Leaps and Bounds Music Festival bringing live music back to Yarra this winter

Tuesday 27 April 2021

Man with a microphone on a stage performing to an audience at a bar
Leaps and Bounds Music Festival 2020 Alone and Not Apart, Laundry Bar TV. Photo Credit: Naomi Lee Beveridge

Leaps & Bounds Music Festival is returning to Yarra’s live music venues this winter, and is looking for local venues to take part and receive both cash and promotional support.

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is Yarra's premier winter music festival to support artists, live music venues and live music businesses.

After being forced online in 2020, due to COVID-19, Yarra is thrilled to be able to bring Leaps & Bounds to a real-life setting.

Over 10 days and nights, from 16 July, Yarra will present a series of indoor and outdoor events to bring the city to life.

The festival includes the iconic Smith Street Dreaming Festival - celebrating the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts scene, Winter Record Store Day and other special events.

The City of Yarra is home to some of Melbourne’s most iconic live music venues and record stores, catering to a variety of musical genres and tastes.

Leaps and Bounds places the programming power in the hands of those that understand the area the best: local venues. Venues and record stores can submit to be part of the festival and receive support from Yarra Council.

Venues will have the opportunity to pitch for $2000 in funding for events that shine a spotlight on diverse musical acts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQ+, culturally diverse, people with a disability, female, or all-ages gigs.

Other events can be pitched for up to $1000 in funding support.

Successful venues will also receive promotional support, including street posters, radio announcements, and digital promotions.

The winter music festival has always been about celebrating and promoting Australian music, encouraging music lovers out to see great gigs in Yarra venues during Melbourne’s coldest months this is even more meaningful as we emerge from the restrictions caused by COVID-19.

Leaps & Bounds 2021: venues call-out

Pitch an event here

Deadline for submissions: 17 May 2021 (successful applicants will be notified within one week of submission)

Festival dates: July 16-25, 2021

Find out more at our new Leaps and Bounds website.

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