Hello people of all walks and persuasions, I hope you're all good and welcome to this very odd and potentially crazy Song Shop idea.

It's December now, and it's getting very cold. In my part of town, there is a well established homeless population, and there are VERY good people who work so hard to keep these guys warm, fed, and ultimately, alive. They're amazing people who go with very little praise (not that they're out for it, of course) and that in itself is a travesty.

One of the groups in Slough who do this is SHOC (Slough Homeless Our Concern) - here's a little bit about them:

"Slough and the surrounding area is a region badly affected by homelessness and social exclusion. It is an urban area of extremes and great diversity. While the town itself is home to a large number of successful and international companies, around 15% of Slough's residents live in communities that are among the 20% most deprived income areas in the country.

"[SHOC] is a day centre that exists to provide care for the homeless in Slough and those at risk of becoming so. It is the only centre within a 20-mile radius that offers the homeless both crisis care and long term transformational help towards independence"

With the weird year that I think we've all had, and it has been a WEIRD one - so many heart breaking and infuriating stories, one after the other, for me it's not longer enough to just sit and feel upset by it. Everyone can do something in their own way, and this is my way. I love to play songs and make people feel good however I can, so I want to do that, and help the people of my town who will be in need during this time.

Me, and a lot of my friends were brought up on punk rock, and still to this day live by its ideals of inclusion, helping one another and generally trying to be a force for good in this world. Whilst the music tastes may change (and sometimes, not - I mean I still listen to NOFX as much as I do the Beach Boys or Ben Folds!) the core values stay the same. Let's help one another when we need it. I'm typing a lot, aren't I?

SO HERE'S THE DEAL. READY?

The idea in principle is a simple one. Donate a fiver to SHOC through this page with a message of a song you'd like covered, and I will do that for you. I can post it onto Facebook in the form of a video, I can send you an MP3 of the song. You tell me and I'll do that.

How does that sound? Go on, be a winner! Let's do this!

OK. I'm done. Be good you guys!

LOVE

Mark X