Leaps and Bounds Music Festival takes over City of Yarra for nine event-filled days this July – it’s a bit of a Lion King ‘everything the light touches’ sorta vibe – and this year the light is touching down on some amazing venues, where killer shows will be going down. Here are a few of the best you can’t miss.
A huge After Party going down
After Party is a live music showcase highlighting some of Melbourne’s most exciting new talent. Where there might be a gap between performer and crowdmember, After Party seeks to bridge that separation with a fully inclusive event in an intimate setting. There is a focus on creating relationships and fostering connections so attendees feel as though they are more connected to the music. The event goes down at Abbotsford Convent on Saturday July 6 and features performances from Pookie, Ijale, Rara Zulu and Daniel Elia.
Piss Factory launch their new EP
Melbourne DIY punks Piss Factory are launching their brand new four-track EP Simplify at The Burrow in Fitzroy. The arts space will reverberate with the chimes of underground punk and gothic-electro as the likes of V, Cystic Nightmare and Burger Chef assume the support slots. Piss Factory’s shows are wild and energetic – perfectly encapsulating the punk of short, fast, and loud. Catch their first show of the year at The Burrow on Friday July 5.
A rockin’ fundraiser
Girls Rock! Melbourne, in all their awesomeness, are hosting one hell of an all ages extravaganza at The Tote to raise funds for their next camp in September. Girls Rock! aims to empower female, trans, and gender diverse youths in the music industry through positive mentorship and music education. The stellar lineup performer includes A+, Carpet Burn, Kee’ahn, Ruby Gill, Thibault, and tonnes more. It’s going down on Sunday July 7.
Queering the Pitch: Second Outing
Marking the show’s second year, Queering the Pitch is back. This year’s show has been curated by Melbourne’s very own gender transcendent diva and jazz aficionado, Mama Alto, and it promises to showcase the power of music. The artists ranges from soul singers to punk guitarists, and everything in between. It’s on for two nights over the festival, and you can head along either Friday July 5 or Saturday July 6 at Hares & Hyenas.
A hip hop, neo-soul spectacular
If you live and breathe everything hip hop, neo-soul, electronic and R&B, you can’t miss Oscillate at The Gaso. Let yourself oscillate to the music of MzUki (fka Serenity Uki), NIASHA, KYE, BBY.B (Nuestro Planeta) and SojuGang who will bringing the party on a school night. Headliner MzUki has quickly found her place on the hip hop scene and has curated a special set for the occasion. Oscillate goes down on Wednesday July 10.
Can you lip sync?
Yah Yah’s weekly Thursgays are well known for their trash-glam game Lip Sync for Your Pint, but thanks to Leaps and Bounds this game is about to get bigger and badder with one person – or team – having the opportunity to take home $1000. It started Thursgay June 13 and on Thursday July 11, Yah Yah’s will host the grand finale emceed by Karen from Finance. Each team will be given a score out of ten by two guest judges while actor extraordinaire Ash Flanders will also give the contestants a score based on the crowd’s cheer response.
An African music experience
Afro Hub and Abbotsford Convent present Melbourne African Traditional Ensemble – or M.A.T.E – supported by DJ Eva Lubulwa. M.A.T.E is a quartet playing traditional instruments with a pan African sound established by PBS 106.7FM presenter Stani Goma. This will be the cheapest ticket to Africa you’ve ever bought. You can check out this amazing event on Saturday July 13.
Dream-pop at The Tramway
The Byron Bay native and member of Melbourne outfit Sunbeam Sound Machine, Sophie Treloar presents her solo project, POPPONGENE. Her sound is devotional dream-pop, which she brings to you a few minutes at a time. POPPONGENE’s debut single ‘Do It Girl’ was well received, and her music has been described as “lush pop at its most tranquil”. POPPONGENE, with support from Ruby Whiting, plays The Tramway on Sunday July 14.
Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is happening from Thursday July 5 to Sunday July 14. Head to leapsandboundsmusicfestival.com for more info and tickets.
