Play For Us!

Strummer Room Records Presents… A DIY promoter hosting original live music at The Apothecary Tap, a family-owned craft beer taproom in Banbury, Oxfordshire. We feature local and touring bands playing their own material, primarily on Friday evenings from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

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Our venue holds up to 80 people, and most gigs are well attended, offering a vibrant atmosphere for both musicians and music lovers. All shows are FREE ENTRY, except for a couple of charity fundraisers held throughout the year (see below).

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While operating on a modest budget, we aim to support our musicians with expenses—typically around £40-£50 per band—dependent on turnout and bar sales.

 

We primarily work with bands within 30 miles of North Oxfordshire but have also hosted acts from across the UK and overseas during 2024/2025.

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Looking for gigs or touring opportunities in 2026?

Contact us to see if you can add The Apothecary Tap to your tour schedule!

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Please contact us via email: hello@strummerroom.com

Or via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strummerroomrecords

Or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strummerroomrecordspresents

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Our Main Venue

 

The Apothecary Tap, 10/11 Butchers Row, Banbury, Oxon, OX16 5JH

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Access, offloading and parking:

The venue is situated in a partially pedestrianised one-way lane. Artists can drive their vehicle to the venue for offloading and will then need to park in one of the town centre car parks. Currently, parking charges are around £1.40 per hour, but FREE after 6pm. Alternatively, artists may wish to park up in either the Market Place or Bolton Road car parks and bring their equipment to the venue (2–3 minute walk). 

 

Equipment & Set-up:

The venue provides a full PA system with onstage monitors, along with a box of cables. Artists are advised to bring their own non-standard cables, connectors, adapters, and DI boxes if needed.

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A basic drum kit is available, including a Kick Drum, Floor Tom, and two mounted toms. Drummers should bring their own stands, pedals, cymbals, and throne, or coordinate with other drummers to share a kit.

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We also offer a Fender Rumble Bass Amplifier (with DI) and a Blackstar HT5 Guitar Amplifier (which can be mic'd). Discussions about backline sharing with other bands are encouraged.

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Please inform us a few days before the gig if you plan to use our drum kit or amplifiers.

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If a band is bringing their full drum kit, please arrive by 6pm to set up. If all bands are using our house kit, all band members should arrive by 6:30pm at the latest.

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Soundchecks:

We aim to soundcheck all bands/artists between 6:45pm & 7:15pm. All soundchecks to be completed by 7:30pm at the latest.

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Stage Times:

First band – 7:45pm (35-40 minutes).

Second band - 8:45pm (35-40 minutes).

Third band -9:45pm (45-60 minutes).

Curfew at 10:45pm

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ApTap Fest & Strummerfest Charity Fundraisers

• Events: Two annual 3-day charity festivals:

  • ApTap Fest: Held during the May Bank Holiday.

  • Strummerfest: Held during the August Bank Holiday.

• Supporting a Cause: All proceeds go to BARKS, a small animal rescue charity.

• Music Program:

  • Bands and musicians participate without charging any expenses.

  • They donate a track for a compilation CD, with all proceeds from sales donated to the charity.

  • Previous Compilation CDs cand be found here: 

  • Punk at the Tap (2025)

  • Pet Soundz - Vol.2 (2025)

  • Pet Sounds 2024

• 2025 Outcome: Raised £2,300.

 

Photography, Videography & Sound Recording

Our events typically feature a photographer who offers their services free of charge, and their photos are regularly shared on our social media platforms. They will also provide each band with a selection of water-marked images from the night, which are free to use as long as proper credit is given.

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Additionally, audience members often record segments of performances with their phone cameras. Some of these recordings are submitted to us, and occasionally, we edit these clips into longer formats for upload to our YouTube channel.

 https://www.youtube.com/@strummerroomrecordspresents 

 

We are also happy to provide these videos free of charge in exchange for a credit.

Most performances are also recorded with a hand-held MP3 recorder. Assuming that the recording is useable, the recorded performance is then uploaded to our Mixcloud site. https://www.mixcloud.com/strummer_room/  We are also happy to provide these recordings to you on request.

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If, for any reason, you would prefer not to be photographed, filmed or recorded, please let us know prior to the event.

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So if all of the above suits you and your band, please get in touch.