Leaps And Bounds Festival 2025

City of Yarra’s annual winter music festival is back for another year, transforming pubs, clubs, bars and band rooms across the city into a vibrant celebration of live music, performance and community connection.

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival returns as one of Yarra’s most beloved annual events – attracting locals and visitors alike to listen, dance and be inspired by the musical talent and creativity in our community.

“At a time when the industry is doing it tough, we’re proud to back our live music venues, artists and workers through a community-curated festival that champions Yarra’s live music scene” Mayor Stephen Jolly said.

“There are more than 20 venues participating this year, boosting our local economy and reinvigorating our city over the winter months”

In the spirit of the melting pot of the artists and DJs that live, work and create in Yarra, this eclectic and unique tapestry of live shows, experimental pop-ups, and club nights will take over venues across Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond from Thursday 24 July to Sunday July 27

Ensuring that the festival reflects the beating heart of our live music venues, Leaps and Bounds presents a community-curated festival program assembled from the ideas and legendary expertise of local venue bookers, promoters and record labels.

Highlights include:

The much vaunted return of legendary Punters Club, a true icon of Melbourne’s live music legacy who will be hosting Kennel District (presented by I Oh You and Calibre) as well as spilling out across the road to The Evelyn Hotel
Rocket science at The Gem Bar and Dining.
Roger Knox (AKA Blak Elvis) – a true legend of Australian country music and respected First Nations trailblazer playing an intimate show at the Standard Hotel in Fitzroy.
A multi-floor distortion of space and sound at The Grace Darling – from post-club haze to dub-drenched noise, outsider electronics and ambient soundscapes, presented by Scorched Axis.
Chesstivus – a chess tournament soundtracked by Naarm’s hottest DJs at Runner Up Rooftop Bar
Queer Shift at The Workers Club – led by trans and gender diverse DJs.
4 fully-stacked days and nights of First Nations programming at the Bodriggy Brew Pub, featuring Candice Lorrae, Poli-Pearl, WVCHWY, Kanisha, Liv And The Dreams Art, Fosters and Tjum Tjumba Collective.
Tracey Miller Band and friends – an afternoon at The Corner Hotel designed for our older community members and those with disabilities, featuring jazz classics and gospel music in a throwback to dance parties of yesteryear.
Anti-Fade and The Tote present Lazy Sunday (Constant Mongrel, J. McFarlane’s Reality Guest, The Shifters, Dom Sensitive (SA), The Judges, Blue Communications).
PBS presents Swinging City, a live broadcast of Radio City and Swinging Doors at The Railway Hotel North Fitzroy.

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is proudly presented by Yarra City Council, and supported by PBS.

For more information and the full program, visit Leaps and Bounds Music Festival.