Dirt Road Band @ Hot Box

The Dirt Road Band hit the stage at the iconic Chelmsford venue, Hot Box, highlighting the positive impact of live music on mental health.

Think back to the last gig you went to - neon stage lights slicing through the dark, the sticky floor beneath your shoes, hot air buzzing around you, and bass so deep it rattles the venue’s walls. These are not just spaces where music is played, it is where music thrives, and grassroots music venues are the lifeblood of that experience. 

Hot Box, tucked away under a railway viaduct in the Essex city of Chelmsford, is one of many iconic grassroot venues. 

When entering Hot Box, it is almost as if you are entering Aladdin’s cave of wonders for music fans. Rather than being surrounded by immense riches, however, you are surrounded by art of musicians plastered across the venue, dangling fairy lights, and various knick-knacks lining the walls. Hot Box is certainly a unique space for locals to grab a drink and enjoy live music.

The team at Hot Box also run the multi-venue festival, Sounds Good, and venue operators Dave and Jon Hughes kindly invited Tonic Music to provide a mental health stand at their inaugural event in 2024. 

On 2nd October, Tonic Music once again were in attendance at Hot Box, by providing a mental health stand as part of the Dirt Road Band gig.

The Dirt Road Band is made up of a trio of seasoned musicians Steve Walwyn, Horace Panter and Ted Duggan, who first made their mark in music during the 1970s and ‘80s. Starting as a side project five years ago, the band released their debut album Righteous last year, and have performed across the UK. 

Since then, the Dirt Road Band have been great supporters of Tonic Music, stemming from Horace being a founding member of The Specials, along with founding Tonic Music patron Terry Hall, and ambassador Lynval Golding. At several Dirt Road Band shows, you will find a Tonic Music stand, plus Ted on the drums, wearing his favoured Tonic Music t-shirt. 

The trio of musicians undoubtedly brought rock n’ roll to Chelmsford that evening. The bouncy bass lines, raw guitar riffs that rattled the Doctor Who figurines on the walls, and a steady drum rhythm that sealed the package altogether. 

The band were booked by another supporter of Tonic Music Black Frog Presents, an Essex-based promoter that supports a range of different music in Chelmsford. 

“Music is important to many people in so many different ways,” says Nick Garner,  the founder of Black Frog Presents, “music can bring you peace, and hearing it live is the best.”

For many, music is used as a medicine to temporarily uplift moods and negative thinking. Whether it is blasted through headphones or listened to live, music can help to improve mental health. 

That is why, for many music fans, live music offers an emotional escape. Not only this, but these local spaces create community amongst like-minded people. 

Amidst the cosy glow of the venue, I asked a few Dirt Road Band fans why music is important to them. 

“You just forget about everything stressful going on during the day,” says Doug, a new fan of the Dirt Road Band. 

“Music is massive to me, and you cannot beat hearing it live,” says Laurie, a fan of Dirt Road Band guitarist and vocalist Steve Walwyn, known for his time in Dr Feelgood. 

I also spoke to Matt, an owner of a bar in London that displayed Horace Panter’s artwork, who has known the bassist for 12 years. “Music always brings you up, doesn’t it? Whatever mood you are in, you put music on, and it makes you feel better.”

“Oh God, if I was not doing music, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself,” explains bassist Horace Panter, known for being a founding member of The Specials.

“It is an absolute gift and a total joy to be able to do what I do. Music is very important for my mental health.”

Live music is the heartbeat of music communities. It offers more than just sound – the ability to be yourself. From musicians expressing themselves through songwriting, to the audience feeling seen and heard. 

Behind every musician, it is live music that keeps them going. And behind every fan, it is what keeps them coming back for more. 

Grace Riley

Music Journalist