I'm quite sure that people go "on spec" to the Red Lion in Northfleet (mostly metal and grunge), to the Tap'n'Tin in Chatham (not sure now used to be mainly metal and grunge with some indie and jazz-funk), To the Man of Kent in Rochester (mostly acoustic) to the Good Intent in Rochester (folk at least 3 times a month other contingent stuff about as many) to the Barge in Gillingham (varied, quite a lot near-folk) to the Beacon COUrt in GIllingham (not sure these days, used to be themed by nights of the week with tribute bands Saturdays), the Nag's Head in Rochester (folk, rock, and blues).

I say that you don't have to be a good musician to make success in electric music - it helps but there are real fumblefingers out there, usually still doing punk. And others doing DoS big style.

And "invitation" gigs also happen in electric. One of my daughter's bands had to push to get on to the bill at a venue in Nottingham, the organiser was a twat, the headliners were arrogant and incompetent, and at the end of the night the organiser walked straight past the headliners and said "You were terrific, will you play our Xmas party" - and daughter's band took great delight in saying "NO". They were splitting and most moving to Londin, but the organiser didn't know that.