Hi
@Aspguitars, a belated welcome to the forum. Strangely I've only just spotted this, but there's a wealth of local music stuff happening in Stafford.
I host open mics at Slater's every Tuesday at 8.30pm & The Bear & Pheasant, Fridays at 9.30pm. It would be lovey to see you at either
There's also a Wednesday night Open Mic at The Dog House run by a friend of mine Tom Boote. Until recently I was running one at Market Vaults on a Thursday as well, but I'm not sure exactly what's happening with that now.
There's a good folk scene around town, with a wealth of stuff happening most weeks from acoustic sessions to touring acts. Check out Garry Copeland's weekly round-ups on the Stafford Folk Music and Dance
Facebook Group for a detailed list of everything that's happening. Off the top of my head, there's round-the-table acoustic sessions at the Spitalbrook Tuesdays & the Rose & Crown on Wednesdays, plus regular 'Fun Folk' and 'Sit-n-Listen' events at the County Staff Club.
If you want to catch bands Redrum is a proper venue, with the emphasis on touring rock & punk acts. There's also stuff happening most weekends at The Dog House, The Market Vaults and Slater's, & The Swan (Stafford) put on covers acts in the beer garden during the summer. Fish Records periodically promote gigs with touring American acts at the Royal Oak in Eccleshall too.
If you don't mind venturing out to Stone there's a good open mic on a Monday night at Granville's run by Paul Walker & Dan Toft runs ones on Tuesday at The Lamb & a Thursday at The Bridge. The Swan (Stone) is a good pub with live music on 3 or 4 nights a week too.