Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is returning to Yarra’s live music venues this winter and is looking for local live music venues to take part.

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

After the cancellation of our 2021 program due to COVID-19, Yarra is thrilled to be able to bring Leaps and Bounds back to the venues of Yarra.

Over 10 days and nights, from 24 June, 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, The Punters Club Reunion Show – aka 1990s Brunswick Street – paying homage to the musos who helped shape the Melbourne music scene, and so much more.

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 can submit to be part of the festival.

What is the offer?

Each live music venue will be able to pitch a music event for up to $1000.

Venues can apply for up to $2000 for events that meet any of the following priorities in shining a spotlight on musicians who identify as one or more of the following:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• LGBTIQA+
• Female
• Culturally diverse
• People with a disability or
• By putting on an All-Ages gig

What support do venues get?

• Cash of up to $1000 or $2000 (if event meets programming priorities)
• A street poster campaign including printing and distribution
• Inclusion in a radio campaign on a variety of local radio stations
• Listings on the Leaps and Bounds Music Festival website and social media handles

In addition, we will have a dedicated publicist working on a global marketing campaign for the festival including web and social media, printed collateral, poster, radio, advertising, and publicity campaigns.

How to pitch an event?

Submit an application online using this form.

The pitches will be considered by a panel of Council and industry representatives. The panel may offer feedback and suggestions in response to your pitches.

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 and Bounds 2022:

• Final applications close April 26, 2022 (successful applicants will be notified within a week)
• Festival dates: June 24 – July 3, 2022

For programming and pitch enquiries, please contact Olivia Allen, Community Arts Officer via Olivia.Allen@yarracity.vic.gov.au or 0414 348 884.

To find out more, head to the Leaps and Bounds Music Festival website.

Apply now