Leaps and Bounds Festival celebrates its 12th year with diverse live music across Yarra venues.
The beloved winter music festival returns to warm up Melbourne’s live music scene from 24-27 July, showcasing the bold and unexpected sounds of local artists across Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond.
Leaps and Bounds Festival draws inspiration from the diverse community of artists and DJs who live, work and create in Yarra, presenting four days of live shows, experimental pop-ups, day parties and club nights that celebrate truly local talent.
Leaps and Bounds Festival
- When: Thursday 24 July to Sunday 27 July
- Where: Various venues across Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond
- Cost: Mix of free and ticketed events
Check out our gig guide here.
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The festival kicks off on Thursday with PBS Outside Broadcast at The Railway Hotel in North Fitzroy, hosted by Melbourne legends Crispi and Ernie. The afternoon celebration features sets from Coda Chroma, Hexham Heads, Charlie Needs Braces, EllyMcK & The Unbelievers from 1pm to 5pm with free entry.
Jazz enthusiasts can catch the Alice Bisschops Quartet at Uptown Jazz Cafe, where the Naarm-based saxophonist presents Desmond-esque, a stylish interpretation of Paul Desmond and Jim Hall’s music. The night continues with Astral Flex, a jazz-electronica collective known for fully improvised performances.
Friday highlights include the Laikon Eorti Celebration at Odeon in Richmond, featuring rare 78 rpm recordings and live rebetika performances. The evening showcases Greek music and culture with Peter Stathopoulos sharing original recordings alongside live performances by Irine Vela and Anthea Sidiropoulos.
The festival also presents innovative collaborations, including the inaugural Kennel Fest – a two-venue takeover between Punters Club and The Evelyn. This I OH YOU partnership features The Lazy Eyes, Eggy, Rinse, Delivery, Enola, Sandy Dish and Bridget Small across multiple stages with free entry.
First Nations artists feature prominently throughout the program, with Canisha performing tracks from her debut EP Don’t Be Scared at Bodriggy Brewing, alongside Liv and the Dream, fronted by Arrernte artist Olivia Meg.
For more information, head here.
