Leaps and Bounds celebrates City of Yarra venues, bookers

Melbourne’s Leaps and Bounds festival is back July 13—22 and celebrates the venues, bookers and audiences in the city of Yarra.

Mayor Daniel Nguyen said live music and the local venues that support it are an essential part of the city’s identity.

“Our live music scene is the best in the world,” he says.

“You can see quality gigs any night of the week in Yarra.

“This festival celebrates the venues, artists and venue bookers who make such a huge contribution to the cultural life of our city.

“Diversity is absolutely central to exciting and innovative arts, and we’re proud to have a strong contingent of female, queer and Indigenous programmers and performers as part of the festival.

“There’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Among the diverse shows highlighted in venues are:

Dijok is be part of Laundry Bar’s Girls to the Front event, which highlights home grown hip hop and rap talent.

Anna Scionti will headline The Rainbow, Emilee South is at The Gem and Bar Open will showcase cabaret and chanteuses via Femmes on Fire.

Women of Country takes place at The Standard.

Our Ting is a Yarra Youth Services all-ages gig featuring Lady Banton and a selection of grime, hip hop, trap, Afrobeat and dancehall.

Queering the Pitch: Music from Beyond the Binary will be curated by award-winning gender transcendent producer Mama Alto and will go down at Fitzroy’s queer and alternative bookstore Hares and Hyenas while The Old Bar will host Queer Here.

Smith Street Dreaming, the annual outdoor event celebrating Aboriginal culture and history, has confirmed MC Leila Gurruwiwi, Dave Arden & Band, Benny Walker, Birdz, Alice Skye, indigenous hip hop dance projects and Djirri Djirri Dance Group.

Leaps and Bounds comes in the wake of the Victorian state government recent announcement that The Music Market will open its doors next year at the new Collingwood Arts Precinct on Johnston Street.

Music Victoria claims that the results of its census which shows Melbourne has more live music venues per capita than any other music city around the globe males it the live music capital in the world.