TEN SLEEP - The second annual Wyoming Singer Songwriter Competition has concluded with a Thermopolis resident winning the title of overall champion.

Rob Weimann, who took second place in last year's event, was named Wyoming's best singer-songwriter of 2019 in voting by both a panel of musicians and by audience members at the final round of the annual competition held at the Ten Sleep Brewing Co.

The finals on Sept. 22 capped weeks of competition by about 85 musicians who entered preliminary rounds at communities around the state. Judging was done by a professional panel including select past competitors as well as professional Wyoming musicians and leaders in the industry.

Judging in the finals round covered both artists and individual songs. Audience members at the finals were also invited to vote for their favorite songs and performers.

After being picked as the favorite performer by both the judges' panel and the audience members, Weimann expressed appreciation for the event's organizer, Jon Gardzelewski.

"Jon has really given the songwriters of Wyoming an outlet to share their work in a very welcome environment," Weimann said. "The whole setup is very refreshing in a way that challenges songwriters and let's them be exposed to local music that they've most likely, never heard. It's an opportunity to meet other songwriters and begin networking."

Winning first place from the panel of musicians for the best song of the competition was Tracy Locken of Gillette with her song "Head Case," while audience members selected the song "14/16/20 Blues" by Cody's Kalyn Beasley as their favorite.

Videos from this year's event can be found on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7QNFMSkX3Lo

The Wyoming Singer Songwriters Competition, founded in 2012, has evolved from what was once just a Laramie event. It continues to gather support and generate enthusiasm and is emblematic of the true spirit of the state. If Wyoming Is just a small town with really long streets, then the Wyoming Singer Songwriters Competition is just a small open mic night with a really long sign up sheet.

As for Rob, winning this years event has already led to him being booked for a couple of festival events in the summer of 2020 as well receiving some air time on Wyoming Public Radio.

In the meantime, he will being playing gigs where he lives in Thermopolis and around the state.

When asked what's next, Rob said that he is working on his first record which should be released sometime in the spring of 2020.

Below are results of judging at the 2019 Wyoming Singer-Songwriter Competition's final round:

Judges' Vote - Top Singer-Songwriter

1) Rob Weimann (Thermopolis)

2) Derek Blake (Laramie)

3) Lauren Podjun (Casper)

Judges Vote-Top Songs

1) Head Case - Tracy Locken (Gillette)

2) 35 Years - Derek Blake (Laramie)

3) Golden Spine - Lauren Podjun (Casper)

4) Healing Waters - Rob Weimann (Thermopolis)

5) 14/16/20 Blues - Kalyn Beasly (Cody)

Audience Vote - Top Singer-Songwriter

1) Rob Weimann (Thermopolis)

2) Kalyn Beasley (Cody)

3) Emily Jacobs (Laramie)

Audience Vote - Top Song

1) "14/16/20 Blues" - Kalyn Beasley (Cody)

2) "Water at the Bar" - Emily Jacobs (Laramie)

3) "Healing Waters" - Rob Weimann (Thermopolis)

4) "Beat of Her Heart" - Rob Weimann (Thermopolis)

5) "Golden Spine" - Lauren Podjun (Casper)