IT'S not everyday that a hip-hop legend drops into the studio to help an aspiring band on their way to the top.

But that was the scenario when Scorpio, a member of the groundbreaking group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, flew across the Atlantic to record a track with Warrington trip-hop stars China White.

The MC from the Bronx band - credited with inventing the term hip-hop and shaping the genre in its early days - spent two days at Tuff Gong Studios in Longford after talking to the group on the Internet site Myspace.

Alongside lyricist and singer Liam Croker; Antony Egerton on beats, keys and programming; guitarist and backing vocalist John Lord and Adam Baldwin on drums, Scorpio performs on China White's latest song, Aggression.

China White are one of 25 acts playing at Warrington Music Festival at Queen's Gardens on Saturday.

Warrington Music Collective is holding the free event between 11.30am and 7.30pm in Palmyra Square as part of CultureFest 2007.

Some of the best up and coming performers in the town will be taking to the stage, including Exile Parade, 4ft Soldiers, The Kingsway, City Lights and The Vandahls.

Our website warringtonguardian.co.uk has a page dedicated to the festival, where you can find more information on the bands involved, listen to some of their songs and watch videos of them in action so you know who not to miss on the big day.

ndocking@guardiangrp.co.uk