TWO more esteemed judges have joined the panel for The Concorde Factor, The Concorde Club’s bid to find the new singing talent in Hamsphire in 2009.

The songwriter and producer Barry Upton and Steve Willis of AND Records, currently working together on the release of I’m A Celebrity star David Van Day’s new release Biff, Baff, Boff, will join a distinguished panel of judges for the semi finals and finals of the contest.

Barry Upton, pictured, was the co-creator of the pop phenomena Steps who went on to sell millions of records in the late ’90s. He was previously a member of Brotherhood of Man and has also worked with Dollar, The Cheeky Girls, The Nolans and Sonia. He now runs the production house Cordella Music.

Steve Willis has worked for EMI, A&M and Island Records as well as top indie distributor 3MV, where he worked with Oasis, Stereophon-ics, Muse, Garbage, Suede, Fat Boy Slim, Ash, Faithless and Dido.

With more than 20 years in the record industry, he has now helped to set up AND Records, Southamp-ton’s independent record company.

The winner of The Concorde Factor will receive £1,000 and five paid engagements at the Concorde, plus each of the finalists will record a track for a CD that will be distributed on the cover of AND Magazine.

To find out more about the contest, visit theconcordeclub.com.