Music enthusiasts at the BunkFest weekend in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, experienced an unexpected appearance from renowned grime and hip hop artist Dizzee Rascal on Sunday.
The chart-topping musician, known for hits such as "Bonkers," "Dance Wiv Me," and "Holiday," was seen at The Boat House pub during the community folk festival. Attendees expressed surprise at his presence in the market town.
Charlie Garwood, a 23-year-old lab technician from Benson, encountered the artist and took a photograph. "I love his songs. You don't expect someone like that to be in a little town like Wallingford," Garwood told the BBC. He added that Dizzee Rascal mentioned he was "just seeing a friend" when they met on the street. Garwood believes the artist then departed on a private boat on the River Thames. He noted that his initial account to his parents was met with disbelief, with them suspecting the photo might be AI-generated. "It's so unexpected," Garwood said. "It's one of those things you just don't believe at first. He's known for his dance anthems, we grew up listening to him... it's just a cool thing."