I applaud club organisers who book turns you've never heard of and I will usually chance going to se them. Indeed I'm less likely to go and see albeit good artists I've seen time and again.
Nine Barrow from Dorset as example were good at the Britannia, Darlington recently. Never heard of them but I dare say they're known in Dorset.
It may be the proliferation of festivals that has created so many that are well-known names the moment they start performing. 'In my day' new artists flogged round the folk clubs to hone their act and earn appreciation. Good luck to those who are prepared to do that today.