Friday July 3rd 2015 marks the return of the annual Leaps and Bounds Music Festival which takes place in Australia’s largest gigging precinct in the Melbourne’s inner city.
Now in its third year, the multi-venue, multi-genre 17 day festival celebrates and showcases the best talents nation (and on some occasions world) wide performing in the best venues Melborune’s north has to offer.
It is a local celebration highlighting local performers, local venues and local audiences – while also inviting and collaborating with artists from all over Australia. Leaps and Bounds partners with venues and performers to present ambitious and out of the ordinary events.
With over 50 participating venues in Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond, Abbotsford, North Carlton, Clifton Hill and North Fitzroy will collectively host more than 300 events featuring around 800 acts during the 17 day festival it can all seem a little overwhelming. Don’t sweat the numbers though ’cause after some carful deliberation we’ve collated what we think are the ‘must not miss’ events of Leaps and Bound 2015, check ’em out below.
For more info on Leaps and Bounds visit www.leapsandboundsmusicfestival.com
Sunday At Copacabana
Where? The Copacabana, 139 Smith St, Fitzroy
When? Sun 19 July, Doors 1pm
Why? In its few short years, the annual Leaps and Bounds Copacabana party has become legendary. Boiling down from a number of days to just one afternoon this year, the gig located in a Brazilian bar and grill features New War, Sugar Fed Leopards, Deaf Wish, Totally Mild and The Stevens – which we reckon is one of the strongest local line ups we’ve seen in 2015. There’s also Food by Uncle Dougy’s BBQ and Comfort Steamers. $6 Bloody Marys and cheap beer all for $10 entry. Don’t miss it.
More info
Clowns & Mangelwurzel (all Ages)
Where? Fitzroy Bowling Club, 578 Brunswick St, Fitzroy North
When? Fri 10 July 12noon – 3pm
Why? This one is for our underage brothers and sisters, Friday the 10 jus the last day of school holidays so head down to Edinburgh Gardens to checkout some skate action then come by the Fitzroy Bowling Club to see two of Melbourne best punk bands Clowns and Mangelwurzel slay at the Bowls Club. With $5 for under 18s or $10 for over 18s and a free BBQ there’s no better place to celebrate how sick school holidays are.
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Forces (European Farewell Gigs)
Where? The Tote, 67-71 Johnston St, Collingwood
When? Sat 11 July 8pm
Why? Enigmatic Melbourne hi-fi electronics outfit Forces play one of their few live performances of 2015 as part of Leaps and Bounds. Hopping on the line up will be Brisbane’s Multiple Man, Lucy Cliché, Lakes, Regional Curse + Kokpit DJs. A night of dark wave electronics and moody dance awaits.
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Fraser A. Gorman Album Launch
Where? The Gasometer, 484 Smith St, Collingwood
When? Fri 17th July 8pm
Why? Following on from a flurry of singles this year and a wave of anticipation, Fraser A. Gorman’s collection of beautifully off beat and gloriously sun baked tunes have finally been released as the LP Slow Gum. Having cut his teeth playing live across the great city of Melbourne, Fraser A. knows how to command an audience better than most, and that’s exactly what he’ll be doing at The Gaso to celebrate Slow Gum.
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Rice Is Nice: Label Of Love
Where? Shadow Electric, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford
When? Sat 11 July 8pm
Why? It’s no secret that Tone Deaf are big fans of the work that Sydney indie label Rice Is Nice does. We’re also huge fans of Shadow Electric, one of Melbourne’s newest and most beautiful live music spaces, so seeing the two combine, it was a toto no-bainer. As part of the awesome ‘Label of Love’ series Rice Is Nice is bringing their label alumni You Beauty, SPOD and Summer Flake to town – we couldn’t recommend this event highly enough. If you can’t make it though, don’t sweat the ‘Label of Love’ series will be running to August.
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Terrible Truths (Dark Projection Series)
Where? The Catfish, 30-32 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
When? Fri 17 July, 8:30pm
Why? The north side has it all at the moment, with not only Leaps and Bounds bringing the live music to the stages, but also the crew behind Gertrude Street Projection festival are bringing visual art to the streets. As a collaborative effort between the two events and The Catfish comes ‘ Dark Projection Series’. Teaming up with Terrible truths and Vacuum to soundtrack the night, Catfish’s newly renovated band room transforms into a sphere of sound and vision. An absolute sensory delight awaits.
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Mcrobin EP Launch
Where? The Evelyn, 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
When? Sun 12th July 2pm
Why? Leaps and Bounds is nothing if the the opportunity to discover your new favourite act. With a voice of Jeff Buckley-level virtuosity and an instrumental flair sharpened by afternoons studying Nick Drake’s finger-picking and Bill Evans’ chords, Mcrobin (aka James McGuffie) could be that ‘act’. He’ll be launching his stunning new EP on a chill Sunday arvo at The Evelyn Hotel with support from Liv Cartledge find out why this talented muso was a finalist for both the International Songwriting Competition and the Darebin Music Feast Songwriters’ Award.
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Black Vanilla / HTML Flowers/ HABITS
Where? The Evelyn, 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
When? Fri 17 July, 8pm
Why? Black Vanilla win our award for the the best party starters in Australia. Initially formed as a ‘live only’ project, Black Vanilla are a trio of Sydney producer/vocalists. individually they are: Marcus Whale (one half of Collarbones) Lavurn Lee (aka neo-soulist Guerre and techno producer Cassius Select) and Jarred Beeler (DJ Plead), and together they becoming the masters of live, high-energy, sensual and sweaty club jams. Sydney based, these guys only pop down every so often, so we guarantee if you miss ’em you’ll regret it.
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