Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is warming up the heart of Yarra again this winter.

City of Yarra’s annual winter music festival, Leaps and Bounds, is heating up the streets again this July. In its 11th year, with over 40 events, spanning a diversity of live music acts, arts activities and cultural celebrations, this year’s festival is set to bring the City of Yarra to life.

A celebration of local music, the diverse line-up of live shows will hit venues across Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Collingwood, Abbotsford and Richmond from Thursday July 13.

Spanning multiple days and nights, the festival boasts a succession of indoor and outdoor live music shows in iconic venues across the Yarra. Punters can enjoy a smorgasbord of gigs and events spanning a broad range of musical genres from electronic to hip hop to jazz and rock. Events for all age groups and every budget, including plenty of free gigs are on the program.

Plus PBS special events Rock-a-bye-baby, and the Swinging Doors outside broadcast (TBA), both on Thursday July 13.

Highlights include:

Opening the festival this year is Melbourne music legend, Emma Donovan, with a fundraiser gig for the Archie Roach Foundation. Donovan will play alongside local talent Kiwat Kennell and Kee'ahn at The Corner Hotel in Richmond on opening night Thursday July 13.

The much-lauded Smith Street Dreaming program is back, celebrating the footprint of Koorie history in Collingwood and Fitzroy and featuring a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians and artists.

The impressive festival line-up also includes local legends Cash Savage & the Last DrinksZÖJ, Porpoise Spit, Ayebatonye, Makepisi, Eamon McNelis’s Skellingtons Quartet & Paul Williamson’s Hammond Combo, MzRizk, THNDO, Parsnip and so much more.

This year’s festival will also include an industry day event where local businesses, artists and Victorian music industry representatives can network.

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

For more information and the full program, visit lbmf.com.au.