Scott Evans, owner of the Artisan Tap in Stoke-on-Trent said he and wife Jayne had worked “extremely hard” to help build a reputation for live music, since taking on the venue in 2024.
They usually have at least five acts play a week, but will be running events on all seven days of IVW.
“One advantage is, not only am I the owner but I’m also the promoter, I do all the social media and I’m the sound engineer, and my wife works the bar so that helps in keeping the cost base down,” he said.
“It enables us to get away with some gigs that might not be so profitable.”
He said it was still “fairly early days” for the venue, but they had previously booked musicians “that are probably now too big to play here”.
Offerings this week include John Bramwell from Manchester band I am Kloot and Inspiral Carpets frontman, Tom Hingley.
“We’ve also got Wrex, who are fairly new,” added Evans. “But they’re building a massive reputation, and it will be the last time we get to book them before they’re on to much bigger venues.”
