Phyoe Thaung
Oct 1, 2026
Following the release of his latest album and a late-night television debut, Nick Carpenter heads to Theatre of Living Arts on October 6 for a night of new music and fan favorites.
Singer-songwriter Medium Build, the musical project of Nick Carpenter, is bringing his King of Having Fun headline tour to Philadelphia on October 6, performing at the Theatre of Living Arts with support from Ken Yates.
The upcoming show follows the release of Carpenter's latest album, King of Having Fun, a 14-track record released through slowplay/Island Records. Blending indie rock, country, and alternative influences, the album finds Carpenter expanding his sound while continuing to explore the personal songwriting that has become central to his music.
Photos by Beth Garrabrant. Courtesy of Sacks & Co.
The Philadelphia date arrives just two days after the tour kicks off in Washington, D.C., making it one of the first opportunities for fans to hear the new material performed during Carpenter's latest headlining run.
Carpenter has already had a busy year leading up to the tour.
On September 15, he made his late-night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing “Home Depot,” one of the singles from King of Having Fun. The appearance followed a summer that included opening dates with Mumford & Sons, a performance at Newport Folk Festival, and his debut at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry as part of its 100th-anniversary celebration.
For King of Having Fun, Carpenter returned to the studio with longtime friends and collaborators, including musical director Paul Rogers, engineer Jimmy Mansfield, and Jake LiBassi, also known as Laiko. Much of the album was recorded live in the studio, with the musicians approaching the songs as material intended to translate to larger concert settings.
That approach is particularly noticeable in the album's instrumentation. Songs such as “Armor,” “In My Gut,” and “Home Depot” bring together guitar-driven arrangements and Carpenter's emotionally direct vocals, while the broader record moves between different sounds without abandoning his distinctive songwriting style.
The album also reflects a more personal period in Carpenter's life, with songs addressing relationships, family, and the changes that have come with his career.
“This album has a genuine love song for my partner and a genuine love song for my mom,” Carpenter said in a statement accompanying the release. “I got all my favorite people in a room and we had fun. It’s a celebration of life.”
Since launching Medium Build in 2015, Carpenter has developed a catalog that moves between stripped-back songwriting and fuller, band-driven arrangements. His previous album, Country, arrived in 2024, and his growing touring schedule has included performances alongside Role Model, Tyler Childers, FINNEAS, and Holly Humberstone.
The upcoming Philadelphia show will bring that catalog together with the new album, giving fans an early look at how King of Having Fun translates to the stage. With the record's live-in-studio approach already shaping its sound, the headline tour offers an opportunity to hear those arrangements outside the recording environment.
Canadian singer-songwriter Ken Yates will open the October 6 performance. Yates joins Medium Build for the opening stretch of the tour, which also includes Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Asbury Park, New York City, and Cambridge.
Medium Build's King of Having Fun tour continues across North America through November, with stops in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Nashville.
Medium Build performs at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. For tickets and additional tour information, visit mediumbuildmusic.com.