CHILDREN as young as three became beatboxers for the day recently.

Conrad Murray and the Beatbox Academy, affiliated with the Battersea Arts Centre, visited Darlington earlier this month.

The renowned performers led youngsters in a beatboxing workshop that saw children take the mic and create their own take on the hiphop sound.

The event was organised by Big Little Gigs, launched by Sarah Wilson in a bid to encourage more children to listen to a variety of music.

Now a year old, the project features an eclectic programme of activities and gigs for under-tens.

The beatboxing workshop was organised to complement the recent Jabberwocky Market theatrical festival, where Conrad Murray and the Beatbox Academy performed.

Festival organiser Caroline Pearce said: “Knowing the reputation of the beatboxers who were going to be at the festival, it seemed perfect to team the two together.

“We didn’t realise quite how brilliant they would be and how much the families of Darlington would take to learning new musical skills.

“It was also brilliant to introduce the concept of beatboxing to some – it’s easy to forget whole swathes of society aren’t in contact and there were a small number of people who had no experience at all of hiphop culture.”

For more information about upcoming Big Little Gigs, visit biglittlegigs.co.uk