LOCAL musicians got the chance to showcase their talent to crowds at a Basingstoke shopping centre last weekend.

Festival Place launched its Festival Sound Stage on Saturday which provided a platform for local up and coming artists to showcase their musical abilities to crowds of shoppers.

Live acts, who were picked from initial auditions held on June 6, performed in the Summer Garden between 4pm and 8pm on the day.

The line-up on the day included Chris Holden, Rich Jacobs, Mark Furmston and Irene Nazimbwa and more local acts will be given the chance to perform on the stage every Sunday until August 30.

Sarah Murphy, marketing and business performance manager at Festival Place, said: “We were delighted with the turnout at the event on Saturday and it really was a pleasure to see shoppers enjoying the music.

“The performers were all very well received and we are looking forward to welcoming them back to perform their individual sets every Sunday in the Summer Garden for the rest of the summer.”

Anyone interested in performing on the Festival Sound Stage, email a link of a YouTube video of yourself performing to marketing@festivalplace.co.uk.