TEENAGE rap sensation Chipmunk was among the acts who wowed the crowds at the showpiece of Basing-stoke Live – the town’s annual free summer music and dance festival.

Hundreds of screaming fans braved the rain at the War Memorial Park to watch the 18-year-old UK rapper perform on Saturday night.

Legendary Ska outfit The Beat headlined the festival on Sunday, while scores of local bands, MCs and DJs kept around 10,000 people entertained across the weekend despite the indifferent weather.

But it was Chipmunk, whose single Diamond Rings charted at number six in the official Top 40 on Sunday, who stole the show for many people.

The 18-year-old chatted to three lucky competition winners backstage before taking to the stage and wowing the crowds, most of whom were using umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain.

And Chipmunk told The Gazette that he was impressed with Basingstoke Live.

He said: “It’s good – we never had this in London where I grew up. It’s good to see that places are doing this and it’s good to see so many young people here.”

The rapper played in Basingstoke last year as an unknown artist at a night organised by Basingstoke hip-hop night Beats n Bars, and has since gone from strength-to-strength.