Hobgoblin Music

Great service and a friendly atmosphere every time I go in! This particular branch has also done a lot for the Leeds University Folk Society, offering prizes for raffle events, sponsoring ceilidhs and providing members with a 15% discount on any item bought in the shop. I can’t praise this shop highly enough, definitely recommended!

When my musician friend told me he wanted to pick up some strings and scope out a new guitar I really wasn’t expecting to be taken down Call Lane, which is heavily littered with trendy bars and restaurants, and when we stopped outside Hobgoblin Music, I really wasn’t expecting him to lead me into a down to earth folky type of place either. I was pleasantly surprised. The guys in there quickly assisted him in his strings of choice, and we went perusing the nice variety of guitars and other string instruments on display. Hobgoblin also provides consumers with the opportunity to buy instruments second hand, making them more budget friendly of course than those of a brand new value, especially with the more pricier by nature instruments. Who knew there could be so many choices when selecting a violin, but knowledge is the essence of figuring out your best purchase, and these guys are bang on with their musical instrument knowledge. Also, as a novelty birthday gift, I managed to pick up a brightly coloured, fully working ukulele for under £20 for a musically inclined friend of mine. Nice, eclectic, down to earth surprise.

This is another one of those essentials in Leeds. I can say this mostly as I play guitar and need a regular supply of strings, but the guys that run this joint are just lovely.
I once went down to pass on a poster for a live music event. They hadn’t yet opened so I leant against the wall for a quick cigarette and the owner/​manager/​staff member came out to join me. We had an excellent little conversation about Leeds, music and Call Lane, before I handed the poster to him and got on my way.
I guess that’s it really. I could tell you about the range of sheet music, instrument strings, folk instruments, CDs and so on that they store, but essentially — if you’re going to visit at all, it has to be for the celtic/​folk nature of the shop — and if that’s what you are looking for, at least you know it comes with lovely conversation and down to earth presence.

I am half-​tempted to believe that the reason this shop is situated half way down the booziest street in Leeds is to catch out unsuspecting revellers and convince them that what they really need in life is a brand new melodica. This was certainly the impression I got when I last visited, and took in the gaggle of obviously tipsy young men gaping at the wonderful instruments that adorn the window display. A step up from your average music shop, this is where discerning musicians come to buy your more unusual instruments, from mandolins and autoharps to melodeons and bagpipes. While modern guitar shops can be all about the shiny metal and the rock star vibe, Hobgoblin is down to earth and folky, and the shop is a delight to wander around even if you’re not musical, although you’re sure to leave with a resolution to learn to be. As well as instruments they stock a range of accessories and sheet music, and hold a comprehensive list of well-​priced second hand instruments ideal for the beginner or someone looking for a restoration project. The staff are helpful and unpretentious, and the whole set up seems to ask the same question that you will be when you leave: why play something as boring as the guitar when you could play something far, far cooler?

As a music student, the large amount of folk bands being created has come to my attention flared by the rise of pop-​folk acts such as Fleet Foxes. More and more folk acts are performing around Leeds, and with musicians as colleagues, Hobgoblin Music has been mentioned positively to me many a time!
The shop is oddly located on trendy wine bar strip Call Lane tucked right away! However after a little search I found it and had a sneaky peek around to see what people rave about!
Hobgoblin is a specialist shop which stocks Folk and Celtic instruments (including harps, whistles, fiddles, mandolins and banjos’s), sheet music, Cd’s and books. The shops range of Folk musical instruments is huge for such a tiny secret cave of musical treats!
I had a natter to the boheminiam, long haired staff who were very friendly and helpful! There is an extremely laid back atmosphere in the shop stereotypical of Folk Music.
I understand this will only apply to a minority of «Yelpers», however if you are in Leeds and have an interest in Folk music go in and have a look around. It really is a pretty and dainty display of Folk music history!