A YOUNG rapper from Dorchester is gearing up for a busy summer on the stage.

The 12-year-old schoolboy turned local rapping sensation has been in popular demand after appearing on national television.

Isaiah Hamilton, whose stage name is Lil Dreads, will even be turning his talent to teaching after being approached by a festival organiser who asked if he would hold a music workshop for children.

Ever since the Dorchester Middle School pupil featured on Newsround and Blue Peter after he won a national music competition in December, being approached by event organisers has become quite the norm.

He has appeared as the headlining act at an anti-knife crime music festival in Bedford, at a number of charity gigs at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester and he has already been asked to appear at three festivals this summer.

The rapper’s summer appearances kicked off with Damers Festival at Damers First School in Dorchester.

The 12-year-old is now getting ready for the four-day Global Heart Gathering Festival in Weymouth from July 29 to August 2.

At the festival, organised to raise money for the POOR charity which helps those in India, Isaiah will be running a music workshop for children and teenagers.

He will also be appearing in the acoustic tent at the one-day ‘Anonymous 2010’ festival held at Maumbury Rings on August 28.

But keen musician Isaiah is not satisfied with only having a few dates in the diary and has said that he wants to perform as much as possible over the holidays.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to all of the festivals, I just enjoy performing.

“It will be good doing the workshop and at the moment I’m planning what we could do, like writing lyrics and making beats to go with it.”

For more information about Anonymous 2010 contact 01305 252204 and for Global Heart Gathering Festival contact 07805515235.

If you would like to enquire about Isaiah appearing at an event you are planning contact 07540 281280 or visit his website www.lildreadmusic.com