Presented in partnership with local venues, promoters and communities, Leaps and Bounds continues to showcase the people and places that make Yarra one of Australia's most important live music destinations. 

This year’s program includes several all-day venue takeovers, including IN MOTION, part of HIGH GROUND, taking over The Night Cat, The Evelyn Hotel and Punters Club with Public Figures, Skeleten and more.  

Collingwood’s new train carriage venue Trainscendence hosts Loco Motion, a weekend of music, arts and creative culture for all ages featuring Charlie Needs Braces and more. The Gem hosts Stone Fest featuring Girlatones, Daisy Kilbourne and Hannah Kate, while Liberate Community presents Equaliser: A Disability Pride Party at The Leadbeater Hotel in Richmond. 

Global sounds, storytelling and cultural exchange feature throughout the program, including Stani Goma's To Bina: A Night of Soukous Vibrations Powered by El Gran Mono at Abbots Yard, Diversity Funk at The Horn and Akwaaba at Old Plates - a celebration of West African music, culture and food headlined by Immy Owusu and Sensible J. The Builders Arms Hotel also hosts The Yalinguth Archives, a special night of yidaki, songs and stories reflecting on Fitzroy's iconic meeting places and the Aboriginal community that helped shape them. 

Lower Johnston St heats up with Nighthawks and The Bendigo teaming up for Lowlight on Lojo, while nearby Lulie Tavern hosts LittlePalooza, a free and fully accessible all-day party featuring Leroy MacQueen, Platonic Sex and more. The Tote also welcomes South Australian Aboriginal hip hop crew DEM MOB. 

Further up the road, The Old Bar is putting on a zine fair soundtracked by loud DIY punk, Baxter’s on Brunswick St makes way for some of the city’s best emerging artists across three nights with Sounds Like Tomorrow, and Glamorama teams up with REELIZE Studio for an immersive AV club night INFUSE ft. dozie. 

As always, the Leaps and Bounds Record Fair returns to Collingwood Town Hall, while PBS continues its festival tradition with a live broadcast from the Yorkshire Stingo Hotel in Abbotsford. 

There are plenty more discoveries to be made across the festival, with further special events taking place at Bodriggy Brewpub, Skydiver Records, Smith St Hotel, The Catfish, Railway Hotel, Yah Yahs, The Standard, The Grace Darling, and Bar Open. 

Full program available at lbmf.com.au from Thursday 4 June.

Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is proudly presented by Yarra City Council, with presenting partner PBS FM.