THE pressure is on to find the remaining finalists for Swindon Talent ’09.

After three heats of the competition, the show moves to Commonweal School, in The Mall, Old Town.

Unlike the previous three rounds at the Purton Carnival, Old Town Festival and the Afro-Caribbean Festival, competitors do not have to pre-register for this final, open-mic heat.

Just turn up from 4.30pm and you will be given your five minutes on stage to impress the judges.

“We wanted to do something a bit different this year,” said Dave King, the editor of the Swindon Advertiser, who will be one of the three judges tomorrow.

“Hopefully this will encourage more people to turn up and we will be given the chance to see even more of Swindon's finest entertainers.”

Six acts from Saturday's aborted heat at the Afro-Caribbean Festival are expected to take part tomorrow.

The heat had to be abandoned because of technical problems and all the acts will be given the chance to perform again.

At stake will be an opportunity to compete in the final of Swindon Talent 09 at the Swindon Arts Centre on Saturday, August 8.

Among the prizes will be an opportunity to record in a top-notch studio.

Already three artists from the Purton and Old Town heats have made it through to the finals. They include rock band Vivaxi, trumpeter Matthew Harris, dance group the Friday Night Project, singers Kayleigh Williams and Emma Briton, plus Elvis impersonator Robert Barrow.

Tickets, priced at £8 and £6 concessions, have already gone on sale for the final, which was a sell-out last September.

They are available from the Arts Centre, in Devizes Road. Last year’s winners were youngsters from the Saturday Club from Walcot – all from the Natasha Dixon School Of Dance.

Singer and runner-up Sam Millard was subsequently signed up as a recording artist following her performance since the finals were attended by a number of agents.

The judges will be Shirley Ludford, the station manager of Swindon 105.5, Clarry Bean, the culture programme manager with the Swindon Arts Centre, along with the Adver’s Dave King.

John Milford will be compering the performances and even if you are not performing, come along to watch – admission is free.

Dave King added: “We are hoping for a really good turn-out.

“ It should be a fun evening and if you want to go on stage and show Swindon your talent, then now is your chance.”