Stoke-on-Trent · the live music guide
Live Music in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Of the 6 venues that list their live nights, 3 put on music on Saturdays and 1 on Sundays. Of the 5 with a known size, 2 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
Stoke-on-TrentLive music in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent has 13 venues listing live music, 14 gigs in the next 30 days and 17 open mic nights. Below: the rooms to start with, the gigs on now, what acts are paid and where to go next, all read live from the same directory.
The Potteries — six towns, one Robbie Williams, and a working-musician scene that punches at the value end of the UK live circuit, an hour from both Manchester and Birmingham.
Stoke-on-Trent is a city of ~260,000 spread across six towns — Burslem, Hanley, Tunstall, Longton, Fenton and Stoke itself. The live calendar is anchored by Victoria Hall (touring comedy and theatre, ~1,500 cap), the Sugarmill in Hanley (alt and indie, mid-cap), and a working pub-and-function circuit through the Potteries that pays at the lower end of UK averages but books reliably and books often. Robbie Williams's hometown identity gives the city a stronger covers-and-tribute economy than equivalent-size cities — Take That, Robbie and 90s tribute acts have a calendar here that some bigger cities don't match. Staffordshire University and Keele add a student-circuit underlay — about 30,000 students between them. See the GX Rate Index for live medians. The Stoke-on-Trent working-musician calendar is dominated by cover bands and party-band specialists — these are the steady-bookings backbone for any local act. Filter by "covers" or "party band" on Explore to see who's active in the city right now. Average annual gig counts: 32–45 dates for pub-circuit bands and 55–75 for tribute specialists thanks to the Robbie hometown effect. Average enquiry response 4–7 hours.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Stoke-on-Trent | 14 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Stoke-on-Trent | 17 |
| On GigXchangeStoke-on-Trent acts · with a profile you can browse | 5 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Stoke-on-Trent100
| Artists | 23 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 87 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
8 roomsThe rooms to know
Eight rooms that anchor the Potteries circuit — from a 110-cap Hartshill tap room to a Victorian concert hall. The city that produced Robbie Williams, Lemmy and Slash.
| ~400 cap · HanleyThe SugarmillOpen since 1994 on Brunswick Street in Hanley's Cultural Quarter. Stoke's flagship live music venue and nightclub — nationally known on the grassroots touring circuit. Books: indie, rock, punk, alternative, club nights.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~280 cap · HanleyThe UndergroundCompact single-room venue at 2 Morley Street. Cult status since the Babyshambles riot. Stoke's home for heavier music and alternative acts. Books: rock, metal, punk, ska, hardcore, tribute.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 1,467 cap · HanleyVictoria HallConcert hall opened 1888 for Queen Victoria's Jubilee. Glass-roofed atrium, recently refurbished. Managed by ATG alongside the Regent Theatre. The big-ticket touring room. Books: classical, rock, pop, comedy, touring.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| 1,620 cap · HanleyRegent TheatreBuilt 1929 as a cinema, now a number-one touring venue managed by ATG. Stalls (906) + Circle (714). Primarily theatre/comedy but hosts concerts. Books: theatre, musicals, comedy, concerts.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| ~300 cap · HanleyMitchell Arts CentreCommunity arts centre with a 300-seat auditorium. Programmes a mix of live music, comedy, theatre and community events. More intimate than the ATG halls. Books: theatre, acoustic, folk, community, comedy.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~350 cap · SandyfordEleven Music VenuePurpose-built venue just north of Hanley with large free car park (200 spaces). Ticketed live shows every Saturday. Books: covers, tribute, rock, pop, party bands.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~110 cap · HartshillArtisan TapQuirky grassroots venue on Hartshill Road with two live rooms, superb sound system and house engineer. Live music 5 nights a week. Great cask ale selection. Books: indie, folk, blues, Americana, electronic.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~200–300 cap · Spode siteFactory Floor @ The Quarter PotbankInside the historic Spode Pottery site — industrial heritage repurposed as a live entertainment space. Professional live music every Saturday with resident DJs. Books: covers, party bands, soul, salsa, comedy.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Wednesday is the big night in Stoke-on-Trent: 1 venue lists live music and 3 open mics run every week. Nothing regular is listed on Monday and Tuesday. Across the week, 6 venues list regular live nights and 8 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Stoke-on-Trent.
Regular live music nights in Stoke-on-Trent
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Wednesday1 venue · 3 open mics - The Beehive Inn, London Road Ale House |
| Thursday1 venue · 1 open mic - Swifty's |
| Friday1 venue · 1 open mic - Charlie Bassett's |
| Saturday3 venues · 1 open mic - Bolton Gate Arts |
| Sunday1 venue · 2 open mics - Sanctuary Ale House, The Woodman |
05 — The scene
Stoke-on-TrentThe Stoke-on-Trent sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Stoke-on-Trent is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Hanley (city centre)The Cultural Quarter anchors the scene — The Sugarmill (400 cap, flagship grassroots venue since 1994), The Underground (280 cap, cult status, heavier music), Victoria Hall (1,467 seated, ATG-managed), Regent Theatre (1,620 seated), Mitchell Arts Centre (300 cap). |
| Burslem & heritageLemmy's hometown — statue unveiled May 2025 on Market Place, Old No. 6 Motorhead bar/museum opened May 2026 on Lemmy Plaza. Heritage-rich but smaller circuit than Hanley. |
| Hartshill & grassrootsArtisan Tap (110 cap, 2 stages, Hartshill Road) runs live music 5 nights a week with superb sound and house engineer — one of the most active small venues in the city. Great cask ale selection. |
| Function & wedding workEleven Music Venue (~350 cap, Sandyford) and Factory Floor at The Quarter Potbank (Spode Pottery site) run ticketed Saturday shows. Browse Stoke bands to book. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 2 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 1 - 5 rooms in Stoke-on-Trent with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Stoke-on-Trent venue directory. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Cannock, Telford and Stockport.
| NearbyLive music in Cannock | |
| NearbyLive music in Telford | |
| NearbyLive music in Stockport |
06 — Venues
13 roomsWhere live music happens
The Stoke-on-Trent circuit runs through 13 venues, Aynsley Mill and Bolton Gate Arts included. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
500 cap Aynsley MillLongton · Stoke-on-Trent 
Bolton Gate ArtsWeston Coyney · Stoke-on-Trent Cap tbc 
Charlie Bassett'sDilhorne · Stoke-on-TrentHouse PA 70Cap 
London Road Ale HouseStoke-on-TrentHouse PA Cap tbc 
Riff FactoryStoke-on-Trent Cap tbc 
Sanctuary Ale HouseHartshill · Stoke-on-TrentHouse PA Cap tbc 
Swifty'sMeir · Stoke-on-Trent Cap tbc 
The Artisan TapHartshill, Stoke-on-Trent · Stoke-on-Trent 100Cap 
The Beehive InnPenkhull · Stoke-on-TrentHouse PA Cap tbc 
The GlebeStoke-on-Trent ST4 · Stoke-on-TrentHouse PA Cap tbc Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Stoke-on-Trent venue directory, see what is booked on the Stoke-on-Trent gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Stoke-on-Trent |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Stoke-on-Trent
14 gigs are listed in Stoke-on-Trent for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts15:00 Simple Plan UK, Courtnay Reddy as Avril Lavigne & Me You at Six!Eleven Music Venue · Goldenhill & Sandyford · Stoke-on-TrentTickets 
GirlyPop Live - Harry Styles VS Taylor Swift | Keele SU, StokeKeele SU (Keele University Students' Union) · Keele · Stoke-on-Trent 12:00Sun 8 Nov 
Classically Kate BushVictoria Hall · Etruria & Hanley · Stoke-on-Trent 19:30Sun 8 Nov 
Happy MondaysKeele Students Union · Keele · Stoke-on-Trent 19:00Fri 13 Nov 
Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues OrchestraVictoria Hall · Stoke-on-Trent 19:30Thu 19 Nov 
ElvanaThe Sugarmill · Stoke-on-Trent 19:00Fri 20 Nov Every listing is a real Stoke-on-Trent date, rebuilt nightly from the Stoke-on-Trent gig directory. See the Stoke-on-Trent venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Stoke-on-Trent gigs | |
| What's on in Stoke-on-Trent this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Stoke-on-Trent
Whoever you are, Stoke-on-Trent has a page built for your next step: artists find rooms and open mics, venues and promoters find acts, and everyone sees what gigs actually pay. Pick yours.
| FansWhat's on in Stoke-on-Trent this weekthe Stoke-on-Trent gig guide, by email | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigs in Stoke-on-Trentpay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Stoke-on-Trentfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live music in Stoke-on-Trentprices, steps, licensing | |
| BookersBooking live entertainment in Stoke-on-Trentbirthdays, weddings, private parties | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Stoke-on-Trentclaim yours free and keep it current |
09 — Pay
GX IndexWhat acts earn
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the UK median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
| What it costs to book live music in Stoke-on-Trentthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Stoke-on-Trentthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Stoke-on-Trent compares
The Stoke-on-Trent area ranks seventh of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Derby, Wrexham and Telford. Each row is a city's wider area in our directory, nearby towns included: venues that list live music, weekly open mics and upcoming gigs, refreshed nightly.
| # | Area | Venues |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Manchester 59 open mics · 807 upcoming gigs | 159 |
| 02 | Sheffield 38 open mics · 176 upcoming gigs | 94 |
| 03 | Birmingham 17 open mics · 583 upcoming gigs | 77 |
| 04 | Wolverhampton 21 open mics · 107 upcoming gigs | 41 |
| 05 | Derby 15 open mics · 119 upcoming gigs | 36 |
| 06 | Wrexham 18 open mics · 49 upcoming gigs | 31 |
| 07 | Stoke-on-Trent This city 17 open mics · 52 upcoming gigs | 29 |
| 08 | Telford 14 open mics · 11 upcoming gigs | 20 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
Stoke-on-TrentMore of Stoke-on-Trent
More live music resources for Stoke-on-Trent and the rest of the UK: fee guides, venue lists, open mic finders and how-to guides, all read from the same live directory.
| Stoke Rate BenchmarkSee what UK bands actually charge by city and gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. | |
| UK City-by-City Booking GuideA detailed walkthrough of how booking works across every major UK city, prices, scenes, and local tips. |
Everything live in Stoke-on-Trent — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Stoke-on-Trent. Artists and bands available around Stoke-on-Trent.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Stoke-on-Trent — sorted by dateWhat's on in Stoke-on-Trent — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Stoke-on-Trent, by date. One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages. Sorted by date, refreshed continuously. Free and ticketed shows both listed. Every gig links its venue.Stoke-on-Trent gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in Stoke-on-TrentCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Stoke-on-Trent venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Stoke-on-Trent. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Stoke-on-Trent venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Stoke-on-Trent open mic nightsJust starting out? Stoke-on-Trent open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Stoke-on-Trent. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Stoke-on-Trent open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in Stoke-on-TrentStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Stoke-on-Trent. How to get gigs in Stoke-on-Trent. How to book live music in Stoke-on-Trent. Find a band in Stoke-on-Trent. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in Stoke-on-TrentLive Stoke-on-Trent rate benchmarks from the GigXchange Index. Median fees by act size and event type. City-level benchmarks, updated nightly. Never a misleading average — real percentiles. Free to cite under CC BY 4.0.GigXchange Index · Pay-rate guide |
The Red Cow in Nantwich hosts an open mic fortnightly on a Tuesday at 8pm.
The Uk's no.1 Female Michael Jackson tribute act, Accompanied by her 2 x talented dancers - Available for festivals, pub…
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Stoke-on-Trent
The Potteries — six towns, one Robbie Williams, and a working-musician scene that punches at the value end of the UK live circuit, an hour from both Manchester and Birmingham.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Stoke-on-Trent: the Short Answer
Stoke-on-Trent has 13 venues listing live music, 14 gigs in the next 30 days and 17 open mic nights. Below: the rooms to start with, the gigs on now, what acts are paid and where to go next, all read live from the same directory.
Of the 6 venues that list their live nights, 3 put on music on Saturdays and 1 on Sundays. Of the 5 with a known size, 2 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Stoke-on-Trent is a city of ~260,000 spread across six towns — Burslem, Hanley, Tunstall, Longton, Fenton and Stoke itself. The live calendar is anchored by Victoria Hall (touring comedy and theatre, ~1,500 cap), the Sugarmill in Hanley (alt and indie, mid-cap), and a working pub-and-function circuit through the Potteries that pays at the lower end of UK averages but books reliably and books often. Robbie Williams's hometown identity gives the city a stronger covers-and-tribute economy than equivalent-size cities — Take That, Robbie and 90s tribute acts have a calendar here that some bigger cities don't match. Staffordshire University and Keele add a student-circuit underlay — about 30,000 students between them. See the GX Rate Index for live medians. The Stoke-on-Trent working-musician calendar is dominated by cover bands and party-band specialists — these are the steady-bookings backbone for any local act. Filter by "covers" or "party band" on Explore to see who's active in the city right now. Average annual gig counts: 32–45 dates for pub-circuit bands and 55–75 for tribute specialists thanks to the Robbie hometown effect. Average enquiry response 4–7 hours.
The Stoke-on-Trent Rooms to Know
Eight rooms that anchor the Potteries circuit — from a 110-cap Hartshill tap room to a Victorian concert hall. The city that produced Robbie Williams, Lemmy and Slash. Each card below names the room, the nights it runs live music, what it tends to book and the way acts usually get on the bill.
Open since 1994 on Brunswick Street in Hanley's Cultural Quarter. Stoke's flagship live music venue and nightclub — nationally known on the grassroots touring circuit.
Compact single-room venue at 2 Morley Street. Cult status since the Babyshambles riot. Stoke's home for heavier music and alternative acts.
Concert hall opened 1888 for Queen Victoria's Jubilee. Glass-roofed atrium, recently refurbished. Managed by ATG alongside the Regent Theatre. The big-ticket touring room.
Built 1929 as a cinema, now a number-one touring venue managed by ATG. Stalls (906) + Circle (714). Primarily theatre/comedy but hosts concerts.
Community arts centre with a 300-seat auditorium. Programmes a mix of live music, comedy, theatre and community events. More intimate than the ATG halls.
Purpose-built venue just north of Hanley with large free car park (200 spaces). Ticketed live shows every Saturday.
Quirky grassroots venue on Hartshill Road with two live rooms, superb sound system and house engineer. Live music 5 nights a week. Great cask ale selection.
Inside the historic Spode Pottery site — industrial heritage repurposed as a live entertainment space. Professional live music every Saturday with resident DJs.
Live Music Nights in Stoke-on-Trent
Wednesday is the big night in Stoke-on-Trent: 1 venue lists live music and 3 open mics run every week. Nothing regular is listed on Monday and Tuesday. Across the week, 6 venues list regular live nights and 8 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Stoke-on-Trent. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Stoke-on-Trent
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 0 0 venues
0 open mics - Tue 0 0 venues
0 open mics - Wed 4 1 venue
3 open mics The Beehive InnLondon Road Ale House - Thu 2 1 venue
1 open mic Swifty's - Fri 2 1 venue
1 open mic Charlie Bassett's - Sat 4 3 venues
1 open mic Bolton Gate Arts - Sun 3 1 venue
2 open mics Sanctuary Ale HouseThe Woodman
The Stoke-on-Trent Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Stoke-on-Trent is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
The Cultural Quarter anchors the scene — The Sugarmill (400 cap, flagship grassroots venue since 1994), The Underground (280 cap, cult status, heavier music), Victoria Hall (1,467 seated, ATG-managed), Regent Theatre (1,620 seated), Mitchell Arts Centre (300 cap).
Lemmy's hometown — statue unveiled May 2025 on Market Place, Old No. 6 Motorhead bar/museum opened May 2026 on Lemmy Plaza. Heritage-rich but smaller circuit than Hanley.
Artisan Tap (110 cap, 2 stages, Hartshill Road) runs live music 5 nights a week with superb sound and house engineer — one of the most active small venues in the city. Great cask ale selection.
Eleven Music Venue (~350 cap, Sandyford) and Factory Floor at The Quarter Potbank (Spode Pottery site) run ticketed Saturday shows. Browse Stoke bands to book.
Small rooms under 150: 2 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 1 - 5 rooms in Stoke-on-Trent with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Stoke-on-Trent venue directory.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Cannock, Telford and Stockport.
Where Live Music Happens in Stoke-on-Trent
The Stoke-on-Trent circuit runs through 13 venues, Aynsley Mill and Bolton Gate Arts included. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights. Browse by area or by night, then open a room to see its upcoming gigs.
Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Stoke-on-Trent venue directory, see what is booked on the Stoke-on-Trent gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Stoke-on-Trent
14 gigs are listed in Stoke-on-Trent for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory. Every listing links to the gig's own page, with the date, the doors time and where to buy a ticket.
Every listing is a real Stoke-on-Trent date, rebuilt nightly from the Stoke-on-Trent gig directory. See the Stoke-on-Trent venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Stoke-on-Trent
Whoever you are, Stoke-on-Trent has a page built for your next step: artists find rooms and open mics, venues and promoters find acts, and everyone sees what gigs actually pay. Pick yours.
What Acts Earn in Stoke-on-Trent
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the UK median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
How Stoke-on-Trent Compares
The Stoke-on-Trent area ranks seventh of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Derby, Wrexham and Telford. Each row is a city's wider area in our directory, nearby towns included: venues that list live music, weekly open mics and upcoming gigs, refreshed nightly.
- #1 Manchester 59 open mics · 807 upcoming gigs 159
- #2 Sheffield 38 open mics · 176 upcoming gigs 94
- #3 Birmingham 17 open mics · 583 upcoming gigs 77
- #4 Wolverhampton 21 open mics · 107 upcoming gigs 41
- #5 Derby 15 open mics · 119 upcoming gigs 36
- #6 Wrexham 18 open mics · 49 upcoming gigs 31
- #7 Stoke-on-Trent This city 17 open mics · 52 upcoming gigs 29
- #8 Telford 14 open mics · 11 upcoming gigs 20
Frequently Asked Questions
Add your Stoke act to the directory
Open alpha — the first 250 UK users are free forever. No credit card, no commission until a booking lands. See the For Artists, For Venues, For Agents or For Promoters hubs to see how each role uses the platform. Make a free profile in a few minutes, add your sound and the dates you are free, and let Stoke-on-Trent bookers find you.