Gregory Alan Isakov Brings Two Intimate Sets to Ardmore Music Hall

There’s a lot to love about Philly Music Fest. It brings together artists and fans alike in a celebration of Philadelphia’s music scene, raises money for local music organizations, and even hosts networking events in the form of Inside Hustle for creatives looking to break into the industry. For the crowd at Ardmore Music Hall on Monday and Tuesday, Philly Music Fest also offered the chance to see Gregory Alan Isakov in a small, intimate room, a rare opportunity given the larger venues he’s played this year.

Isakov’s recent Philadelphia appearances have included The Met and Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts, where he performed with the Philly Pops in August. Both venues are a long way off from Ardmore’s 600 cap venue, which was understandably sold-out on both days.

On Tuesday, Pennsylvania-raised singer-songwriter Madi Diaz warmed up the crowd with an entrancing solo set. Diaz has had a busy year, releasing her Blink-182 covers album Enema of the Garden State and an unplugged version of her 2025 album Fatal Optimist. Moody lighting suited the emotional weight of her songs, while her voice floated through the room. The crowd was relatively quiet at first, but grew more responsive as the set went on. By the end, Diaz had drawn the audience into her performance, warming up the room before Isakov took the stage. 

In contrast to Diaz’s acoustic set, Gregory Alan Isakov took the stage with five other musicians, filling Ardmore Music Hall with layered arrangements that define his sound. Strings, piano, guitars, drums, and steel guitar came together to create an immersive sound, with Isakov’s gentle voice cutting through it all.

One again, the lighting heightened the atmosphere. At times, the backlighting made the entire band appear to glow; at others, the band were drenched in deep blues and reds, casting long shadows across the stage.

Before “Good Grief,” the band seemed to disappear into the shadows, revealing a solo Isakov in the center of the stage. He was later joined by his brother, Ilan Isakov, playing a couple of songs as a duo. Both brothers grew up “just down the road,” shared Isakov, adding to the sense of local pride already present in the room. Throughout the night, Isakov moved comfortably between quieter, more intimate songs and sweeping full-band arrangements, with “Sweet Heat Lightning” bringing both sides together as it gradually built to a rousing finish.

During the encore, the entire band crowded around the mic stand in the middle of the stage, visibly enjoying themselves. It was a relaxed moment, bringing the night to a warm close. By the end of the show, I’m pretty sure everyone was two steps closer to the stage, understandably drawn into Isakov’s performance. 

Philly Music Festival continues all week, with more performances at independent venues around Philly. Check out XPN’s Concert Calendar to see the lineups and find more information.