Ferocious Dog has been described as England’s best folk-punk band, they tour relentlessly and most of their gigs sell out, but this month Southampton fans can catch them, and their food drop, at the 1865 club on April 27.

Ferocious Dog is a full-on six-piece band which encompasses folk infused with rock, reggae and Celtic vibrations, well known and popular for their high octane live performances.

Dan Booth, on fiddle, and John Leonard playing just about everything with strings, bring a huge amount of intricacy to the breakneck pace of their songs. Les Carter (ex Carter USM) on guitar and the rhythm section of Alex Smith and John Alexander hold things together brilliantly, and with Ken Bonsall’s lyrics and sheer likeability – you have a whole greater than the sum of its parts.

The combination of instruments creates a palette of sound that offers infinite variations to get the audience up and moving, or slipping into melodic passages and dub-like fusions, with songs that are deeply personal.

The role of the infamous Hell Hounds must also not be underestimated - an ever-growing legion of fans who follow the band up and down the country.

They form Totem poles of people, in the mosh pit and bring energy and passion to the gig, whilst always welcoming the less initiated members of the crowd to join in and swell their ranks – everyone has a ball.

With social consciousness in mind, it is becoming public knowledge that at each gig the Ferocious Dog organize a charity food drop for the homeless, liaising with local food banks in the area in which they play.

Fans bring non-perishable food, blankets and toiletries to the shows and representatives from the food bank collect the goods.

But how exactly did the food drop come about?

Lee Bonsall, who was the son of the Mohican bearing frontman, Ken Bonsall and brother of violinist, Daniel Booth, committed suicide after struggling with PTSD after serving in Afghanistan in 2012.

The Lee Bonsall Memorial Fund was set up in his name. Ken and his wife Karen, set up and served at soup kitchen’s and food banks, and found that a lot of veterans lived on the streets.

Ferocious Dog felt they were a suitable platform to reach a wider audience, so they asked that any donations which could help be brought along to the gigs. The donations were then distributed to homeless charities.

“After going to watch I Daniel Blake, which is a realistic depiction of life on benefits, it really pushed me on,” explains Ken.

“I felt that we are missing a trick here, and we decided to start in Glasgow, which is a deprived city, really struggling. We had a brilliant response. I phoned up homeless charities and food banks and they came to take the food away.”

All the band’s gigs are now part of the food drop.