Philadelphia collective SNACKTIME added another major moment to an already packed 2026 calendar, joining Mt. Joy onstage at New York City’s Madison Square Garden last Thursday. The appearance followed the band’s recent stop in Toronto, where SNACKTIME also opened for and performed alongside Mt. Joy, with the two acts set to reunite once again September 25 at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey.
For SNACKTIME, the Madison Square Garden appearance was another chapter in a growing relationship with Mt. Joy that began after the artists connected at Newport Folk Festival in 2025. What started through their shared Philadelphia roots has since developed into a friendship and recurring musical collaboration, with SNACKTIME previously joining Mt. Joy at the band’s Philadelphia show at the Mann Center.
Reflecting on the experience, SNACKTIME described the opportunity as an inspiring reminder of the kind of connection they hope to create through their own music. After experiencing Mt. Joy’s audiences in Toronto, the group said stepping onto the stage at MSG felt like an entirely different level, leaving them energized and eager to bring that same spirit back to their own performances.
The group’s New York appearance came during a particularly busy night. SNACKTIME was already on the road with Devon Gilfillian, performing with him at Brooklyn’s The Sultan Room earlier that evening before making their way to Manhattan for the Madison Square Garden collaboration.
The latest achievement arrives as SNACKTIME enters a new phase of their career following the release of “Can’t Imagine Why You’d Stay.” Released through Thirty Tigers, the song marks the band’s first release with the label and serves as an early introduction to their forthcoming debut album, expected in 2027.
Produced and mixed by Justin Lucas and mastered by Chris Gehringer, the track blends the band’s vibrant brass arrangements with rhythmic production, guitar accents, and the soulful vocals of Nico Bryant. Despite its bright musical character, the song carries a more reflective emotional core, eventually building toward an expansive, hook-heavy finish.
SNACKTIME’s 2026 schedule has been filled with collaborations and increasingly prominent stages. At this year’s Newport Folk Festival, the band shared the stage with Ms. Lauryn Hill and joined performances featuring artists including Mt. Joy’s Matt Quinn, Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers, The Barr Brothers, Gilfillian, and Trousdale. During their own Newport performance, SNACKTIME also brought Gilfillian, Trousdale, and Louis Cato into the set.
The band also made its Lollapalooza debut this summer following its first headlining tour earlier in the year, adding another major festival appearance to a rapidly expanding live résumé.
That momentum continues throughout the fall as SNACKTIME tours with Gilfillian, with upcoming performances scheduled across Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, followed by a November return to New York City for a performance at Sony Hall.
SNACKTIME’s story began with free performances in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square during the summer of 2020. Since then, the collective has transformed those street performances into an increasingly visible national career, appearing at Boston Calling and Roots Picnic, touring with Fitz and the Tantrums, serving as the house band for ESPN’s They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce, receiving a 2026 Libera Awards nomination for Self-Released Record of the Year, and earning a place on the National Independent Venue Association’s NIVA Live List.
At the center of it all is a sound that refuses to stay in one lane. SNACKTIME pulls together soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, rock, punk, and R&B, creating a live experience built around spontaneity and collaboration. Their recent appearances with artists such as Mt. Joy and Ms. Lauryn Hill demonstrate the band’s ability to step into different musical worlds while maintaining their own distinct identity.
With a debut album on the horizon and a growing list of major stages already behind them, SNACKTIME’s Madison Square Garden appearance represents another significant stop in a year defined by movement, collaboration, and an increasingly ambitious live presence.
Catch SNACKTIME on the Tour
9/25 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion $
10/06 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile +
10/07 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios +
10/09 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent +
10/10 – W. Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy Theatre +
11/11 – New York, NY @ Sony Hall +
$Shows with Mt. Joy
+Shows with Devon Gilfillian
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