What’s on at

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box, Chelmsford.

28-29 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1TS

13 upcoming events

These are affiliate links. Tickets are sold by official sellers, including Skiddle, Gigantic and WeGotTickets, and BeTheFirst may earn a commission when you book. The price you pay is the same.

Coming up.

Sun 1 NovDoors 15:00

The Dirt Road Band

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

The Dirt Road Band are Steve Walwyn, guitar and vocals, Horace Panter, bass, and Ted Duggan, drums. They play hard, punchy blues-rock music that makes your heart beat faster. Let’s dig deeper… Walwyn has played guitar for a living for the past 45 years, 32 of those as a member of Dr Feelgood. Panter was a founding member of The Specials. He’s been doing this a while too, as has Duggan who has enjoyed spells with Banco de Gaia and more recently, Badfinger. Three highly proficient and time-served players doing what they do best. DRB started as a side project some 5 years ago and has now taken centre stage. Their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Righteous’ was released in July 2024. The creative process coming naturally with these players feeding off one another. You can see it in their live performance too. “Seasoned professionals with the energy of teenagers” as one contemporary musician observed.

Gigs

From £16.20including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Sat 7 NovDoors 13:00

The Vagaband

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

Over the last decade, The Vagaband have taken their brand of roots rock across the UK & Europe. As regulars on the festival scene, they have performed at Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Wilderness, Bestival, Red Rooster & Maverick. Based across the East of England, the six-piece band incorporate elements of Americana, folk, prog, psych and 70s funk. They have released four studio albums, have collaborated with US cult band Ween on a remix, recorded award-winning film and T.V. soundtracks and picked up a music award in 2018. 'Stunning' - Q Magazine 'Album of the Year' - Dirty Rock Magazine ‘Masterly’ - Americana UK 'Could have emerged from Muscle Shoals ...real feeling.' **** - R2

Gigs

From £16.20including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Wed 11 NovDoors 19:00

Track Dogs

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

Track Dogs are an international band formed in 2006 in Madrid with a name deriving from the dark subterranean world of the New York subway system. They are an eclectic line up of acoustic guitar, electric base, trumpet, cajon and stunning four-part vocal harmonies. “A rare combination of four great players who also have superb voices creating stunning individual vocal performances and the almost inevitable perfect harmonies. The playing is outstanding, the harmonies superb, and it is joyful throughout, just give it a listen" Music Riot UK Their sound is best described as “sunshine-y songs thriving on dark themes behind irresistible rhythms”. Those familiar with the band will know that Track Dogs have always dabbled in different styles from Americana and bluegrass to folk and even blues. With over 11 albums and performances from Glastonbury to the Royal Albert Hall, Track Dogs continue make a name for themselves. “Genre busting acoustic music built around folk, Americana and bluegrass”. RnR Magazine Sometimes deadly serious, sometimes showing a finely tuned sense of humour – they will always get you tapping your feet and before you know it you will be up and dancing! “...

Gigs

From £21.60including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Sun 22 NovDoors 15:00

Katie Spencer

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

''Her articulate picking, with suggestions of folk and jazz, frames intelligently written songs’ – Guitarist Magazine ‘Fresh as a sweet Sunday morning’ – MOJO ★★★★ ‘A fine singer-songwriter, and an excellent guitarist’ – Songlines ★★★★ ‘A master-class of inspired and beautifully-sounding craftsmanship’ – KLOF ‘One of the most distinctive voices in folk music’ – Folk London ‘What Love Is is a triumph. Katie deploys her signature vocal vibrato to devastating effect’ – At The Barrier Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull (UK), Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers. It is this sense of space and movement that flows through her assured guitar style and songwriting. Now, as Katie steps into this new era with a third album, her focus turns to those deeper inner spaces, inviting the listener to engage with her heartfelt and intricately crafted songs. Her writing, and most notably her guitar playing, stems from a time when the steel-stringed instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill, Julie Byrne and perhaps most evidently Michael Chapman...

GigsFolkBlues

From £12.96including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Sun 29 NovDoors 15:00

Jim Kirkpartick Band

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

Just see this, then get booking: https://youtu.be/Sf6Rj4_lm60?si=jcU0AOOT-LbwTIH2 Jim is the lead guitarist with FM and also plays with The Sweet, Guitar Heads and Creedence Clearwater Revived and before with Band Of Friends.

Gigs

From £16.20including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Sun 6 DecDoors 15:00

Robin Bibi Band

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

The Robin Bibi Band was born in the late 90s when Robin was inspired to start his own Texas Style Blues/Rock band after having worked as a session man with such artists as the Pretty Things, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Ben E. King and Helen Shapiro to name but a few. The Band released their debut Album 'Blue Thrash Therapy' in late 1997. Mainly blues standards with a couple of notable original songs thrown in. This album received AirPlay straight away from Paul Jones in his Jazz FM show and the band started to become popular in the live circuit. The follow up, 'Language of Your Soul', a work of mainly original material, was released to more critical acclaim in 2000. Since then — and 8 more albums and a DVD later — the Robin Bibi Band have established themselves as one of the UK's hardest working and most popular bands in their genre and Robin has been widely recognised as one of the UK's finest Blues/Rock guitarists! The band have played all the major UK blues festivals and have toured in Europe, Ireland, Scandinavia and the USA! Robin is at present signed to Ashwood Records and has recently released what's considered to be his best album yet 'No More A Secret', the first album o...

Gigs

From £12.96including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Thu 17 DecDoors 19:00

SPIKE & CHRIS HEILMANN

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

Join us for an intimate evening with possibly the greatest storyteller of all time - Spike from The Quireboys - with his 'Off the Record - A Life in Rock & Roll' tour, accompanied by Chris Heilman. Spike is the founder and unmistakable frontman of The Quireboys, one of the UK’s most enduring rock ’n’ roll bands. Through every chapter and line-up change, he’s been the band’s constant heartbeat - songwriter, singer, and the voice behind classics like Hey You, I Don’t Love You Anymore, and 7 O’Clock, penned with long-time collaborator Guy Bailey. Alongside his work with The Quireboys, Spike has also had a succession of critically acclaimed solo records and treasured collaborations. Music is Spike’s lifeblood. Always has been and always will be. When the pandemic brought touring to a halt, Spike stripped things back with a series of intimate acoustic shows to support his Late Night Song Book album - one of the first live music offerings as lockdown eased in 2021. These storytelling-led performances quickly became a fan favourite and remain one of Spike’s favourite performance showpieces. Even though the newly re-formed Quireboys continue to sell out larger venues, he...

Gigs

From £21.60including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Sat 6 Feb 2027Doors 13:00

Doris Brendel & Lee Dunham

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

What a show this is going to be with Doris, the daughter of acclaimed classical pianist Alfred Bredel. Herself an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, and with her producer and guitarist Lee, this is a show for us all. Award-Winning Prog Star Takes on the Blues – And It’s Incredible! Going straight in at #2 into the IBBA Blues Charts, Doris Brendel, renowned for her powerful husky vocals and genre-defying artistry, takes a bold new direction with Big Blue Sky—a stunning collection of soulful, melodic Blues. Teaming up once again with producer and multi-instrumentalist Lee Dunham, this album showcases 13 beautifully crafted tracks, blending classic blues traditions with a fresh, contemporary edge. While Brendel is best known for her progressive and alternative rock roots, Big Blue Sky proves that true artistry knows no boundaries. From heartfelt blues ballads to foot-stomping shuffles, this album highlights her unmistakable voice, paired with exceptional musicianship from a stellar line-up, including the legendary Sam Brown on Hammond organ and Sam Blue on additional vocals. Think Janis Joplin meets Gary Moore with a touch of wit and modern storytelling. From the soul-stirring...

Gigs

From £16.20including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Sun 28 Feb 2027Doors 15:00

Dick Taylor (Pretty Things) & Tallyman

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

DICK TAYLOR, the Rolling Stones' first bass-player in the 1960s, Keith Richards said it is Dick's mum who was responsible for his addictions getting him hooked on Jaffa Cakes. When Bill Wyman joined the Stones, Dick left and started THE PRETTY THINGS as a guitarist together with singer PHIL MAY who sadly died in 2020. In 2018, at the Final Bow Concert in London's Indigo/O2 Arena, the story of one of the rawest and most influential bands in British R&B came to an end, respectfully supported by international icons such as Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Van Morrison. In 2024, DICK TAYLOR collaborated with the dedicated and authentic German band TALLYMAN, featuring former Wallenstein member JUERGEN PLUTA, playing mainly the Pretty Things' early songbook, which will be performed live, step by step, extended by their later tracks classics like Rosalyn, Don’t Bring Me Down, Road Runner, Can’t Stand the Pain, Midnight to Six Man, Alexander, Buzz the Jerk, Get the Picture, Come see me, Rain’ in my Heart, Baron Saturday – with Dick featured on lead vocals, etc.. And of course ending with a highly extended version of £.s.d. featuring once again DICK TAYLOR’s amazing guitar work. Ic...

Gigs

From £16.20including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)

Sat 8 May 2027Doors 13:00

Debbie Bond Trio afternoon show

Black Frog Presents at the Hot Box · Chelmsford

DEBBIE BOND - American blues singer, guitar player, and songwriter has been performing for decades in the Alabama backwoods and is now a regular on the Southern US and the European club and festival circuit. Influenced by raw juke joint blues and the famed sounds of Muscle Shoals, Debbie's impressive story includes years of performing with traditional Alabama blues musicians, like Johnny Shines, Eddie Kirkland, Willie King, Shar Baby, Little Jimmy Reed and more. Immersion in Alabama roots music has deeply flavoured her guitar playing, soulful voice and original song writing, giving her a contemporary and original sound, with soul, blues, and jazz influences. Debbie's collaboration with British-born keyboard and harmonica player “Radiator” Rick has added a swampy New Orleans edge to her sound. Debbie is a blues activist and founder of the Alabama Blues Project, a non-profit dedicated to promoting and preserving the state’s blues heritage. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her blues education work, has been recognised by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and the national Blues Hall of Fame. In 2023, she was nominated for the UK Blues Federation's "Best International Blu...

Gigs

From £12.96including booking fee

Get tickets (opens the official seller in a new tab)