Just when you thought Naarm’s music scene was tucking itself away for winter, Leaps and Bounds comes bounding right back around.
There’s no question about what the City of Yarra is built upon. From the beating heart of Naarm’s inner north-east comes a vibration of contagious rhythm. Over four days this winter from 24 July to 27 July, Leaps and Bounds is celebrating the region’s musical history and thriving present in the best way it knows how: a bucketload of gigs.
Taking over more than 20 venues across Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond, Leaps and Bounds will showcasing the City of Yarra’s local venues, artists, businesses and music industry with performances for every kind of punter.
Leaps and Bounds
- Thursday 24 July to Sunday 27 July
- Over 60 acts across more than 20 venues in Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond
- Free events, live music and family-friendly parties
- More info here
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Bendigo Hotel’s metal club night
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The Bendigo Hotel is bringing something fresh to Leaps and Bounds with Eclipse: Metal Club Night. Venue owners Mirek Aldridge and Larissa Spijkerbosch explain: “This is our first year getting involved with Leaps and Bounds, and we’re really excited to be part of it. We’ve been part of the City of Yarra community for almost a decade through The Mill Brewery, but moving into the Bendigo Hotel last August marked a new chapter — especially stepping into the live music scene.”
They describe the event’s unique approach: “For Leaps and Bounds, we’re teaming up with Matt Thorburn from Black Oceans Media – a fantastic emerging promoter we love working with in Melbourne’s heavy music scene. Matt’s been building serious momentum with great events, and Eclipse: Metal Club Night is a perfect example, as a full-throttle metal DJ event that flips our usual bandroom experience on its head. We’ll have DJs spinning heavy anthems from 9pm to 3am.”
The venue’s connection to heavy music runs deep. “The Bendi has a long history with heavy and alternative music, it’s in the bones of the building. So doing something like Eclipse, which taps into that energy but gives it a fresh, club-style twist, just makes sense,” they note. “The DJs – ChunzTV’s Luke and Connor, DJ Slaytanix and DJ Julz – are all legends in the community and know exactly how to fire up a room. It’ll be a night that feels both nostalgic and totally new.”
Workers Club’s community focus
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At the Workers Club, venue booker Claire Moreton confirms: “This is our first time hosting an event as part of Leaps and Bounds.
“The Queer Shift is running on a Sunday afternoon with a mixed lineup of queer artists and DJs, which gives the whole thing a different feel. It’s not just another band night – it’s a chance to let the venue breathe in a new way,” Moreton explains. “The curation is entirely in the hands of a local queer promoter – Alex Morris (@therealbaemarie) – who we’ve partnered with, so it’s got its own distinct energy and voice, and we’re here to support that.”
She describes the festival’s community impact: “Leaps and Bounds gives us a chance to reach people who might not usually come to a standard Workers gig. Most of our shows are evening band room sets, so being able to program something a bit different – like a day-to-night, community-led event – helps shift the vibe and make the space feel more open and accessible. It’s a good excuse to show people a different side of the venue.”
When asked about preparation, Moreton notes: “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. We run live music every week, so the systems are already in place – we just adjust where needed to suit the event and support the promoter as best we can. In this case, Alex’s been the main person pulling everything together, so we’re just backing him however we can.”
On the venue’s City of Yarra character: “Walls that could tell some serious stories, solid parmas, a few Fitzroy Lions posters, and a band room that’s been through it – all sitting between the Fitzroy housing estate and Gertrude Street’s high-end wine bars. The mix of punters is always unexpected, and the music’s always live and local.”
Music to be discovered around every corner of Yarra
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The council-run festival is turning up the volume on local community connection with this four-day celebration that will pump life (and tunes) into a collection of the region’s pubs, clubs, bars and bandrooms.
What first began as a means of nurturing venues and the vital role they play in a thriving local music scene, Leaps and Bounds is now celebrating its 12th year of community creativity.
At the heart of Leaps and Bounds is a focus on not just maintaining the health of businesses and the artists they host, but also the plethora of music industry and adjacent players that contribute to Naarm’s vibrant scene. The community-curated festival program is born out of expertise from local venue bookers, promoters, record labels, and – of course – the punters that fill the rooms.
Across the four days of non-stop music and community activation, festival-goers can expect to discover a glimpse of Leaps and Bounds around almost every corner of the City of Yarra. With over 6o acts taking over the region, whether you’re planning to save a few dollars with a free entry gig to put toward a counter meal or you’re bringing the little ones along to a family-friendly party, you can bet there’s an event for you.
Read on for just a taste of what the festival has in store.
First Nations music showcase
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- With Canisha and Liv and the Dream, Poli-Pearl and WCHWY, Tjum Tjumba Collective and Fosters, Yarra and Art, Candice Lorrae and Pirritu and Kaytlyn Johnson
- Thursday 24 July to Sunday 27 July
- Free entry
- Bodriggy Brewing, Abbotsford
Bodriggy Brew Pub will be pumping the tunes for the entirety of the festival with a slew of incredible First Nations artists hitting the mic. These free shows will be spotlighting some of the strongest voices from First Nations artists coming up in the local music scene. Expect big beats, transcendental tunes and the brewery’s signature pumping atmosphere.
Kennel District
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- Friday 25 July
- The Evelyn and the Punters Club, Fitzroy
- Free entry
- More info here
Brunswick Street regulars – this show is for you. Music will be bursting from the seams and spilling out onto the streets as Leaps and Bounds takes over the area. The Punters Club and the Evelyn Hotel will be teaming up to host Kennel District – a free party of bands and DJs hosted by I Oh You and Calibre. Keep your eyes peeled for the forthcoming lineup – a little birdy tells us it’s going to be huge.
Roger Knox
- Sunday 27 July
- The Standard, Fitzroy
- Free entry
- More info here
Just around the corner, the iconic Standard Hotel is injecting a dose of rockabilly into its front bar. First Nations country music legend Roger Knox (AKA Blak Elvis) will have you tapping your toes and swaying in your seat at this free intimate show.
Queer Shift
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- With June Jones, Naycab, Lupa J, Dark Water, Tom Foolery, Bae Marie and Disco Rodeo Boot Scooting
- Sunday 27 July
- The Workers Club, Fitzroy
- Tickets here
Down the road on Gertrude Street, the Workers Club is hosting a day party like no other. What is shaping up to be the perfect way to begin a day of music before hitting up any of the other nearby venues, Queer Shift will be a party led by some of the local scene’s best trans and gender diverse DJs. Plus, the good folk from Disco Rodeo Boot Scooting will be setting fire to the day with a bootscootin’ hoedown to begin with. There’ll even be a dash of bingo to keep you entertained between beats.
Scorched Axis
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- With Jujulipps (Aotearoa/NZ), Cold/Heat, Arsam Samadi Bahrami & Sachin de Silva, Cloud Ice 9, Flossy, Rita Bass and Zipper
- Saturday 26 July
- The Grace Darling, Collingwood
- Tickets here
Down in Collingwood, Leaps and Bounds is taking over the entirety of the locally-beloved Grace Darling hotel. This bluestone icon of Smith Street will see Scorched Axis present a maze of club cubby-holes and cacophonies of sound. If you’re partial to a dash of electronic music, the Grace will be your one-stop-shop this festival.
Rocket Science
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- With The Hot Blood
- Saturday 26 July
- The Gem Bar, Collingwood
- Free entry
- More info here
Collingwood will also play host to loveable punksters Rocket Science for a rare free show at the gorgeous Gem. Expect a cauldron of sounds that cascade from psychedelic to garage, plus a heaping of art-punk filling the spaces in between.
Chesstivus
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- With Wrong Way Up (live), Adam Halliwell (live), Dj Possum and Acid Chess Club DJ’s
- Thursday 24 July
- Runner Up, Collingwood
- Free entry, tournaments are tickets
- More info here
Just a hop, skip and a jump down the road, Collingwood Yard’s Runner Up will be providing the grounds for spicy beats with some of the city’s best DJs. This isn’t any old gig at Runner Up, though. Chesstivus won’t just be providing the tunes – they’ll also be providing an arena for you to flaunt your best chess skills. Budding chess players can choose between a CHILL or HECTIC tournament, soundtracked by tunes all the while. Hosted by Acid Chess Club, this will be the group’s biggest tournament yet, so don’t miss out.
Anti Fade Records: Lazy Sunday
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- With Constant Mongrel, J. McFarlane’s Reality Guest, The Shifters, Dom Sensitive, The Judges and Blue Communications
- Saturday 26 July
- The Tote, Collingwood
- Tickets here
Neighbouring Collingwood icon the Tote will also be taking part in Leaps and Bounds’ party proceedings with an Anti Fade Records takeover for the history books. This epic gig of non-stop rock will be headlined by Constant Mongrel. Expect local legends – like J. McFarlane’s Reality Guest and The Shifters – and out of town superstars – like Yartapuulti/Port Adelaide’s Dom Sensitive.
Tracey Miller Band and Friends
- Thursday 24 July
- Corner Hotel, Richmond
- Free entry
- More info here
Richmond isn’t missing out on the fun either. The inner-city’s home of music will see the Corner Hotel host a free cosy show for Yarra’s Aged Care and Disability home residents. The much-admired Tracey Miller Band and Friends will perform an afternoon of jazz classics and gospel music.
For more information and the full program for Leaps and Bounds, head here.
