advance. It’s blossomed over the years into its own thriving event that this year features festival founder Hezekiah Jones, witty rock troubadour Don McCloskey, former XPN-er Heather Hurlock, the Lehigh Valley’s Free Range Folk, the very fun Flying Vees (featuring Hannah Taylor of Cosmic Guilt), and more.

More Info: peacefulwoodlands.com/rbfest.html

Wawa Welcome America Festival

When: July 4(and the weeks leading up to it)

Where: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway (and surrounding area)

The Rundown: Everybody knows Philly throws a free concert on the 4th of July, and this year’s is no slouch: local R&B / hip-hop star Jazmine Sullivan headlines the Benjamin Franklin Parkway alongside rap icon L.L. Cool J. The clock is ticking down to that main event, but what you might not know is the city offers a full week of programming leading up to the main event, beginning June 23^rd and offering an array of educational, family-friendly, and cross-genre programming for the whole family.

More Info: july4thphilly.com

Sweet Juice Fest

When: June 28

Where: Awbury Arboretum

The Rundown:  Nestled uptown just footsteps from SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill East line, Sweet Juice Fest is now in its fourth year of putting together community-minded, activism-oriented, LGBTQIA+-centered lineups to kick off the summer in the pastoral northwest section of the city. Sweet Juice just announced this year’s headliners, revered indie rockers Speedy Ortiz, who will join Sovei, Kulfi Girls, Shygodwin and an array of performance artists and local vendors.

More Info: @sweetjuicefest

Beardfest

When: June 26 – June 30

Where: Paradise Lakes Campground, Hammonton, NJ

The Rundown: Originally conceived in 2014 as a bucloic getaway for fans of the fusion rock outfit Out of The Beardspace, this early summer event has become more eclectic and adventurous with each lineup since. This year’s five-day bill includes performances from 32 artists, including Philly funk favorites SNACKTIME, Lancaster indie adventurer Spilly Cave, glammed-up new wavers Gloss, modern rock powerhouse Koser, and folksinger Sug Daniels.

More Info: beardfest.net

Wayne Music Fest

When: June 7

Where: Downtown Wayne

The Rundown: Another local music festival with remarkable proximity to public transportation, the annual Wayne Music Fest – a free concert that takes over the Main Line destination for an afternoon – is mere footsteps from the local regional rail stop on the Downintown line. Picture it: you step off the train, and see area jam band Fat Mezz is ripping a set right up the way. Co-curated by the folks at 118 North and Rising Sun Presents, the 2025 Wayne Music Fest stars Central Pennsylvania jangle-poppers The Ocean Blue, raw blues rock ripper Black Joe Lewis, celebrated indie dreamscapers Wild Pink, singer-songwriter Marielle Kraft, and more.

More Info: waynemusicfestival.com

Roots Picnic

When: May 31 – June 1

Where: Mann Center for the Performing Arts

The Rundown: For fans of Philly hip-hop and R&B, the annual Roots Picnic signifies the official start of summer. This year, Questlove and his team have curated a thrilling lineup that finds them performing their sophomore album Do You Want More?!!!??! in full for its 30th anniversary AND backing a rare live set from soulquarian icon D’Angelo. Alt rocker Lenny Kravitz plays too, as does Philly rap icon Meek Mill, Memphis star Glorilla, and an undercard full of adventure, like rising Philly-rooted names Lay Bankz and Leeyuh Neptune, and veterans CeCe Peniston and Crystal Waters doing a Black house music set.

More Info: therootspicnic.com

Ladybug Music Festival

When: May 30

Where: Downtown Wilmington

The Rundown: Since 2012, this femme-forward event has taken over Wilmington every spring with a cross-genre array of talent. For Ladybug Music Festival 2025, the organizers at Gable Music Ventures have tapped XPN favorite indie rocker Margaret Glaspy to headline a bill that features jazz artists like Chelsea Reed & The Fair Weather Band, honky-tonk country from Roberta Faceplant, folk from Meghan Cary, and so much more.

More Info: theladybugfestival.com

Brain Fest

When: May 18

Where: Fringe Bar

The Rundown: Organized every year by rock scene singer-songwriter Erin Fox, Brainfest is a high-octane all-ages fundraiser for the American Brain Tumor Association. Fox and her band The Hounds play, as does the psychedelicized Adventure Lost, the hard-hitting Alright Junior, singer-songwriter Annalise Curtin and more.

More Info: give.abta.org/brainfest