The Dillinger Escape Plan will headline a show there on Oct. 15.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you think about metal bands in Philly \u2026 there\u2019s a common thread that runs through all of them,\u201d Seltzer said. \u201cThe North Star of those bands all seems to be The Dillinger Escape Plan.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s local roots run deep, already selling out Franklin Music Hall<\/a> less than two years ago. Bassist Liam Wilson is from Philadelphia, and much of the band\u2019s catalog was released through Upper Darby-based Relapse Records<\/a>, a cornerstone of the region\u2019s heavy music scene. Seltzer said it took some convincing to bring the band back for the festival, but \u201cthey hung in there with us.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \u201cAs they asked more questions about the festival and probably did a little homework on what is this thing, \u2018Is it true? Is it really a nonprofit? Does it really not take government funds? Are there really no corporate banners at this festival?\u2019 We checked a lot of boxes and they came back and they said they want to do it,\u201d Seltzer said.\n<\/p>\n Sweet Pill will headline another show at Underground Arts on Oct. 16.\n<\/p>\n The band released its sophomore album, \u201cStill There\u2019s a Glow,\u201d<\/a> just a few months ago. But a little more than a week into the supporting tour, the indie rock group canceled its remaining dates<\/a>, saying it needed time to \u201cregroup in order to give this record the tour it deserves.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Seltzer said Sweet Pill was the first band he reached out to about playing Philly Music Fest, but admitted he had to go back to the drawing board when the band halted their run of shows.\n<\/p>\n \u201cFortunately, everyone healed up, and it seems like everyone\u2019s doing well,\u201d Seltzer said. \u201cThey said, \u2018Hey, we want to do this Philly Music Fest show. We want this to be kind of our triumphant return to Philly.\u2019 Fortunately, we still had the date and we said, \u2018100%.\u2019\u201d\n<\/p>\n Another artist spanning the wide range of genres represented at the festival is RJD2, a hip-hop and electronic artist and producer performing a set at Milkboy<\/a> in Center City on Oct. 15. While RJD2 is not originally from the city, Seltzer said he represents acts similar to what the festival has booked in the past, like Waxahatchee<\/a>, who produced some of their most significant work thus far while living in Philly.\n<\/p>\n \u2018\u201cHey, you\u2019ve made great music here in Philly, and for a brief while you were one of us and you were connected to the city, and if you still feel that connection and you want to help us out with Philly Music Fest, we consider you a Philadelphian, and if you\u2019ll have us, come play this festival,\u2019\u201d Seltzer said. \u201cThat was kind of the pitch to RJD2 and it landed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Tickets for Philly Music Fest shows are on sale now<\/a>. The surprise headliner will be unveiled in August, and ticket sales for those shows will go live at a later date.\n <\/p>\n
\n![\"RJD2](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/RJD2.jpeg\")
RJD2 will headline an intimate performance at Milkboy on Oct. 15 alongside Solar Circuit and Angelo Outlaw. (Courtesy of Philly Music Fest).\n<\/p>\n