Celtic rock band Ferocious Dog are coming to Bridport’s Electric Palace Theatre on the Saturday, April 14 and are bringing their Charity Food Drop tradition with them.

The band encourages their fans, who refer to themselves as Hell Hounds (the name of a popular song by the band), to bring items that can be donated to a homeless shelter in the town or city they are playing.

These items include non-perishable foods, blankets and toiletries, with local shelter volunteers collecting donations, the amount of which sometimes fills a van.

Ken Bonsall, the Mohican-wearing frontman and songwriter for the band, began the Food Drops tradition after he and his wife Karen set up and served at soup kitchens and food banks.

During this time, they found that lots of veterans lived on the streets, an issue that they could empathise with after their son Lee, who had served in Afghanistan, committed suicide after struggling with PTSD.

They realised that their network of family and fans would be a suitable way to help veterans and others living on the streets and began their donations from concerts in Derby, Nottingham and Mansfield.

In 2015, the band sold out Rock City in Nottingham, and ended up with a whole room filled with donations, which were passed onto Framework Housing Association.

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

“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.”

Since then, all of the band’s gigs have been part of the Food Drop, including their upcoming concert in Bridport.

*Ferocious Dog, Bridport Electric Palace, Saturday, April 14. Doors open at 7:30pm, tickets are £15 in advance. contact the box office. Tickets cost £17 on the door.