Sam Fender has released a new version of Alan Hull track Winter Song to help turn the spotlight on homelessness in the run-up to Christmas.
The singer-songwriter's cover of the Lindisfarne vocalist's haunting song - which contains the line 'spare a thought for the homeless' - comes with a video featuring photographs taken from the point of view of those on the street.
The combined result is a powerful message that is set to raise awareness of the stark realities of life for many, particularly in this pandemic year.
Award-winning Fender, from North Shields, said: "I wanted to do a Christmas song, and wanted it to be close to my home and my heart.
"For me, the words are more relevant this year than ever."
Folk track Winter Song, which Newcastle songwriter Hull released in the 1970s, highlights those suffering when 'winter comes howling in' and it urges people to reflect.
Fender, known for his haunting voice and own emotive lyrics in the likes of his debut Hypersonic Missiles album, said: "Christmas won’t be the same for a lot of people this year, and that’s why I picked Winter Song."
And he called the late Hull a "Geordie legend", adding: "Alan Hull truly was one of the most fantastic and underrated writers of his time."
He worked on the video in collaboration with People Of The Streets, a social enterprise helping the homeless and the track plays out to a series of photographs taken by homeless people who picked up camera skills on POTS courses.
With sellers of The Big Issue currently unable to work due to Covid restrictions, Sam has entered a partnership with the street paper and will be selling it in his official webstore.
All profits will go back to The Big Issue to be split between the magazine and its vendors.
Fender, like many performers, has had a difficult year with festival dates and tour dates cancelled due to the pandemic, although he had the chance to play the specially-created Virgin Money Unity Arena in Newcastle in the summer when he opened the socially-distanced outdoor venue with two huge shows which were an immediate sell-out.
While he has yet to find out how 2021 will pan out, he is currently in tune with the public mood and is set to strike a chord with his new Winter Song release.
He added: "I hope I’ve done it justice, I’m really proud of it.”
For more about his work see here.
