Close to 3,000 people packed the Station in Collingwood to cheer on Canadian Idol hopeful Drew Wright.

The Collingwood resident performed for the crowd as a way to say thank you for all of the support he received in his attempt to win the CTV reality show.

Also, CTV film crews were shooting a biography of the 28-year-old, which will air on a future episode of the show.

"I can't say thank you enough. I wish I could explain how much I love you guys. This has been my hometown since I was five and I never want to leave," he told the crowd. "I hope I can rock as much as you guys do."

Wright performed with Shawn Kelly and Darrin Burton, who comprised the band Malleus - a band that won the Local and Loud contest in Barrie in 2006.

The group has been together as a band for seven years, but have been playing together for nearly a decade. Kelly said while working with Wright on stage and writing music, he knew Wright had something special.

"We've always known. Something was going to happen," he said. "He's got his own voice, man. He's got his own sound. He's not just like the average guy on the radio who sounds like everybody else."

Wright's Parents Ted and Anne-Marie Wright were amazed with the support and said their son was always musical. Ted has been playing music for a number of years and Anne-Marie said the family always sang together around the house.

"Drew has been musical since Drew was born. He maybe wasn't aware of it, but a lot of the other family members were. His father was always musical," said Anne-Marie. "We always sang at home and had a good time. He's got natural ability. He's got his father's voice."

The event was organized by local merchant John Gabriele, an old friend of the Wright Family. He said residents and businesses have been putting posters up in their windows to support he singer and he wants it to continue.

Thousands of residents were asked to bring posters and signs to show their support for Wright, who advanced to the top 16 of the competition last week.

"I had a feeling something one day was going to happen and this is it," he said pointing to the crowd.

Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier, who introduced Wright on Saturday, said in his 31 years in Collingwood, he hasn't seen this kind of support for an individual.

"We have a young person who's dreams are being realized," he said. "And we had an opportunity to show our pride."

Wright advanced to the top 16 last week and performed on Tuesday.