First Stage
Everyone's first gig happens somewhere. Make yours here.
Sunday afternoons from 3pm | The Staffordshire Bull, Parkside, Stafford, ST16 1TQ
A quiet Sunday afternoon. A friendly pub.
No pressure. Just play.
- ✔️ No audition, no booking, no judgement. Just turn up and play
- 🌱 Built for first-timers, not seasoned performers
- ☀️ Quiet Sunday afternoon, not a packed Saturday night
- 🎵 Play one song or five. It's completely up to you
- 👥 Bring your family, your mates, or come on your own
- 🎥 Film it, photograph it, take it home. One for the socials
- ⭐ Walk out saying you've performed live on stage
Or send us a message through the website.
You've thought about it.
Maybe for years. Maybe just recently. But at some point, you've imagined yourself up there. Playing that song you've practised a hundred times in your bedroom. Singing the one that gives you goosebumps when nobody's listening.
And then the thought disappears, because where would you even do it?
Open mic nights are full of people who've done it before. Pubs on a Saturday are packed and loud. Nobody's going to sit and listen to someone who's never performed. You'd need to be good. You'd need to be ready. You'd need to know what you're doing.
Wouldn't you?
No. You really wouldn't.
How it started
A little while ago, one of our bar staff, Kellie, 18 years old, very bravely asked Steve if she could sit in the corner one quiet Sunday afternoon with her guitar and sing a couple of songs. She'd invite her family. It would be low-key. She just wanted to say she'd done it.
She was nervous. Properly nervous. But she got up there, gave it absolutely everything, and the place erupted. Her family were beaming. The regulars were cheering. She was brilliant.
She walked out of that pub a different person. Not because she was suddenly a professional musician, but because she'd done it. She'd stood up in front of a live audience, and they loved her for it.
It was one of those moments that stays with you. And it gave Steve an idea.
So he set something up
Steve wanted anyone to be able to have the experience Kellie had. So he got a proper setup together: mic, speakers, lighting, everything ready to go. Not because it needs to be fancy, but because if someone's brave enough to get up there for the first time, the least they deserve is to feel like a star while they're doing it.
Everything is set up before you arrive. You don't need to bring anything except yourself and your nerve.
What First Stage actually is
It's a Sunday afternoon. The pub is quiet. The regulars are friendly. The pressure is as close to zero as it's possible to get.
You turn up. Everything's ready. You get up, you play your songs, you sing your heart out. Your family can be in the front row if you want them there. Your mates can film it on their phones.
Play one song. Play five. It's completely up to you. And if you forget the words or mess up a chord, nobody cares. Honestly, the whole room will just cheer you on. That's the kind of place this is.
And then you walk out and you can honestly say: “I've performed live on stage.”
That's it. That's what this is. No competition. No judgement. No panel of experts scoring you out of ten. Just a safe, warm, welcoming pub full of people who are genuinely rooting for you.
Who it's for
If you've ever thought about performing, even once, even briefly, even if you immediately talked yourself out of it, this is for you.
- You sing but nobody outside your family has heard you
- You play guitar in your bedroom and wonder what it'd be like with an audience
- You've written songs but never played them for anyone
- You've been performing at home for years and you're ready to take the leap
- You're young and just starting out, or you're older and it's now or never
It doesn't matter if you're not polished. It doesn't matter if your voice shakes or you forget a chord. This is your time. Kellie was terrified before she went on. She was absolutely brilliant. But she didn't know that until she got up there. And that's the point.
What to expect
Just turn up
Everything is set up and ready before you arrive. You don't need to bring any equipment, sort out any cables, or work out how anything works. Just walk in and play.
Your moment, captured
Set up your phone, bring a friend with a camera, or just enjoy the moment. Great for socials, great to send to your nan, great to keep forever.
Bring your people
Your family, your mates, your partner, your dog. Fill the front row with the people who'll cheer loudest. Or come alone and let the regulars be your audience. They'll be just as supportive.
A Sunday afternoon, not a Saturday night
This is deliberate. Sunday afternoons at the pub are quiet, relaxed, and friendly. No rowdy crowds, no pressure, no chaos. Just you, the stage, and a room full of encouragement.
The only rule
Be kind. That's it. Everyone on that stage is doing something brave. Every single person in the room respects that. This is a place where people support each other. It's what The Staffordshire Bull has always been about, and First Stage is an extension of that.
“It doesn't matter how good you are. It matters that you got up there.”
How to get involved
There's no form to fill in. No audition. No booking system. Just send Steve a message on Facebook, or use the contact form on our website, and he'll tell you when the next First Stage Sunday is, answer any questions, and make sure you feel completely comfortable before the day.
Not on Facebook? Send us a message here instead.
Your stage is waiting.
If you've ever thought about it, this is where you do it. Sunday afternoons at The Staffordshire Bull.
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