Wade Forster crowned 2024 Toyota Star Maker in Tamworth

Hosted by 2022 Toyota Star Maker Winner and 2024 Toyota Golden Guitar nominee Max Jackson, the Grand Final concert once again attracted thousands of festivalgoers from far and wide to Toyota Park, which saw the 10 Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalists perform two songs each.

Wade plays at gigs and rodeos in and around Western Queensland, playing at Winton’s Way-Out West festival, before playing at the 2023 Savannah in The Round. With the demand online and listeners eagerly wanting more, Wade’s journey has only just begun. His passion for music and rodeo inspires his writing process and will continue to influence his continuation in both rodeo and the music industry.

The last 44-years have seen over 500 artists perform as finalists in the Toyota Star Maker competition, making it the longest running musical talent search in the country.

Wade is the most recent in a long line up of talented country musicians who have used Toyota Star Maker as a career springboard, joining the likes of Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Gina Jeffreys, Max Jackson, Sam McClymont, James Blundell, and last year’s Star Maker winner Loren Ryan.

Wade impressed the judges ahead of the nine other finalists: Felicity Dowd (NSW), Jake Whittaker (QLD), Jemma Beech (NSW), Jay Santilli (VIC), Nathan Lamont (NSW), Dakota East (VIC), Ethan Calway (QLD), Piper Rodrigues (QLD), Jimbo Stokes (NSW).

By taking home the Toyota Star Maker prize, Wade took home a prize package worth more than $100,000 including the use of a Toyota vehicle for a year, recording of a four-track EP and a trip to Nashville in the US to attend the CMA (Country Music Association) Festival.

This year’s Grand Final also saw the return of special guest and 2004 Toyota Star Maker Winner, Travis Collins, who took the stage to perform a selection of his hits from his career so far. Travis has enjoyed a landmark year in 2023, with his ninth studio album, Any Less Anymore becoming the highest-charting Australian country album in over two years, peaking at #3 on the ARIA All-Genre Album chart and #1 on the ARIA Country Album chart.

Presenting the award, Toyota Australia Senior Manager of Marketing Integration, Tim Stuckey said the lineup of finalists were incredibly talented and demonstrates the quality of up-and-coming country music talent in the industry.

“On behalf of Toyota Australia, I would like to congratulate Wade Forster on becoming the 2024 Toyota Star Maker.”

“Wade was up against some fierce competition in this year’s Grand Final, but ultimately was a well-deserved winner this evening.

“We hope the comprehensive prize pack Wade takes home will help accelerate his music career this year and we wish him all the best for the future.”

Mr Stuckey

Star Maker Coordinator and judge Cheryl Brown, says that the decision-making process is never easy for the judges, and tonight was no exception.

“Over the past couple of months, we’ve had the opportunity to watch each of the incredible finalists on their journey to the Grand Final, but after careful consideration, we felt Wade was most ready to take the next step,”

“Each year, the Toyota Star Maker competition provides a platform for emerging Australian country music artists, no matter the outcome of the Grand Final. While there can only be one winner, the nine Grand finalists should be proud of their performances tonight, and their growth throughout the competition.

We look forward to seeing what’s in store for the remaining finalists and wish them all the best for the future.”

Ms Brown

Crowds at the Grand Final concert were treated to a performance by 2023 Toyota Star Maker Winner and 2024 Golden Guitar New Talent Award Nominee Loren Ryan, who sang a selection of songs recently released during her Star Maker year.

An impressive panel of judges chose Wade Forster as the 2024 Toyota Star Maker winner at Toyota Park including:

• Dan Biddle – Artist Manager
• Justin Thomson - National Content Director of the KIX Country Network
• Katie Krollig - Booking Agent at Wheelhouse Agency
• Natalie Waller – Head of ABC Music, ARIA Board Chairperson and Board Director of CMA Nashville
• Phil Barton – International songwriter
• Cheryl Brown – Editor of Country Music Capital News and Coordinator of Star Maker