Jumbo Records

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Last Updated 9 March 2021

Jumbo Records, Street, 1-3 Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8NG – Visit Now

Jumbo Records is the beating heart of independent music shops in Leeds. It first appeared in the 70’s, riding the wave of Punk Rock and the independent music scene that came with it. Since then it has gone through several transformations, in recent years it changed management after a forty year long ride with previous owners Hunter and Lornette Smith. Over the many decades it’s been in operation, the shop floor has expanded and the stock broadened out in taste and style. Now, Jumbo is a melting pot of genre that prioritises quality, regardless of style or personal taste.

The fiercely independent shop now sells CD’s, vinyls, books, magazines and more. As a beacon of culture in the north, Jumbo aims to cover as many different tastes and interests as possible. They are constantly bringing in new releases and re-issues across a vast span of genres and their back catalogue is a deep and bountiful treasure trove of good taste. As a shop that’s rode the wave of many musical phases and trends, it’s interesting to see which bits of each era have stood the test of time.

With the move to their new premises in 2017, Jumbo built a small stage for their regular in-store gigs and opened a cafe so that you can relax with a coffee whilst shopping. Be sure to check out the website to find out who’s playing in the coming weeks. With a city that boasts a vast mix of artists, the shop is always warm, welcoming and supportive towards local acts. That support can come in the form of performance opportunities or stocking home-produced records or CD’s.

Jumbo Records is run by a passionate team of music fanatics who are always more than happy to chat about what they’re listening to. Most of the team are musicians themselves or have a finely tuned appreciation for fresh sounds.