A promoter who runs an open mic night in a Leytonstone pub is concerned that very few of the acts who take the stage are ever from the local area.

Andy Thomas, who lives off Vicarage Road, Leyton, and runs the ‘Turn Off Your Television’ live music and comedy evening said that of the 50 acts hosted recently only one came from Leytonstone and one came from Walthamstow.

Despite heavily publicising the event through posters at local shops, community websites and even putting flyers through doors, Mr Thomas said the Internet makes it easy to get word out to a national audience but makes it difficult to narrow it down to locals.

He said: “The lack of traditional meeting points for musicians such as record stores, rehearsal rooms and music shops in the area has been a barrier and comedians tend to only gather at comedy nights.”

He said he has run the evening since February and that performers came from as far afield as Oxford and Kent.

Should local performers wish to take part the evening happens every first and third Tuesday of the month at  8pm at The Plough and Harrow pub, 419 Leytonstone High Road, E11 4JU.

Tonight’s show sees Ant Henson, who recently performed on The Voice, take to the stage.

Performers can show up on the night to perform two songs or five minutes between 730pm and 8pm or book for longer sets between 8pm and 1030pm.

Andy ‘The Mirror’ who runs an open mic night at the Hornbeam Cafe every second Friday of the month said he estimates the majority of his acts are locals, including the occasional pirate.

He added that performers do come to his nights from all parts of London but that there was a significant local presence.