TEN of Australia’s top up-and-coming artists will battle it out for the title of Toyota Star Maker grand finalist tomorrow night at Tamworth’s historic town hall.
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Starting at 7pm, the 10 finalists from across four Australian states – three from Queensland, two from Victoria, four from NSW and one from Western Australia – all have the prize – a new Toyota Rav 4 and fuel card for 12 months, performance and promotional opportunities and an album – in their sights.
The prize also includes a return flight to Nashville to attend the CMA Festival and a performance at the 12th CMA International GlobaLive Concert, an event which precedes the 43rd CMA Festival in June.
“The Toyota Star Maker competition continues to unearth some of the most exciting new country music talent,” Toyota Star Maker co-ordinator Cheryl Byrnes said.
“Every year we skim the very top of the talent pool and bring them on this journey.
“There’s no doubt the judges find it tough, but it’s a sign of just how healthy the industry is and overall that excites us.”
This year, four former finalists will return to have another crack at the crown – Jess Holland from Mudgee, NSW, Mickey Pye from Bathurst, NSW, Tommy Contor of Gilleston Heights, NSW, and Western Australia’s Jonny Taylor, who was a grand finalist last January.
The other six finalists are: Dana Hassall, Kingsthorpe, Queensland; Gretta Ziller, Oakleigh, Victoria; Rachel Fahim, Cherrybrook, NSW; Sian Evans, West End, Queensland; Taylor Moss, Cooroibah, Queensland; and Tyler Hudson, Echuca, Victoria.
Tomorrow night’s final will feature the top 10 and former winners Tanya Self (1995), Kirsty Lee Akers (2007), Jared Porter (2014) and compere Darren Coggan (1996).
Three grand finalists will be announced, before competing at the Toyota Concert for Rural Australia on Friday, January 23, in the hope of being crowned the winner of what is considered Australia’s most prestigious country music talent search.
