El set to take Tamworth by storm

El Cosgrave is headed to Tamworth for this weekend’s Country Music Festival and her chance a stardom.

Dalby Musician El Cosgrove is on her way to Tamworth

STARS are made right here in the Western Downs and one Dalby musician is well on her way to music fame.

The 48th Toyota Country Music Festival is kicking off this Friday, 17 January and local Dalby musician, El Cosgrove is on her way to Tamworth to battle it out for the title of 41st Toyota Star Maker Winner.

El will take to the stage, along with nine other finalists on Sunday 19 January to perform to songs in front of a crowd of thousands, where they will be voted by a panel of judges who will announce the winner for the largest talent search in Australia.

Should she win, El will join artists such as Keith Urban, Beccy Cole, Gina Jeffreys, Lee Kernaghan, Travis Collins, Brad Cox and many others who have all had their musical careers bolster by the Star Maker competition.

The top ten for this year’s Star Marker competition, which includes an unprecedented number of women, also includes four previous finalists and are, in no particular order:

Chloe Styler, Age 22, Runaway Bay, Qld

Clancy Pye, Age 27, Orange, NSW

El Cosgrove, Age 23, Dalby, Qld

Hannah May, Age 25, Mount Cotton, Qld

Jarred Taylor, Age 27, Tamworth, NSW

Juliet Oliver, Age 21, McLaren Vale, SA

Leigha Moore, Age 27, Sippy Downs, Qld

Sammy White, Age 22, Mount Louisa, Qld

Taylor Pfeiffer, Age 20, Nailsworth, SA

Zoey Mills, Age 20, Mirani, Qld

Toyota Star Maker Coordinator Cheryl Brown said the females in this year’s competition were simply stronger, resulting in this unprecedented outcome.

“At a time when male artists dominate the country music industry, it is refreshing to see so many young women entering the ranks,” she said.

“This year, the competition will be as tough as ever with former winners setting strong examples of what is possible when committed to a career in the country music industry.”

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